The avengers! The Clinch County Panthers joined elite company on Friday afternoon, becoming the seventh team to win a state by beating the team they lost to during the regular season. On top of that, they also captured their sixth title, becoming the eighth Georgia school to achieve this feat.
The Panthers did all of their damage on the ground with 292 total rushing yards. Sophomore QB Charles McClelland accounted for most of damage as he rushed for 173 with one score. The defense of Clinch, led by outside rushers Chauncey Manac and Octavius Morris, remained as stingy as ever shutting down Irwin star runner D.J. Pollard who didn’t even reach the 100 yard rushing mark. The lone Irwin touchdown was came via a 93 yard run by Ziaire Andrews. In the end, that was nowhere near enough as Coach Jim Dickerson and his squad took the trophy back to Homerville for the first time since 2010.
There will be a full spread and story on the State Champion Clinch County Panthers in our January ITG Magazine, but until then, reminisce on Georgia commit Chauncey Manac’s season outlook when he sat with us at the beginning of the year.
The Clinch County Panthers take home 6th state title
South Georgia / Special Feature
written by: Lambert Bales
photo courtesy of the AJC
