WEB CAST.
Garner took a 21 point victory into the locker room on Friday night at Trojan Stadium and never looked back as the Trojans blasted Athens Drive, 59-21 to move on to the second round of the 4AA playoffs next week.
Garner (12-0) opened the contest with the football and promptly marched down the field before Tyler Hinton capped the opening possession with a one yard run for a score.
After the two squads traded punts, the lead remained at seven before Athens Drive (5-7) had to punt the football away to the Trojans and into the waiting arms of Armani Lanier who fielded the punt and scampered 71-yards to pay dirt and a 14 point advantage.
Late in the opening quarter, Athens got on the board when quarterback Jason West fired a pass to Brad Bowling who slipped by the Garner defense and raced 85 yards for the score.
That seven point margin did not last long as on the first drive of the second quarter, the Trojans used a 12-play drive to march down the field on the Jaguars defense before Vince Jefferies hit Brayden Sims in the end zone for a 21-7 lead.
The Trojans punched in another score late in the half as Jefferies hit Lanier for a 55 yard score and a 28-7 lead. For Lanier the touchdown catch, his 12th of the season, sets the single season school record for most touchdowns reception season.
After halftime it was more of the same for the Garner offense which scored on its first two possessions of the half as Jefferies found Lanier again to open the second half scoring followed by a Raevon Smith 10 yard run and a 42-7 lead.
The men of Troy began the final quarter tacking on to the lead when Kenneth Perkinson nailed a 40-yard field goal and a 45-7 lead.
Athens Drive followed with a score when Dominique Lynch scored from a yard out to make it 52-14. But, on the ensuing kick-off, Nyheim Hines bobbled the kick but when he found his bearings, the super sophomore found a running lane and scooted 96-yards for the score and a 52-14 lead.
Following the final Jaguars score of the night, Snoop Dawson added the exclamation point to the contest when the reversed fields and found a seem for a 31 yard score and the final 59-21 margin.
Garner will advance to round two of the 4AA playoffs next week when the men of Troy welcome Wakefield to Trojan Stadium - kickoff is slated for 7:30.
