The Raiders hung with the Bulldogs for most of the game but fell short. ATLANTA — Bibb County has waited more than 40 years for one of its teams to be crowned a state champion in high school football, they will have to wait a little longer as Northeast lost to Toombs County 38-18 at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Tuesday. The Raiders got off to a hot start after the defense forced a quick 3-and-out, as star running back Nick Woodford caught a 31-yard touchdown from Reginald Glover. Northeast had its extra point blocked, the first of three blocked by the Bulldogs. Toombs County answered with back-to-back scoring drives as quarterback Alex Otero found Lagonza Hayward and Mike Polke for a pair of touchdowns to give Toombs a 14-6 lead. Northeast marched down the field on a six-play, 49-yard drive that ended Reginald Glover’s second passing touchdown, this one to Isaiah Stubbs. But the momentum was short lived as Mike Polke took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to put Toombs County up 21-12 before adding a field goal to give the Bulldogs a 12-point lead going into the half. Coming out of the half the Raiders would seize the momentum with a 10-play drive that resulted in a short touchdown run for Glover. After a missed extra point, Northeast trailed 24-18. The two teams traded turnovers back and forth before Northeast was stopped on down with 9:30 left in the game. This set up the Bulldogs for a back-breaking scoring drive as they put the game out of reach for good as running back Justin Powell found the endzone on a 12-yard run with 5:21 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs would add another touchdown with just over a minute left in the game as Otero rushed for 28-yard touchdown. Three Stars Nick Woodford, Northeast running back: The stats are pretty average by Woodford’s standards as he finished with 109 yards on 18 carries, he also added 41 yards through the air and caught a touchdown pass. But Woodford finds himself here for all he has done over the last few years as a Raider. He goes down as one of the best to ever play, not only for Northeast, but for any school in Bibb County. His junior year ended early with a knee injury but after rehabbing, Woodford returned to form as a senior and nearly led his team to a state title. Reginald Glover, Northeast quarterback: While the Raiders will lose Woodford to graduation, they will return their starting quarterback who scored three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground. He had 72 yards on the ground and 92 yards through the air. Glover is the future for Northeast and he will need to take a big step next year if Northeast hopes to return to the title game. But the experience and solid performance in the game will bode well for the rising senior confidence. Jeremy Wiggins, Northeast Head Coach: What Wiggins has done during his time at Northeast is nothing short of remarkable. He has now made the playoffs in six of his seven years at the school. The team had made the playoffs just 12 times in the previous 46 seasons. Wiggins played at Northeast and genuinely loves the school. Bibb County knocked this hire out of the park. He has been arguably one of the best coaches in the state over the last few years and he is just getting started. This should be the first of many trips for Wiggins to a state title game.

Northeast loses to Toombs County in Georgia High School football title game

The Raiders hung with the Bulldogs for most of the game but fell short. ATLANTA — Bibb County has waited more than 40 years for one of its teams to be crowned a state champion in high school football, they will have to wait a little longer as Northeast lost to Toombs County 38-18 at […]

The Raiders hung with the Bulldogs for most of the game but fell short.

ATLANTA — Bibb County has waited more than 40 years for one of its teams to be crowned a state champion in high school football, they will have to wait a little longer as Northeast lost to Toombs County 38-18 at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Tuesday.

The Raiders got off to a hot start after the defense forced a quick 3-and-out, as star running back Nick Woodford caught a 31-yard touchdown from Reginald Glover. Northeast had its extra point blocked, the first of three blocked by the Bulldogs.

Toombs County answered with back-to-back scoring drives as quarterback Alex Otero found Lagonza Hayward and Mike Polke for a pair of touchdowns to give Toombs a 14-6 lead.

Northeast marched down the field on a six-play, 49-yard drive that ended Reginald Glover’s second passing touchdown, this one to Isaiah Stubbs.

But the momentum was short lived as Mike Polke took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to put Toombs County up 21-12 before adding a field goal to give the Bulldogs a 12-point lead going into the half.

Coming out of the half the Raiders would seize the momentum with a 10-play drive that resulted in a short touchdown run for Glover. After a missed extra point, Northeast trailed 24-18.

The two teams traded turnovers back and forth before Northeast was stopped on down with 9:30 left in the game. This set up the Bulldogs for a back-breaking scoring drive as they put the game out of reach for good as running back Justin Powell found the endzone on a 12-yard run with 5:21 remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs would add another touchdown with just over a minute left in the game as Otero rushed for 28-yard touchdown.

Three Stars

Nick Woodford, Northeast running back:

The stats are pretty average by Woodford’s standards as he finished with 109 yards on 18 carries, he also added 41 yards through the air and caught a touchdown pass. But Woodford finds himself here for all he has done over the last few years as a Raider.

He goes down as one of the best to ever play, not only for Northeast, but for any school in Bibb County. His junior year ended early with a knee injury but after rehabbing, Woodford returned to form as a senior and nearly led his team to a state title.

Reginald Glover, Northeast quarterback:

While the Raiders will lose Woodford to graduation, they will return their starting quarterback who scored three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground. He had 72 yards on the ground and 92 yards through the air.

Glover is the future for Northeast and he will need to take a big step next year if Northeast hopes to return to the title game. But the experience and solid performance in the game will bode well for the rising senior confidence.

Jeremy Wiggins, Northeast Head Coach:

What Wiggins has done during his time at Northeast is nothing short of remarkable. He has now made the playoffs in six of his seven years at the school. The team had made the playoffs just 12 times in the previous 46 seasons.

Wiggins played at Northeast and genuinely loves the school. Bibb County knocked this hire out of the park. He has been arguably one of the best coaches in the state over the last few years and he is just getting started. This should be the first of many trips for Wiggins to a state title game.