Whitefield Academy earns first quarterfinals berth with 48-21 win over Aquinas

Whitefield Academy's Amos Robinson #15 being tackled by Aquinas' Julius Moretta-snell #9

The Georgia High School Association football state championship tournaments resumed on Friday and in the Private class bracket, the Whitefield Academy Wolfpack hosted the Aquinas Fighting Irish in the first game for the Wolfpack, who earned a first round bye, since their regular season finale against Fellowship Christian.

And while their may have been some concern as to whether or not the extended time off would have an impact on the Wolfpack, they were dispelled on the first drive of the game as Whitefield scored on their first possession as an eight drive resulted in a Mason Hollingsworth rushing touchdown and the Wolfpack took a 7-0 after the extra point.

On the ensuing Aquinas possession, the Fighting Irish would respond with an 11 play drive capped with a Jack Rhodes rushing touchdown, but after tying the game 7-7 with the extra point, Whitefield would take just two plays to find the end zone for a second time as quarterback Landon Ryan connected with a wide open Cole Rabalais and the Wolfpack once again took the lead.

Moment would continue to stay behind Whitefield on the next Fighting Irish possession as a bad snap would pin Aquinas at their own one-yard line and on a third and long, the Wolfpack defense would come up with their first of four interceptions as Jackson Wallace would intercept the Turner Stevenson pass setting the Wolfpack up with good field position as they would capitalize with a Ryan rushing touchdown which would lead to a 21-7 lead for Whitefield Academy.

Aquinas would respond on their next possession as Stevenson threw his first touchdown pass of the night to Rhodes, however Whitefield Academy answered tight back as Hollingsworth rushed for his second touchdown of the game to help the Wolfpack take a 28-14 lead. And while Whitefield Academy seemingly had the game in control, they suffered the loss of Hollingsworth after he suffered an apparent leg injury late in the second quarter.

Yet, the loss of Hollingsworth did not slow the Wolfpack down as Ryan would rush for a touchdown before the half came to an end and Whitefield Academy would take a 35-14 lead into the locker room at the break. Once play resumed and Hollingsworth out, the Wolfpack would turn to sophomore running back Amos Robinson, who would rush for two more Whitefield Academy touchdowns as they would go on to pick up the 48-21 win, earning their first quarterfinals berth in program history.

"It's an unbelievable accomplishment," Whitefield Academy head coach, Robert Walsh said of the Wolfpack's first quarterfinals appearance. "This is a special group man. When you're a coach as long as I am, you realize when you have a special group and that's what this is right here in front of us," Walsh said of Whitefield bringing an end to their 0-6 record in second round matchups.

Now with Calvary Day School up next for Whitefield Academy, they'll have to do so with Hollingsworth sidelined for the remainder of the season and Walsh believes "execution" will be a point of emphasis for the Wolfpack when they begin preparations for next week's quarterfinals matchup.