On Friday, the New Manchester Jaguars hosted the South Paulding Spartans in a pivotal Georgia High School Association Class 5A Region 5 matchup as the Jaguars looked to remain unbeaten on the season and in the region standings, while the Spartans hoped to improve to 2-1 in region play and remain at least a game back of first place in the region standings.
Striking first, South Paulding would take a 7-0 lead after a Kade Wigginton touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford, however the Jaguars would respond on their ensuing possession capping a seven play drive with an Andre Gianopolous rushing touchdown. And while they would fail on the extra point attempt, New Manchester trailed 7-6.
The Jaguars defense would then force a three and out on South Paulding's next possession and then add to their lead with an Adrian Waterton rushing touchdown, taking a 13-7 lead after the extra point. The Jaguars would not be done either as their defense would come up with an interception after a Wigginton pass would bounce off the hands of Ford and into the hands of Triston Graham.
Taking advantage of the turnover, the Jaguars would extend their lead to 21-7 as Delancy Alexander would connect with Jakobe DeJesus for another New Manchester touchdown. As the second quarter got underway, the Jaguars first possession of the quarter would result in a field goal to give them a 24-7 lead, but the Spartans would eventually find the end zone for a second time as 10 play drive end with a Wigginton rushing touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, New Manchester would increase their lead to 17 points against after a Larry Horton rushing touchdown, but South Paulding would score 14 unanswered and found themselves trailing 31-28 with 3:00 remaining in the game. Following Wigginton's rushing touchdown to bring the Spartans within three points of the Jaguars, South Paulding would recover an onside kick, giving themselves a chance to take the lead with a successful drive, however the New Manchester would force a turnover on downs with 1:31 remaining.
Needing another defensive stop, the Spartans would then in turn force turnover on downs giving themselves a final chance to go down the field and either tie the game with a field goal or take the lead with a touchdown. With less than a minute to go, a Wigginton pass would end up in the hands of New Manchester's Joshua Williams, sealing the game for the Jaguars as they picked up the 31-28 win, improving to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the region standings.
"Always great to get a victory," New Manchester head coach, Olten Downs, said after his team improved a "remarkable" 6-0 mark, which is the first time in program history. "It's been great direction," Downs added as the Jaguars have improved their win total year after year since Downs has taken over. And while Downs is proud of his players for making program history, he noted in order for the Jaguars to continue trending in their current direction, they cannot allow games to come close to slipping away.
"We have to learn how to finish our opponents when we play guys that can make plays, so that's something we have to work on. We're still building our culture of excellence here, but we're going in the right direction and I'm proud of the guys and how they responded and just kept on fighting," Downs said.