VARNELL, Ga. — In the biggest moment of Coahulla Creek's most important game yet this football season, first-year starting quarterback Chase Ward delivered.
On fourth-and-10 with less than two minutes to play at home and trailing GHSA Region 6-AAA rival Ringgold by four points, Ward connected with Nate Tilley for a 30-yard touchdown pass as the Colts prevailed 20-17 on Thursday night.
The win moves Coahulla Creek to 4-3 overall and, more importantly, 3-1 in 6-AAA, while Ringgold, with a third straight loss, falls to 3-4 and 1-3. The Colts could clinch their second consecutive playoff berth — and second in program history — with one more region win.
"We lost a gut-punch game last week to Gordon Lee, and to be able to bounce back is big for our kids," Coahulla Creek first-year head coach Drew Carter said. "To be able to stay toward the top of the region is also big, and we were able to finally win a close one."
Ward, a senior who sat behind three-year starter Kace Kinnamon until this season, passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 78 yards and a score. Carter had high praise for Ward, who now has more than 1,100 yards passing and 400 rushing.
"Chase and I are getting to the point where we are comfortable with each other, and he's just making plays all over the place for us," Carter said. "He makes our run game better, and by occupying linebackers, he helps guys get open in the passing game."
Ward made a statement with his legs right off the bat, picking up 41 yards on the first play, adding a 14-yard gain and finishing off the opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers, playing without injured starting quarterback Garrett Edgar and tailback Haddon Fries, turned to Alijay Bradberry for the bulk of the offense, and the senior responded with 172 yards on 27 carries. His 4-yard run capped a 67-yard touchdown drive to open the second quarter for a 7-all tie.
Later in the quarter, with the Coahulla Creek ground game stalled, Ward went to the air. He hit Luke Swiney for 40 yards after starting a drive at the 2, and three plays later, he found Tilley for a 44-yard touchdown and a 13-7 lead (the PAT was missed) at halftime.
Ringgold, behind Bradberry, got a field goal to cut its deficit to three to start the second half, and with 3:43 left in the game, the Tigers took a 17-13 lead when Isaac Talley hit Braxton Holtcamp for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Coahulla Creek answered as Ward hit Tilley for 40 yards on the first play before the two connected again for the winner.
"It was a play I wanted to call two or three times earlier, and I held it in my pocket and I'm glad I did," Carter said of the final touchdown. "He kept the play alive, and Nate made a great adjustment to make the catch."
Northwest Whitfield 37, Southeast Whitfield 0: The Bruins started the Whitfield County rivalry with Isaiah Foster's 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and never looked back in improving to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 7-AAAA. Southeast is 1-6, 0-2.
Gavin Nuckolls found Foster on a 51-yard pass moments later for a 13-0 lead, then hit Austin Cooley for the first of two scoring tosses for a 20-0 lead in the first 12 minutes, giving the sophomore quarterback 17 touchdown passes this season. Hudson Gray later returned a punt return for a touchdown.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.