Duke-bound quarterback
Aidan McPherson had a game to remember in a battle between nationally-ranked Georgia football powerhouses Friday night – and it took him just one half to do it.
McPherson rushed around and through the defenseless Lee County defense, finishing with 361 total yards and all seven of his team's touchdowns, the final one a 16-yarder with 2:54 remaining to finally put the host Trojans away in this much-anticipated showdown.
Aidan McPherson was unstoppable Friday night for No. 18 Thomas County Central, which rolled to its 20th consecutive victory. (PHOTO: Greg Giedd)
It was the 20th straight win overall for the Yellow Jackets (5-0), the defending 5A state champions, and the fourth in the last five meetings against Lee County, which won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018 under current coach Dean Fabrizio.
The Trojans (4-1), which got three touchdown runs by
Jordan Bush, more than 200 total yards by passing from
Cohen Lawson and a 78-yard kickoff return for score by
Destin Bell, battled throughout.
But they simply had no answer for the fleet and strong McPherson, who rushed 14 times for 200 yards in the first half alone, scoring on runs of 12, 65, 40 and 1 yards, the last coming on the final play of the second quarter after many of the players had run into the locker room. He finished with 23 carries and 266 yards and six touchdowns while completing 7 of 14 passes for 95 yards and a score.
McPherson entered the game with 25 carries for 261 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
With five seconds left in the half, Lee County stopped McPherson cold for the first time for no gain on first-and-goal at the 1. Players sprinted off the field but after a delay the referees ruled that Thomas County Central coach Justin Rogers had called timeout with one second left.
On his next try, McPherson bulled his way over the right side for the score, completing a dominating half for the Yellow Jackets. The hard-earned yard was in stark contrast to earlier first-half touchdown runs of 65 and 40 yards when he wasn't even touched while racing around either end.
He completed six first-half passes for 93 yards, including a pretty 45-yard touchdown to
D.J. White to make it 21-6 midway through the second quarter.
Aidan McPherson and teammates celebrate a touchdown during their win Friday at Trojan Field, which was packed in anticipation of a showdown between nationally-ranked programs. (PHOTO: Greg Giedd)
Following a successful onside kick by the Yellow Jackets, McPherson faked a pass left then took off right 40 yards untouched making it 28-6. Bell returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for a score, closing the gap to 28-12.
But TCC took back complete control with McPherson's fifth touchdown of the half, making it 35-12 at halftime.
When McPherson capped the opening drive of the second half with another highlight reel touchdown run, this one of 37 yards, the Yellow Jackets looked like they had it all wrapped up leading 42-12.
The Trojans never quit, getting TD runs of 22 and 3 yards by Bush to close to 42-26 with 11:55 remaining.
After both defenses held, fittingly McPherson put it away with a 16-yard touchdown keeper around right end with 2:54 remaining, one play after
Jordan McNeil (7 carries, 118 yards) ripped off a 73-yard run. Thomas County Central finished with 420 rushing yards and 515 yards overall. The defense got interceptions from
Kobe Carnage and
Gary Pringle and recorded four sacks.
Thomas County Central improved to 58-3 under fifth-year head coach Rogers. The Yellow Jackets won state titles in 2023 and 2025.
