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[Ira]

GRADY 9, LANIER 6
Date: Dec. 11, 1953
Site: Porter Stadium (Macon)
Coaches: Erk Russell (Grady) and Selby Buck (Lanier)

SCORING
Grady 7-0-0-2--9
Lanier 0-6-0-0--6

First Quarter
Grady – Jeff Davis 10 run (Harry McDevitt kick)
Second Quarter
Lanier – Jimmy Crenshaw 10 run (kick failed due to bad snap)
Fourth Quarter
Grady – safety, Billy Kitchens tackled in end zone by McDevitt and Mike Trotter

GAME SUMMARY
This was a huge upset. Lanier was undefeated and ranked first in the state. The Poets had a much-heralded backfield consisting of future UGA great Theron Sapp, Billy Kitchens, and Jimmy Crenshaw. Grady took the opening kickoff and drove 55 yards to score. Lanier answered with an 80-yard drive that consumed much of the first and second quarters. Grady added a meaningless safety in the fourth. Grady was led by Jeff Davis with 49 yards on 12 carries. Kitchens paced the Poet offense with 46 yards on 10 attempts. Lanier led in total offense 161-131 and first downs 10-7.

VALDOSTA 48, LAGRANGE 7
Date: Dec. 10, 1953
Site: Valdosta
Coaches: Wright Bazemore (Valdosta) and Oliver Hunnicutt (LaGrange)

SCORING
LaGrange 7-0-0-0--7
Valdosta 14-20-7-7--48

First Quarter
LaGrange – Danny Sherrer from Dusty Mills (Sherrer kick)
Valdosta – John Hughes 46 run (PAT good*)
Valdosta – John O’Neal 86 run (PAT good)
Second Quarter
Valdosta – O’Neal 24 run (PAT good)
Valdosta – Maxwell Taylor 72 interception return (no PAT)
Valdosta – Bobby Renfroe 1 run (PAT good)
Third Quarter
Valdosta – Hughes 75 run (PAT good)
Fourth Quarter
Valdosta – Renfroe 5 run (PAT good)
*PAT’s by Roberts and S. Taylor not specified in game article

GAME SUMMARY
Valdosta pounded LaGrange for the second straight year in the state final. Three touchdowns in the second quarter put the game away. The Wildcats had 265 yards total offense, all rushing. LaGrange ran for 105 and passed for 48.

MODEL 25, OCILLA 19
Date: Dec. 10, 1953
Site: Barron Stadium (Rome)
Coaches: N.S. Woodard (Model) and Herb Strickland (Ocilla)

SCORING
Ocilla 6-13-0-0--19
Model 7-12-6-0--25

First Quarter
Model – Mitchell Shellnut 68 run (Shellnut run)
Ocilla – Max Alford 6 from Danny Paulk (kick failed)
Second Quarter
Model – Buddy Jones 17 run (kick failed)
Model – Shellnut 32 run (kick failed)
Ocilla – Charlie Barnes 6 from Paulk (Barnes kick)
Ocilla – Hollis Register 86 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
Model – Shellnut 39 run (kick failed)

GAME SUMMARY
Model’s junior sensation Mitchell Shellnut put on a show with touchdown runs of 68, 32, and 39 yards. His final effort broke a 19-19 tie in the third. Both offenses were hindered in the second half due to heavy rain. Ocilla came into the game undefeated, having held the top spot in the rankings all year. Model had entered the rankings late due to an early season loss to Villa Rica. Model had 293 yards rushing, 31 passing, and 8 first downs. Ocilla had 195 yards rushing, 64 passing, and 11 first downs.

HAWKINSVILLE 27, CALHOUN 6
Date: Dec. 10, 1953
Site: Griffin
Coaches: Robert Gentry (Hawkinsville) and Lindy McGee (Calhoun)

SCORING
Hawkinsville 0-14-6-7--27
Calhoun 0-6-0-0--6

Second Quarter
Hawkinsville – W.L. Rewls 5 run (Billy Crenshaw run)
Hawkinsville – Melvin Borum 4 run (Jimmy Lee run)
Calhoun – Johnny Pass 2 run (kick blocked)
Third Quarter
Hawkinsville – Borum 5 run (no PAT)
Fourth Quarter
Hawkinsville – Crenshaw 9 run (Crenshaw kick)

GAME SUMMARY
Undefeated Hawkinsville was the favorite over once-beaten Calhoun. Billy Crenshaw led the winners with 96 yards rushing and teammate Melvin Borum added 85. Hawkinsville held Calhoun’s star back Wiley Clark to 55 yards on 13 carries.

[BobbyHodges]

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