Football Punches Playoff Ticket, Shuts Down Loganville 31-0

The Jackson County football team has punched its ticket to the Class AAAAA state playoffs. The Panthers secured at least a road playoff game with a dominating 31-0 win over Loganville on Friday night. The Panthers close out the regular season this week at Habersham Central, and with a win they could secure the No. 2 seed from Region 8 and the school's first-ever home state playoff game. 

Jackson County (7-2, 4-1) raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead on Friday night, riding the wave of two Daylan Maxwell rushing touchdowns, a 21-yard field goal from Carson Odom and a 55-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Coombs to Caden Daniels. 

Odom opened the scoring with 6:17 remaining in the first quarter, followed by Maxwell's 33-yard run with 5:06 to play. Daniels hauled in his touchdown reception with 4:39 left in the half, followed by Maxwell's 11-yard run with 2:06 to play. 

Maxwell added his third scoring touchdown of the game with a 47-yard run with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter. Maxwell finished the night with 154 yards rushing on 16 carries, while also hauling in four catches for 54 yards. Coombs led the team in receiving with 138 yards on four catches. Quarterback RJ Knapp finished 11 of 19 with 172 yards. 

The shutout was the Panthers' first since the 16-0 season-opening win over Dawson County in 2023. However, it was the Panthers' fifth game this season they have held an opponent to 10 or less points. On the season, the Panthers have allowed just 128 points in nine games, the fewest Jackson County has surrendered nine games into a season since 1992. 

A victory Friday gives Jackson County its eighth win of the year, which has not been accomplished since 1992.