Archer advances in Class AAAAAA playoffs with big win over talented McEachern.
Video: Highlights of Will Bearden in a recent game against EtowahArcher (Lawrenceville, Ga.) scored with less than a minute remaining to hold off
McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 24-21 in a playoff game Friday night.
Quarterback
Will Bearden found the end zone from one yard out with 35 seconds remaining for the game-winning score, helping Archer overcome a late 21-17 McEachern lead.
Bearden made numerous big plays for Archer in the win. He threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to
Aramis Bryant with just over four minutes remaining to put the Tigers up 17-14.
A subsequent McEachern touchdown pass from quarterback
Bailey Hockman to
Tyler Simmons with three minutes left helped McEachern regain the lead. McEachern led 14-3 midway through the third thanks to an earlier Hockman-to-Simmons touchdown.
Archer, the No. 21-ranked team in the Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, advances to the quarterfinals of the Class AAAAAA playoffs, where it will take on unbeaten Mill Creek.
Nationally ranked Grayson and Roswell are still lurking in the Class AAAAA playoffs as well.
That bracket ranks as one of the nation's
most challenging.
Archer quarterback Will Bearden drops back to pass during Friday night's 24-21 playoff victory over McEachern.
Photos by Dennis Carter
McEachern receiver Tyler Simmons attempts to elude a diving Archer defender.
Archer receiver Aramis Bryant stretches for yardage while being tackled by a McEachern defender.
