By Bill Samaras

bsamaras@neighbornewspapers.com

Unlike last year, the East Paulding High School Raider football team will begin the playoffs by trying to overcome a season-ending loss after the Woodstock High School Wolverines (6-4) came from behind in the second half for a 27-16 win.

The loss left the Raiders at 8-2, 7-2, in third place in Region 5-AAAAA behind Etowah (9-1, 8-1) and Harrison (8-2, 7-2).

With the win, Woodstock qualified for the playoffs with a fourth place finish.

East Paulding will play at Milton High School of Region 6-AAAAA in Alpharetta Friday. The Raiders have won each of its first round playoff games under head coach John Reid. The Eagles (8-2) have won four games in a row coming into the contest.

Against Woodstock, East Paulding played uncharacteristic Raider ball. They held a 16-6 lead in the third quarter when the Wolverines made their comeback. Woodstock blocked a Raider punt inside the 20-yard line and set up a 16-yard scoring run by Woodstock closing the Raider lead to 16-13.

With less than five minutes in the fourth period the Wolverine defense came up with a turnover on downs and scored the go ahead touchdown on a drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge for a 20-16 lead with 3:18 remaining.

Idris Anderson led the Raiders back on the ensuing drive with two long completions of 53 and 27 yards but came up short when they turned the ball over with over a minute remaining in the game.. The Wolverines added an insurance touchdown to seal the win.

Hiram slipped for the third consecutive week after a 21-14 loss to the Sequoyah Chiefs (9-1, 5-1). The loss dropped the Hornets to 5-5, 3-2, and third place in region 7B-AAAA. The loss also eliminated the Hornets from the playoffs.

Sprayberry won the region at 7-3, and 5-0 in region play. Hillgrove finished second with a 7-3, 5-1 record. Holding to a 14-14 tie in the third quarter Sequoyah scored on a 34-yard run to give the Chiefs the deciding points in the game. An interception by the Chiefs of Jared McClain on the final Hornet’s drive sealed the win for the Chiefs.

Paulding County finished the year on a winning note as the host Patriots (3-7, 1-4) defeated the Cass Colonels (4-6, 2-4) from Bartow County 30-14 after Brent Wheeling broke a 7-7 half time tie with three second half touchdown passes. Wheeling also had a touchdown pass to Bob Jobe in the first half to finish with four for the night.

North Paulding ended its first year of varsity play on a winning note with a 44-20 win over Georgia Military High School. The Wolfpack (2-8) were led by Cain Campbell’s passing performance that included completing 12 or 20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns along with a fourth score on a 1-yard run. Joe Grace led the ground game with 117 yards and two rushing touchdowns and another on a reception. Chris Conley caught 6 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. In all the Wolfpack gained 482 yards of offense dropping Georgia Military to 4-6.

Coach Heath Webb said the win builds excitement for the Wolfpack as they head into the offseason.

“Great team effort. I'm so proud of how well we played in all 3 aspects of the game but what I'm most proud of is how our defense played. Our No. 1 defense allowed only seven points,” he said. It was a great win to take into the offseason.”

South Paulding finished its first season of region play with a 37-27 loss to NW Whitfield (6-4, 3-3). The loss left the Spartans at 4-6, 2-3, and in fourth place in region 7B-AAAA.