Gordo Wraps Up Second Place in Region with Win Over Lamar County

BY BRIAN HAMILTON, Sports Correspondent

Gordo ensured itself a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs Friday night, as the Greenwave scored two touchdowns in the first half and the defense was able to hold on for a 14-0 win over Lamar County. It is unclear who Gordo will play in the first round, but Greenwave head coach Ryan Lolley is pleased to get the home field advantage.

“We have no idea who we’ll play (in the playoffs). It’s a mess right now,” Lolley said. “We were able to finish it and get the two-seed and home field (in the first round), so we’re tickled to death for that.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Gordo went into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter when J.T. Billups caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Bailey to put the Greenwave in front 7-0. The score capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive.

Gordo would score again later in the second quarter, as Troy Garner Jr. capped a 12-play, 77-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run to stretch the Greenwave lead to 14-0 with 5:19 remaining before halftime. Gordo would go into half-time with a 14-0 lead.

The Greenwave recovered a fumble in the third quarter and looked to be heading for another score when Lamar County was able to turn Gordo over on downs.

From there, the Bulldogs began piecing together a solid drive of their own. Lamar County had the ball inside the Gordo 10-yard line when quarterback Ric Rogers tossed a pass to the end zone which was intercepted by Alkwon Manning for a touchback.

“They had caught one on us previously in that drive and we told them, that happens to the best of the best,” Lolley said. “He (Manning) is a great corner and he turned right back around and made a play. That was our defense all night; they just kept making plays and keeping them out of the end zone.”