JEFFERSON

The Lightning captured the Quad-County Athletic League championship with a 33-6 win against WestJackson Middle School last Thursday at Jackson County High School.

“It’s breathtaking to know we are the first ones to do this in the school’s history,” said Carter Warden, who had a touchdown in the second quarter. “It’s a great feeling. This is the best football team I have ever played on.”

The day prior to the game, the school held a pep rally for the team. The day of the game at school, it was business as usual, said head coach Ken Mattison said.

“That is the way we wanted it,” Mattison said. “We wanted to keep the kids in their routine.”

The Lightning got the ball first to start the game, and scored on their opening drive when Kawon Bryant ran into the end zone on a 25-yard run. Justin Peachey’s extra point gave the Lightning a 7-0 lead.

Malcom Bridge’s defense forced West Jackson to punt on its first drive, and the Lightning got the ball on their own 32. On the fifth play of the drive, Bryant was in the end zone for a second time with a 48-yard touchdown run. The Lightning led 14-0 with 1:49 left in the first following Peachey’s second extra point.

“We came in knowing West Jackson was a good team and we knew it was going to be tough,” Warden said.

Following a punt by West Jackson to end the first quarter, the Lightning were in the end zone on the second play of the second quarter when quarterback Patrick Britt completed a pass in the middle of the field to Warden, who ran past the West Jackson defense and into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown. Peachey kicked his third extra point, giving the Lightning a 21-0 lead.

“That was the first touchdown I have had since East Jackson and I got a little excited,” Warden said.

Late in the second, Britt scored on a 30-yard touchdown run, and the Lightning led 27-0 at halftime.

“The kids came out ready to play, which is good because we were on the road and a lot of distractions are a possibility when that happens,” Mattison said.

Malcom Bridge’s defense held West Jackson to just 21 yards in the first half. It had -11 yards in the first quarter.

“Our defense hung in and played well, and we did what we had to do to win,” Mattison said.

The Lightning’s offense had 211 yards of offense in the first half.

West Jackson’s only score came in the third quarter with a 14-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:00 left in the third.

West Jackson got into the red zone late in the fourth quarter, but the drive ended on fourth down when Trevor Mattox intercepted a pass in the end zone with 37.5 seconds left.

“You are happy for any of those young kids,” Mattison said. “I was glad that the game turned out to be one where everybody was able to get in and play. That’s a good way to end the season and give those young guys a start for next year.”

On first down on the ensuing drive, quarterback Tate Adcock spotted receiver Lane Fletcher wide open near the sideline, and Fletcher caught Adcock’s pass and ran 80 yards into the end zone.

“We set it up as a run play, but when that receiver was uncovered, we teach our kids that is an automatic check,” Mattison said. “Our young quarterback didn’t understand the situation and checked out of it and threw it. We didn’t intend to do it.”

The win concluded the first undefeated season for the Lightning, who finished the year with a 7-0 record.

“I’m very proud of the guys,” Mattison said. “They have worked hard from the summer in conditioning and the weight room all the way to today. They really did a good job of finishing the season.”

Matthew Caldwell is sports editor of The Oconee Leader. He can be reached by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (706) 310-1104.

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