On to Atlanta: Warner Robins dominates Starrs Mill en route to third straight trip to AAAAA title game

The Warner Robins Demons are headed back to Atlanta for the AAAAA state title game for a third consecutive season following a 55-3 dismantling of the Starrs Mill Panthers at McConell-Talbert Stadium Friday night. The Demons will meet the Buford Wolves in the title game at Georgia State Stadium on Friday, the 13th. Buford defeated Jones County and former Warner Robins head coach and athletic director Mike Chastain 29-0 Friday night.

The Demons saved their most dominating performance of the postseason for the semifinals. The defense, stout the entire season, did not allow the Panthers a first down until the secomnd quarter and only three for the entire first half. A run-first team, the Panthers didn’t get anywhere near the Demons red zone until a Warner Robins fumbled punt put their offense on the Demons 32 yard line with three minutes to play in the first half. That drive ended with a successful 32-yard field goal, their only points of the game. 

Warner Robins’ high-octane offense managed to score during every quarter of the game including three times during the first quarter. The first touchdown coming courtesy of a Jalen Addie pass to junior receiver Armon Porter, who has become quite the weapon for first-year head coach Marquis Westbrook’s team of late. Addie would add a 21-yard scramble to his list of touchdowns on the persuing drive to put the Demons ahead 14-0 with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Demons have utilized a number of offensive options this postseason and junior running back Jahlen Rutherford, who would score his first touchdown of the game off an Addie screen pass that he took 63 yards to the north end zone early in the second quarter, is one of those options. Seniro running back James Smith is another. Smith made the score 21-0 near the end of the first quarter when he took a hand-off 22 yards for a touchdown. Smith carried the ball three times during that six-play drive, displaying his ability to make plays whenever the ball is in his hands. He is arguably the most talented ‘back-up’ running back in AAAAA football. 

Starrs Mill’s first drive of four plays or more came with  8:54 remaining in the second quarter when senior running back Kalen Sims managed an 11-yard carry up the middle of the Demons defense. That play was later followed by anothe rpositive carry by sophomore back Brandon Mathis. That drive would end in he Panthers fourth punt of the first half. They would punt five more times for the game.

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