Local players help Georgia win ‘War of the Border’ All-Star football game

Article By Jay Scroggins

The Georgia offense put together drives of 77 and 68 yards in the fourth quarter to overcome a late 23-10 deficit and defeat Florida 24-23 on Friday in the Florida-Georgia War of the Border All-Star Game at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.

Leading 3-0, Florida used a 62-yard touchdown pass to extend its advantage to 10 points at the 4:05 mark of the first quarter.

Georgia responded immediately, as Jay Moses of Early County went 82 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. Zac Miller of Lee County kicked the extra point. Despite being outgained 134 yards to 10, Georgia trailed only 10-7 going into the second period.

After Florida missed a field goal, quarterback Grant Hurston of Haralson County led the Georgia offense on a 51-yard drive, capped off by a 41-yard field goal by Colquitt County’s Luis “Baby Lou” Martinez split to tie the game at 10-10.

Bainbridge High School football players who were on the Georgia roster for the Border Wars game were Calvin Isom, Tyler Storey, Russell Wheeler and Charles Hightower

Florida took advantage of a failed onside kick attempt and an interception and put together two drives that resulted in field goals and led 16-10 at halftime.

Georgia got the first possession of the second half, and eventual Georgia MVP Stephen Jackson of Southwest Georgia Academy ran twice for 19 yards. On the third play of the drive, however, Florida defensive linemen got penetration, forced a fumble, and recovered at the Georgia 44-yard line.

The Georgia team’s roster boasted nine players from Class 6A state champions Colquitt County, five players from Early County; one from Haralson County; nine from Lee County; five from Mitchell County; five from Pelham; one from Seminole County; three Southwest Georgia Academy; six from Thomas County Central; five from Thomasville; four from Westover; four from Albany; five from Bainbridge; five from Brooks County; and four from Cairo.

Dondrial Pinkins of Pelham High was the Georgia team’s head coach.

Pinkins led the Hornets to a 6-5 record and a playoff berth in his first year as the team’s head coach.

Kyler Hall of Tallhassee’s Maclay School was the head coach of the Florida team.

(The link below also mentions Mitchell County football player Malik Rhodes)

Read More of the Border Wars Game Recap at the Moultrie Observer

Bainbridge High School players Calvin Isom, Tyler Storey, Charles Hightower and Russell Wheeler

Bainbridge GA players

Cairo GA High School Players

Albany GA area players

Wakulla County Fla. players