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Country Day plays spoiler in 29-6 win over Johnson & final scores

By Travis Jaudon/For Prep Sports Report | October 29, 2022

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Savannah Country Day hosted its senior night on Friday, October 28 at Saunders Field during a region 3-3A contest against the Johnson Atom Smashers. A young Hornet team paid tribute to its only two seniors (Michael Grandy, Phil-Anthony Ajayi) by upsetting Johnson in blowout fashion, 29-6.

Country Day (4-5, 2-4 region 3-3A) started the game on defense and promptly forced a Johnson three-and-out and punt. But the snap sailed over the SCJ punter’s head and into the endzone where he was swarmed by several Hornets for a safety. Johnson went three-and-out again on its second drive before punting it away to SCDS. The Hornets scored two plays later, on a 51-yard reverse run by junior KJ James.

Grandy’s seven-yard rushing touchdown and a pair of Cash Ramirez field goals (30 yards, 45 yards) in the second quarter gave the Hornets a commanding 22-0 lead at the halftime break.

Johnson (5-4, 3-3) was unable to generate any offense while playing without its starting sophomore quarterback, Malachi Bacon (broken thumb). Bacon, who was wearing a hard cast on his right hand/arm on Friday, will also miss next week’s regular season finale at Long County. He is likely out for the remainder of the season, including any potential playoff games for SCJ.

Jayden Jones played in Bacon’s spot but wasn’t a true passing threat. He was picked off in the second half by SCD junior Athon Herrin. Without Bacon, Johnson managed just two yards of passing offense. Jones completed three passes on six attempts.

Anthony Cooper’s first half interception was one of the few bright spots in the game for the visitors. Senior SCJ running back Amarion Scott was the best (and perhaps the only) offensive option for the ‘smashers. After rushing for 212 yards and two touchdowns last week, Scott carried 14 times for 87 yards against the Hornets. Senior Jamori Taylor scored on a 12-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter to prevent the shutout.

Although the Hornets had already been eliminated from state playoff contention, head coach John Mohring’s team showed toughness from start to finish and seemed to enjoy playing the role of spoiler.

In his final game at Saunders Field, Grandy carried 15 times for 64 yards and the touchdown. He has 769 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Sophomore SCD quarterback Barton Mixon threw a fourth quarter passing touchdown to fellow sophomore Brooks Kleinpeter on a nicely designed reverse pass play which left Kleinpeter wide open. It was Mixon’s ninth passing score of the year and the second straight game in which the duo hooked up for a TD toss.

Defensively for Country Day, sophomore linebacker Tyler Scott played excellent, racking up four tackles for loss with at least eight tackles and a forced fumble. He now has 15.5 TFL’s and more than 84 tackles on the year.

Head coach Kenderrick Bonner’s Johnson team will need to rebound quickly as it has plenty to play for.

The Atom Smashers can make the state playoffs with a win next week at Long County, but a loss would end their season. SCJ would have earned a 3-seed in next month’s Class 3A state playoffs had it won its final two games versus Country Day and Long. Now, it’ll have to win on the road on November 4 to secure the region’s 4-seed.

SCARY MOMENT

In the second quarter of the game, Country Day junior offensive lineman John Avino was injured on a running play. Avino’s ailment appeared to be a serious leg injury and he needed the services of a stretcher and an ambulance in order to leave the field of play. Before entering the ambulance, Avino was seen smiling while giving his teammates the thumbs up sign to signal his optimism.

SCJ – 00 - 00 - 00 - 06 – 06

SCD – 09 - 13 - 00 - 07 – 29

HALF: SCD, 22-0.

RECORDS: SCJ 5-4, 3-3 region 3-3A; SCD 4-5, 2-4 region 3-3A.

NEXT: SCJ at Long County (Nov. 4); SCD at Groves (Nov. 4).

 

Final Scores Week #10

GHSA 7A

Lowndes 35, Richmond Hill 3

GHSA 6A

Effingham County 27, Lakeside Evans 7

South Effingham 19, Grovetown 14

GHSA 5A

Jenkins 24, Bradwell 14

GHSA 4A

Benedictine 49, Islands 3

Burke County 37, New Hampstead 27

GHSA 3A

Liberty County 39, Beach 7

Calvary Day 48, Long County 0

Savannah Christian 48,  Groves  8

Savannah Country Day 29, Johnson 6

GHSA 2A

Toombs County 41,  Windsor Forest 0

GHSA 1A

Bryan County 41,  Savannah High 0

GIAA AAAA/AAA

St. Andrew's 30, Bulloch Academy 26

GIAA AA

Southwest Georgia 51, Memorial Day 6

SCISA
Beaufort Academy 35 , Bethesda 30

FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.

Photo Credit - Jason Johnson

Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. The team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game

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The "Coach" Karl DeMasi has been teaching and coaching for the past 35 years on all levels of academia and athletics. One of his hobbies has been writing, announcing and talking about sports. DeMasi has been involved in the Savannah Area sports scene since 1995, and he created the high school magazine "The Prep Sports Report" in 2000. In 2010, the "Coach" started broadcasting The Karl DeMasi Sports Report. He's still going strong, broadcasting on Facebook live and Twitter live every Saturday morning. You gotta love it!


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