The AAAAAAA high school football state playoffs in Georgia featured a shootout Friday night as No. 12
Walton (Marietta) took down No. 17
Carrollton 56-35 to advance to the semifinals. Leading the way for the victors was senior quarterback
Jeremy Hecklinski, who threw for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns while running for another.
Walton avenged a 52-27 loss to Carrollton in last year's playoffs, which was also a quarterfinal matchup.
Julian Lewis threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns in that one but tonight was all about the Raiders.
Senior running back Makari Bodiford scored four touchdowns as No. 12 Walton topped No. 17 Carrollton 56-35. (Photo: Ben Ennis)
Senior
Makari Bodiford put Walton on the board first, running behind senior Georgia commit
Daniel Calhoun for a 14-yard touchdown.
On the next Walton possession, Hecklinski made it 14-0 on a five-yard rushing score. That put Carrollton in a hole it never quite recovered from as it trailed 35-21 at the half.
After Carrollton briefly cut the deficit to seven in the third quarter, Walton fired back with touchdowns from senior running back
Austin Williams and Bodiford to make it 49-28.
After a Lewis touchdown cut the lead to 49-35, Bodiford scored a fourth touchdown to crank the lead back up to three touchdowns 56-35.
Walton will meet Camden County next week in one semifinal while Grayson and Milton battle for the other spot in the Dec. 11 championship game.
