Appling Pirates face Toombs in Lyons for region title
Both teams are 8-0 and 5-0 in Region 3-3A, with the game serving as a first-place showdown for the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
By Matthew Turner ·
Appling County and Toombs County will meet at 8 p.m. Friday at Booster Stadium in Lyons for a direct contest for the Region 3-3A championship. Both schools are undefeated at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Toombs County currently holds the No. 1 ranking, while Appling County is No. 2.
The Pirates enter the game with a strong offensive record. They have scored at least 45 points in every contest this season, with the exception of a weather-shortened 7-0 win against New Hampstead in the opener. No opponent has scored more than 14 points against them. However, Appling County has not yet played the region’s other top team, third-ranked Pierce County, who defeated Toombs County 28-7 on Sept. 25.
Running back Jaiden Knight leads Appling County with 946 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. He also plays linebacker and ranks as the team’s third-leading tackler. Toombs County counters with Donterrius Mincey, who has rushed for 1,345 yards and 29 touchdowns. Mincey is committed to play college football at Georgia State.
Toombs County features several other high-profile prospects. Wide receiver and safety Nick Carroll has committed to Georgia, safety Alex Scott to NC State, and linebacker Kareem Palmer to Auburn. Defensive lineman Jamarcus Johnson remains an uncommitted five-star prospect. The Bulldogs have played in three previous No. 1 versus No. 2 matchups, all since 2024.
This is the first No. 1 versus No. 2 game in Appling County’s history. The Pirates are 1-15 all-time against top-ranked teams, with their only victory coming in 1967 against Dodge County. Appling County’s average score is 43-5, while Toombs County’s average is 58-9.
The last meeting between these two schools took place in 2023, when Toombs County won 31-28. The Bulldogs are coming off a closer contest than their other games, having played their closest match against Pierce County earlier in the season. The Pirates have faced the 59th-toughest schedule in Class 3A, while Toombs County has faced the 38th-toughest.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution · original report published
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