TRENTON, Ga. – Dade County’s dream has come to a conclusion.
Lovett School ushered the Wolverines out of the Georgia Class AA football playoffs with a 42-6 victory Friday night.
Dade County tied its school record in the modern era with 10 wins this season and hosted a playoff game for the first time in 40 years.
“There’s only been five teams to win 10 games in the history of this county,” Wolverines coach Bradley Warren said. “Most of the season has been setting goals and reaching them.
“This round is just a bonus, but I wish we would have won.”
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Lovett senior running back Zach Boden pierced the Wolverines for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. The Lions amassed 439 rushing yards against Dade, which had allowed less than 1,200 rushing yards all season.
“Zach has really done that three weeks in a row,” said Lovett coach Mike Muschamp, brother of Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. “He’s the hardest running kid I’ve ever coached, and we executed really well up front.”
Dade’s last home playoff game was on Nov. 27, 1970.
David Page, grandfather of the current Wolverine by the same name, scored two touchdowns in the 25-16 to Pacelli 40 years ago. The younger Page gained 88 yards on eight touches, including 60 receiving yards, Friday night.
Lovett controlled the first half by racking up 225 yards and 13 first downs while limiting the Wolverines to 82 yards and four first downs.
With a punishing running game and a limited passing attack, the Wolverines are not built for second-half comebacks. They needed one after Lovett built a 14-0 lead by the break.
The Lions first scored on a 16-yard pass over the middle from Hunter Budd to Brooks Schoen. Later in the second quarter, Zach Boden scored on a 5-yard sweep around the left side. Boden had 111 rushing yards in the first half, and six of his 13 carries went for at least 11 yards.
The Wolverines had a bit of hope when Rodney Cannon intercepted Budd on the first play of the second half.
“That’s when I thought we had a chance,” Warren said. “We just missed it.”
Dade quarterback Rhett Lusk tossed an interception on Dade’s next play and the Lions went 62 yards in three plays for a 21-0 lead.
Chris Little scored on a 1-yard plunge late in the third quarter for Dade’s only score.
“From two years ago to the second round of the playoffs, I never would have thought it was possible,” said senior linebacker and fullback John Hampton, who had 50 yards on 14 carries. “I’ll remember this team for the rest of my life.”
