JaQues Evans, a senior running back and linebacker at Dublin, is the GHSF Daily State Player of the Week for his performance Friday in a 70-16 victory over Southwest.
Evans rushed for 237 yards and scored five touchdowns — two on 57-yard runs — while making four tackles at linebacker and two touchbacks as the kickoff man. It was Evans' second consecutive game with more than 200 yards rushing. Dublin is 7-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class AA.
“I’ve done this a long time, and he’s one of the three or four best that I’ve ever coached,” Dublin coach Roger Holmes said. “He just does so many things. He punts for us. He kicks off. He’s been playing tight end and defensive line until this year. It wasn’t because of what he couldn’t do but because of what we had.”
Now a running back, Evans has rushed for 974 yards this season in a wing-T offense that doesn’t feature one back. He has several offers from Power 5 Conference schools and other Division I programs.
“The big question is where do they play him,” Holmes said. “He’s fast, but he’s not a burner. He’s 6-2, 230, but he doesn’t weigh 255, so is he fast enough to play linebacker, or big enough to play with his hand on the ground? He has as good a hands as you’ll find, but he’s not the typical 6-4 tight end.”
Holmes said Evans is only getting better as a running back. “JaQues [pronounced jah-QWEZ] is a big strong, physical kid,” he said. “He is starting to develop the vision you need as a running back. He hasn’t played running back until this year. He's just really gifted.”
Top five
• Alexander WR Jordan Watts had three receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown, returned five kickoffs for 180 yards and a touchdown, made 10 solo tackles and blocked two field-goal attempts in a 63-30 victory over Hughes.
• Athens Academy QB Palmer Bush was 15-of-18 passing for 369 yards and five touchdowns and scored a touchdown while playing only a half in a 58-0 victory over Athens Christian.
• Dublin RB/LB JaQues Evans rushed for 237 yards and five touchdowns on 11 carries, had four tackles and kicked two touchbacks in a 70-16 victory over Southwest.
• Miller County freshman RB Elijah Williams rushed for 284 yards and two touchdowns and returned an interception for a score in a 46-26 victory over Stewart County.
• South Paulding QB Austin Seymour was 28-of-34 passing for 332 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-35 victory over New Manchester.
Best of the rest
• Alpharetta RB Dylan Merrell had 176 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 10 touches in a 44-15 victory over Chattahoochee.
• Athens Academy WR Deion Colzie had five receptions for 205 yards and one touchdown in a 58-0 victory over Athens Christian.
• Benedictine WR/DB Gavin Stewart had five receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns, made three tackles, broke up a pass, put three kickoffs into the end zone and kicked a 29-yard field goal in a 37-26 victory over Islands.
• Brantley County DB Dawson Thomas had 11 tackles, recovered an onside kick, blocked a punt and scored on a 42-yard run in a 40-14 victory over Tattnall County.
• Carrollton LB Brock Bibbee had 10 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and three QB hits in a 34-14 victory over Kell.
• Cartersville WR Sam Phillips had 11 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-42 victory over Sandy Creek.
• Cedar Grove DL Demarius Jackson had four tackles behind the line for a team that allowed just two first downs and 28 total yards in a 21-0 victory over Westminster.
• Cedar Shoals sophomore RB Jerdavian Colbert rushed for 301 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in a 26-21 victory over Johnson of Gainesville.
• Cherokee Bluff RB Jayquan Smith rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-12 victory over East Hall.
• Christian Heritage LB/RB Gage Leonard had 12 tackles, forced a fumble on the game's first play and rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown in a 28-14 victory over Bowdon.
• Creekside DL Khatavian Franks had three sacks — giving him 13 on the season — and 19 tackles in a 28-12 loss to Mays.
• Dunwoody WR Tyler Eith had eight receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-30 victory over Centennial.
• Eastside QB Noah Cook was 14-of-22 passing for 313 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-6 victory over Salem.
• Harlem RB Cam Garnett rushed for 212 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries in a 47-21 victory over Screven County.
• Hephzibah DB Enoch Howard had three sacks in an 8-0 victory over Westside of Augusta.
• Hughes QB Christian Burks was 17-of-24 passing for 255 yards and four touchdowns in a 63-30 loss to Alexander.
• Jefferson QB Colby Clark rushed for 195 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries and threw a 24- yard TD pass in a 47-12 victory over Morgan County.
• Johns Creek DL Charlie Leon had three sacks as his team allowed minus-36 yards rushing in a 57-20 victory over Cambridge.
• Lanier LB Devin Gray had 10 tackles, four for losses, and a sack in a 27-7 victory over Winder-Barrow.
• Lovett sophomore LB Stevie Bracey had 11 solo tackles, two for losses, and three QB hurries in a 21-14 victory over Pace Academy.
• Marion County QB Trice McCannon was 12-of-14 passing for 244 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-12 victory over Central of Talbotton.
• McIntosh County Academy RB Trent Johnson rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-14 loss to Savannah Christian.
• Mill Creek LB Noah Faircloth made four solo tackles, two for losses, blocked a kick and returned a fumble for a touchdown in 63-0 victory over Discovery.
• Milton QB Devin Farrell rushed for 157 yards on 10 carries with TD runs of 45 and 52 yards and was 7-of-14 passing for 101 yards in a 24-7 victory over South Forsyth.
• Monroe Area DB Mason Byron had 10 solo tackles and five assists and broke up two passes in a 28-21 victory over Hart County.
• Morrow ATH Jimmy Calloway rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns on six carries, was 7-of-9 passing for 96 yards, intercepted a pass, made three tackles, returned two punts for 60 yards and punted once for 48 yards in a 40-0 victory over Drew.
• Mount de Sales RB/LB Josiah Cotton rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns and had 16 tackles, two for losses, in a 35-13 victory over Tattnall Square.
• Mount Paran Christian QB Niko Vangarelli rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-20 loss to Walker.
• Norcross DB Roland Jackson had six tackles, two for losses, and returned an interception for a touchdown in a 52-13 victory over Lakeside of Atlanta.
• North Gwinnett DE Chuck Smith had four solo tackles, three sacks and one other tackle for a loss and recorded a safety in a 23-8 victory over Collins Hill.
• North Cobb QB Trevor Lovett rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was 8-of-9 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 victory over North Paulding.
• Ridgeland senior RB Jordan Blackwell rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in a 42-20 victory over LaFayette.
• Sandy Creek QB Matt Williams was 24-of-41 passing for 461 yards and three touchdown in a 52-42 loss to Cartersville.
• Savannah Christian DB Bradley Anderson had 11 tackles, two for losses, broke up a pass and caught three passes for 55 yards in a 26-14 victory over McIntosh County Academy.
• Screven County RB Gary Hawkins had 20 carries for 200 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in a 47-21 loss to Harlem.
• Shaw RB Derrick Kelley rushed for 146 yards on six carries in a 28-0 victory over Columbus.
• Stone Mountain QB Shaheim Bailey passed for 266 yards and rushed for 103 in a 30-20 victory over Redan.
• Sonoraville RB Blade Bryant had 161 yards rushing, 49 receiving and nine passing in a 28-7 victory over Adairsville.
• Swainsboro DT Ka'yun Davis had three tackles for losses - giving him 26 on the season - and recovered a blocked punt in a 55-0 victory over Bryan County.
• Thomson ATH Lil'vasco Winfrey had 255 yards on five returns, two for touchdowns, in a 35-21 victory over Baldwin. Winfrey has four return touchdowns this season.
• Troup DB Devon Hill had 10 tackles, three for losses, and broke up a pass in a 21-6 victory over LaGrange.
• Valdosta WR Javonte Sherman had five receptions for 188 yards and touchdowns of 96 and 65 yards in a 28-7 victory over Coffee.
• Warner Robins WR Marcayll Jones had 147 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on six touches in a 45-10 victory over Thomas County Central.
• Washington County RB Sha'Marcus Poole returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries in a 35-14 victory over Dodge County.
• Wayne County WR Shamar Taylor had five receptions for 152 yards in a 31-28 victory over South Effingham.
• Westlake RB Jamari Sirmons rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a 45-14 victory over Pebblebrook.
• White County QB J. Ben Haynes passed for three of his team's touchdowns and rushed for the other three in a 42-0 victory over West Hall. Haynes passed for 173 yards and rushed for 85.
Lines of distinction
• Brantley County’s offensive line of tackles Patrick Williams and Josh Strickland, guards Cameron Musgrove, Tanner O'Steen and Houston Kennison, center Will Gibson and tight ends Anthonie Lattany and Camron Allen cleared a path for two 100-yard rushers - Clifford Patten (11-103-3) and Bradson Bowers (9-101-1) - in a 40-14 victory over Tattnall County.
• Buford’s offensive line of Seth McLaughlin, Malone VanGorder, Caleb Archer, Griffin Scroggs and Jacob Smith blocked for a pair of 150-yard rushers - Gabe Ervin (171) and Elijah Turner (151) - in a 30-7 victory over Loganville. The win put top-ranked Buford in sole possession of the lead in Region 8-AAAAA.
• Cherokee Bluff’s offensive line of Mateo Guevera, Keller Atkinson, Cason Moore, Cade Hulsey, Daniel Bescher, Garrett Davis and Eric Gohman opened holes for Jayquan Smith’s 201-yard rushing performance and 420 yards of total offense in a 41-12 victory over East Hall.
• Clinch County’s offensive line of center Dalton Murray, guards Jermaine King and Christian Stevens and tackles Jamarcus Marshall and Drake Browning opened lanes for 420 yards rushing in a 41-16 victory over Turner County. Clinch attempted only one pass.
• Griffin’s offensive line of Trevon Amey, Lorenzo Clemons, Bryan Ferguson, Gerald Pope and Ashton Fluellyn helped the Bears to 317 yards rushing in a 48-7 victory over Fayette County. Aalijah “Mo” King rushed for 160 yards and five touchdowns and went over 1,000 yards for the season.
• Miller County’s offensive line of Douglas Roney, Cade Outlaw, Cameron Crankfield, Reese Worsley, Jerrell Smith and Isaiah Carter helped the Pirates put up 472 yards rushing and four touchdowns a 46-26 victory over Stewart County. Elijah Williams rushed for 284 yards.
• Monticello’s offensive line of Tyler Wages, Ben Lynch, Johari Stone, Michael Clendenin and Hyrum Pierce was integral in 327 yards rushing in a 28-13 victory over Oglethorpe County. Mario Green (177) and Jaylon Mitchell (105) each rushed for more than 100 yards.
• Putnam County’s offensive line of Kam Giles, T.J. Miller, Cullen Lee, Drelyn Lockhart and Brandon Unash helped the War Eagles amass 452 yards of total offense and five touchdowns on only 29 offensive plays in a 49-14 victory over Social Circle.
• Ridgeland’s offensive line of tackles Tommy Lamb and Jacob Klein, guards Kyle Brown and Logan Godfrey and center Dylan Skates cleared the road for 412 yards rushing in a 42-20 victory over LaFayette. Jordan Blackwell rushed for 260 yards.
• St. Francis’ offensive line of Troy Beasley, Connor Brattin, Manny Beasley, Darron Willis, Ayden Prigoff and Elias Cloy helped their team to 535 yards of total offense - 257 rushing, 278 passing - in a 48-34 victory over Pinecrest Academy.
• Thomasville’s offensive line of Jackson Hodge, Tommas Speed, William McBride, Jacob Tyson and Jacari Borders controlled the trenches in a 20-14 victory over Fitzgerald. Ricky Fulton (15-110) and Malik Harper (21-102) each rushed for more than 100 yards.
• Veterans’ offensive line of Bryce Lewis, Tate Stephens, Reed Wallace, Jack Rowland, Jaden Moore, Ty Chambers and Jalon Shine blocked for 223-yard rusher Lebron Fields and allowed no sacks in a 23-13 victory over Harris County.
• Washington-Wilkes’ offensive line of Chase Chafin, Levi Brock, Jaden Benson, Kevin Gowen, Chris Wilson and Dakota McCallum created space for 380 yards of rushing in a 44-14 victory over Georgia Military. Corey Danner rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
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