Supreme '18 Tracker: Emory Jones Helps Heard County Advance to State Semifinals While Season Comes to an End for Brenton Cox, K'Vaughan Pope

UNCHARTED WATERS

Ohio State quarterback commit Emory Jones scored three touchdowns to lead Heard County to a 28-14 win at Thomasville on Friday night, which helped the Braves reach the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading scores for a 14-all score at halftime. Heard County took an early lead when Jones found wide receiver Jaden Moreland for a 50-yard touchdown pass, while Thomasville responded with a 70-yard drive of their own.

Jones then found the end zone on a four-yard run to put the Braves back on top in the second quarter, but the Bulldogs tied things up with 14 seconds remaining in the half.

Heard County ratcheted up the defensive pressure thereafter, creating three second-half turnovers — including a game-sealing interception by Jones, who also plays safety. The Braves put the game away on an 11-yard run by Aaron Beasley and another touchdown scamper by Jones.

Heard County will host fellow No. 1 seed Hapeville Charter next Friday with a berth in the state championship game on the line.

A PREMATURE ENDING

Louisa County racked up 319 yards rushing yards as it easily dispatched Dinwiddie, 37-28, in Friday night's Virginia High School League Class 4 Region B Final.

Lions quarterback Malik Bell found the end zone four times in the first half, including a 61-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game. He finished the game with 187 yards rushing and two touchdowns and completed 7-of-11 passes for 100 yards and two more scores.

Dinwiddie was obviously playing catch-up from the start, having spotted Louisa County 14 points to start the game. But the Generals recovered nicely to tie the game on touchdown passes of 48 and 49 yards from quarterback K'ymon Pope, the younger brother of Ohio State linebacker commit K'Vaughan.

The Lions responded with 10 points right before the half, which ultimately proved to be an insurmountable lead. Dinwiddie closed the gap to the final score with five minutes remaining, but Louisa County — which held a time of possession advantage of 32 to 16 — never gave the ball back.

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON NONETHELESS

Though Stockbridge made it through the regular season unscathed, it entered Friday night's game against Buford as an underdog. It made sense, too, given the Bulldogs were hoping to reach their 11th-consecutive state semifinals.

It was the Tigers who led for most of the game, however, as they returned an interception for a touchdown and had a 72-yard run for a score on their subsequent drive to go up 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Neither team could do much offensively thereafter — thanks to two very stingy defenses, one led by Ohio State defensive end commit Brenton Cox — but the Wolves began to slowly chip away at the lead. They cut it to 14-10 at the start of the fourth quarter, and a fumble deep in Stockbridge territory allowed Buford to take the lead just one play later.

The Tigers tied the game on their next drive, but a 24-yard field goal with six minutes left proved to be the game winner. After a turnover on downs, Buford ran out the clock to advance to the next round, where it'll face defending state champion Rome.