Redan Gets Payback With 7-6 Win Over Tri Cities For Area Championship
On Thursday, the Georgia High School Association Class 1A-4A Area 8 tournament continued as teams battled for final seeding heading into the state championship tournament. After the Tri Cities Bulldogs kept their unbeaten record in tact with a win over Therrell, they would head into the area championship to face the Redan Raiders, who defeated Towers to advance.
Having given up only two points all season and defeating Redan 12-0 when the two teams met late last month, the Tri Cities defense would come out looking to set the tone early as they would stop the Raiders first two drives of the game as Jahnaeia Thomas and Goddess Hancock would both intercept passes by the freshman quarterback.
However, the Redan defense would not be outdone by the Bulldogs as they forced Tri Cities to punt the ball away every possession throughout the first half, therefore the game would be scoreless at the half. In the second half, the Raiders defense would turn things up a notch as they would pick off Tri Cities quarterback Amyria Smith twice as Felder and Ja’Niya Pruitt would each get an interception.
As neither defense appeared to be giving in, the Raiders would be the first to get an offensive spark thanks to a shifty touchdown run by Felder on a quarterback keeper and with the extra point, Redan would take a 7-0 lead midway through the half. And as the half continued, the Bulldogs would struggle to get their offense going until late in the half as the clock ticked under a minute.
With time winding down, Smith would connect with Thomas to set up a second and goal at the one yard line with 10 seconds remaining. And on the ensuing play, Thomas would take the direct snap and run up the middle, stretching the ball across the goal line for the score as time expired. With a chance to tie the game and send it into over time, Bulldogs would fall short on the extra point attempt as Thomas would be downed at the two yard line and Redan would come away with the 7-6 victory.
Following the area championship win, Redan head coach Charlcye Henderson praised her assistant coaches Jared Farley and Terrence Wiggs for the work they put in with the girls to prepare them for Thursday’s victory. “These two guys right here, incredible coaches man,” Henderson said of Farley and Wiggs. “I’m proud of the ladies, we put in the work and we’re going to represent for Dekalb County,” Wiggs would add following the win.
Redan will host round one and two and take on Maynard Jackson in round one on November 29th.
