Arabia Mountain edges Tucker in OT 24-23 to claim region title and No 1 seed
The Arabia Mountain Rams football team set out to claim the region championship this season and that mission was completed on Friday after they defeated the Tucker Tigers 24-23 in overtime. The win helped the Rams claim the number one seed out of their region heading into the Georgia High School Association Class 5A state championship tournament as well as wrapping the regular season with a 9-1 record.
And as the final overtime score suggest, the Rams found themselves in a battle with the Tigers and for th first time all season, trailed at the half. However, it was Arabia that struck first in the first quarter thanks to a Daniel Turpin rushing touchdown, his first of two on the night, and with the two point conversion, the Rams took an 8-0 lead. However, Tucker would score 14 unanswered points to take a 14-8 lead into the locker room at the break.
As the third quarter got underway, the Rams would quickly swing momentum in their favor thants to Laron Jones returning the opening kickoff of the quarter 80 yards for a touchdown as Arabia Mountain would eventually tie the game 14-14. The Rams would then regain the lead in the fourth quarter after adding on a field goal, which gave them a 17-14 lead, but with 3:42 to go in the game, Tucker would tact on a field goal of their own to once again tie the game at 17-17.
And unfortunately for both Arabia Mountain and Tucker, regulation time would expire, sending the game into overtime and the Rams would once again, strike first as Turpin would score his second touchdown of the night and with the extra point, Arabia Mountain would take a 24-17 lead. The Tigers would then in turn respond with a rushing touchdown by Jordan McCoy, but would elect to go for two points. As quarterback Jamar Graham handed the ball off to McCoy, the Rams defense would rally for the big stop and Arabia Mountain would pick up the 24-23 win.
“I love these guys so much. We worked so hard for three years,” Arabia Mountain head coach, Julian Washington said after the win Friday night, reflecting on how when he took the head position with the Rams, they set a goal to win the region title. “They worked so hard and tirelessly to figure that out. They did it. We leaned on our seniors and they found a way to get it done. I couldn’t be more proud,” Washington said.
