The Warner Robins Demons will once again be playing for a trip to the AAAAA state finals on their home turf after defeating visiting Clarke Central High School 21-14 on Friday night. The game was both good (because of the victory and second half come back), bad (the first half lifted the veil on some of the Demons’ weaknesses) and ugly (the weather throughout the entire game) but in the end another victory for a team looking to win another state title.
The Demons scored twice during the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead after having, for the first time this season, not scored a touchdown during the first quarter. Clarke Central went ahead 7-0 midway through the first quarter after a long drive capped by a 33-yard run by junior O’Brien Barnett. That drove would be the most successful for the Gladiators until the fourth quarter with less than two minutes to play.
Warner Robins found the end zone on their first drive of the second half when senior quarterback Dylan Fromm, who was sacked and hurried throughout the first half, found junior receiver Marcayll Jones on a 54-yard strike. Demons head coach Mike Chastain had deferred to take the ball after halftime and that moved paid off immensely. The rain fell throughout the game but settled down more after halftime and that helped the Demons offense pick up the pace. Warner Robins came into the game having averaged 31 points per game during the playoffs.
At the 10:15 mark of the third quarter the Demons forced a Gladiators fumble that left them in solid field position on the Clarke Central 43 yard line. They would go ahead for good on another Fromm to Jones touchdown connection, this time from five yards out. The drive was highlighted by a 35-yard run up the middle of the field by sophomore running back Jahlen Rutherford.
The final score and would also come on a run, this time by junior running back Deondre Duehart. The eight-yard score came after a third down Fromm completion to twin brother Tyler.
That score came with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Demons defense would hold the fort by forcing three consecutive Clarke Central punts.
Warner Robins will next host Rome High School, who defeated Dutchtown High School on the road 28-14. One of the two losses the Demons have suffered the last two seasons came to Rome at McConnell-Talbert Stadium during last season state finals.
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