In the end, Ringgold’s defense won the battle but lost the war in Friday night’s 18-6 defeat at Rockmart with the GHSA Region 6-AAA championship on the line for both teams.
The Yellow Jackets (9-1, 8-0) entered the game having averaged just less than 50 points per game in region play. Ringgold (9-1, 7-1) had allowed just more than 10 points per game, but the Tigers’ trouble Friday was getting the Jackets’ offense off the field.
It also didn’t help that Ringgold had three possessions that moved inside the Rockmart 10-yard line only to settle for two field goals (and one miss).
“We had chances and only got six points, which really hurt us,” Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. “It’s almost like we were snakebit once we got down there. They are a good football team, and we haven’t played anybody like them this year. Our defense did better than anybody has all season against them, but in the end they were better than us tonight.”
Ringgold, as the region’s No. 2 seed, will host a playoff game next week, likely against Region 8 No. 3 seed (and top 10-ranked) Hart County.