With a playoff win on the line, Hawkinsville rose to the challenge on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Trion Bulldogs 24-21. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Red Devils have posted since August 16, 2024.
Hawkinsville got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Nieem Blair out in front who rushed for 96 yards and one touchdown. Blair also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making five total tackles and defending one pass in addition to snagging an interception. Another player making a difference was Sebastian Clark, who rushed for 59 yards and one score.
Hawkinsville didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Trion to a completion percentage of just 50%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from four players: Blair, Landon Johnson, Jakori Pickett, and Josiah Collins, who each logged one passes deflected. Sadly, that's becoming something of a trend for Hawkinsville; they were averaging 58.8%completion percentage earlier this season, but in their last three matchups they've fallen to only 58.8%.
Hawkinsville didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Amos Manning and Blair.
Despite the loss, Trion saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Landon Kimbell picked up 80 receiving yards and a pair of TDs, and also rushed for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Red Devils
| 11/14/25 vs Trion | 24-21 |
| 10/31/25 vs Dooly County | 33-14 |
| 10/17/25 vs Montgomery County | 46-7 |
| 10/10/25 vs Telfair County | 19-0 |
| 08/22/25 vs Schley County | 34-23 |
| + 3 more games |
Hawkinsville's win was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 13.9 points on average over those games. As for Trion, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-7 record this season.
Hawkinsville wasted no time getting back out on the field and has already played their next game, a 56-0 defeat against Lincoln County on the 21st. Trion does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
