Lee County routs Thomas County Central

LEESBURG — Maybe they wanted to get back at Thomas County Central for all the hurt the Jackets caused them when they once played in the same region.

Or maybe the defense wanted to make a statement.

Whatever the reason, Lee County started quickly and continued to floor the gas throughout the game as the Trojans stayed unbeaten behind a smothering defense, whipping Thomas County Central 37-7 Friday night at Trojan Field.

For Lee County fans, this one felt good.

“From the last time we faced them, it had built up for so long,” said strong safety Shaun Rountree. “We got an opportunity to play them again, we just went all out, especially on defense.”

It was the final tune-up for the Trojans (5-0), who breezed through a nonregion slate that consisted of Jones County, Bainbridge, Americus-Sumter, Luella and TCC. After an open date next week, Lee County welcomes top-ranked Houston County and Georgia quarterback commit Jake Fromm to start Region 1-AAAAAA play on Oct. 7.

Friday night was perhaps the Trojans’ best defensive performance of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We came out and did what we had to do … and we got the victory,” senior Giavonte Daniels said. “Our defense is the best defense in the state of Georgia.”

With the exception of a second-quarter score from Thomas County Central when Darian Daniels scampered up the middle on a 19-yard touchdown run, the Jackets threatened just one other time late in the third quarter. But the drive stalled and TCC’s Lauren Pearson missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.

Lee answered with a series of short passes on its ensuing possession and put the game away when Kareen Wilson took a direct snap and scored on a two-yard gallop with 10:55 left.

Mark Robinson scored on a five-yard touchdown run on Lee County’s opening possession for a 6-0 advantage. Then after the defense stuffed TCC on the next series, the Trojans used a 33-yard field goal from Dylan Brendel to take a 9-0 advantage.

The Trojans weren’t finished. After the defense gave the offense a short field, Wilson caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jase Orndorff to take a 16-0 advantage with 2:15 left in the first half.

Robinson added a late seven-yard run with 4:03 left in the game.