By: Mike Anthony

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

When Statesboro walked off the field after an overtime loss to a top-10 Wayne County squad on Oct. 5, the Blue Devils had reason to be optimistic.

They had gone toe-to-toe with a stellar opponent and a rival that wasn’t going to overlook them.

So, there was plenty of hope that the Devils could make another bid at an upset when they travelled to No. 8 Ware County Friday night.

And then Mother Nature got involved. Thanks to Hurricane Michael blazing a trail through most of Georgia earlier in the week, the Blue Devils were limited to just two days of practice. And while Ware County was also affected, the Gators were on a bye last week, giving them a huge edge in terms of preparing and installing a game plan.

The preparation – as well as a bunch of talent – was evident on Friday night as Ware County built a 21-0 lead before cruising to a 35-13 victory over Statesboro.

As has been the case all season for the 5-2 Gators, freshman quarterback sensation Thomas Castellanos stole the show.

The ninth-grader directed Ware’s attack with effectiveness and efficiency, passing for 68 yards and a touchdown while also leading the rushing attack with 78 yards on the ground.

Much like last week, Statesboro’s veteran and athletic defense was able to at least slow down a dangerous offense. But unlike the Wayne County game, the Blue Devils’ offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain.

Statesboro managed just 156 yards and 8 first downs on 50 offensive plays, only once gaining more than 14 yards on a single snap.

Jaylin Roberson continued to be the go-to guy for the Devils, rushing 24 times for 65 yards and a touchdown while also hauling in a 30-yard reception.

But Castellanos had a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown already to his name before Statesboro found the scoreboard. And when Roberson punched into the end zone in the third quarter to make it a 21-7 game, Castellanos immediately answered by conducting another touchdown drive that he capped himself with a 3-yard plunge.

Statesboro added another touchdown on an 11-yard strike from Drake Horton to Will Yawn with just under eight minutes to play to make it 28-13.

The Devils held on defense and had a chance to keep the comeback alive, but Michael Mincey picked off Horton and went 58 yards to the house with just under five minutes remaining to seal the deal for Ware County.

With the win, Ware officially began its region schedule – which in the five-team Region 2-AAAAA is essentially a sprint to the finish line over the final month of the season.

The Gators will be prohibitive favorites in each of the next two weeks against South Effingham and New Hampstead before what figures to be a de facto region championship game at Wayne County on the final night of the regular season.

Statesboro now shifts into a bye week before playing its final two games. The Devils stand at 2-6 and their losing streak has now reached half a dozen games, but a win in either of their final two games – vs. South Effingham on Oct. 26 and at New Hampstead on Nov. 2 – will likely be enough to send them to the state playoffs for the first time since 2013.