Southeast Whitfield's Jonathan Gowan (13) intercepts in front of Heritage's Luke Grant (25) on Monday at the Coahulla High School field.
Southeast Whitfield' Will Swantic is caught from behind by Heritage's Tyler Childers, left, a couple of plays before Swantic hit Corey Barnes with a touchdown pass Monday at the Coahulla High School field.VARNELL, Ga. -- Will Swantic has spent the past two years with one goal in mind. Well, make that two goals.
The Southeast Whitfield High School quarterback accomplished both Monday night, leading the Raiders into the GHSA playoffs for the first time in 30 years with a mini-playoff win over Heritage. In doing so he also earned bragging rights in his household -- at least for a night.
"My dad (Scott) was the quarterback the last time Southeast made the playoffs, and I hear it from my him every day about it, so tonight I finally get to shut him up," joked Swantic, whose 32-yard touchdown pass to Corey Barnes was the only scoring in a 7-0 win over Heritage in the second of two mini games at Coahulla Creek.
"Working as hard as we did in the preseason was the start, and we had a dream of this night," he added. "We would get together and talk about it. What would it be like for the Raiders to make the state playoffs? This dream came true because of the hard work."
Southeast will travel to top-ranked Buford next Friday in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs, a daunting task coach Sean Gray will start worrying about today. Monday night, the former Southeast player had only one feeling.
"It's incredible!" he screamed. "I love these boys. I've coached some of them for six years, and to be able to come through what we've come through to get this playoff appearance is worth it all. Their work ethic is unbelievable, and they're so resilient. Being a Southeast alum, I was there for several of those 30 years. It feels great to finally get over that hump, and our plan is to take off from here."
Heritage, which downed Northwest Whitfield 7-6 in the first mini game, took the opening kickoff in game two and drove to the Southeast 3. However, the drive ate up nearly the entire five-minute half, and when quarterback Corbee Wilson was sacked by Hunter Floyd, time ran out.
Southeast fumbled the kickoff to begin the second half but fell on the ball after a Heritage player nearly had it. On third-and-12 from the Raiders' 10, Swantic passed to Colter Faith for 44 yards. Five plays later, on third-and-6, he rolled left and hit Barnes, who had gotten behind a Heritage defender who had slipped, for the score with 1:02 to play.
The win and playoff berth were sealed on the next play when Jonathon Gowan intercepted Wilson's pass.
"I don't know if words can describe this feeling," said Gray, whose team lost middle linebacker Cody Gillean to an apparent broken leg in the second half. "Fourteen of our last 20 seasons have been 0-10 or 1-9, so to come out here and make the playoffs is incredible."
Southeast Whitfield coach Sean Gray calls a pass play for Corey Barnes to run in and that play defeats Heritage 7-0 Monday at Coahulla High School field.Heritage topped Northwest when Wilson hit Christian King on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds to play. The Bruins had scored earlier on Caleb Shiflett's 1-yard pass to Will Brock and had the ball at the end in Heritage territory when a pair of sacks sealed the win.
"It was a great season, a lot of fun," Heritage coach E.K. Slaughter said. "I hate losing it, but there's so much more about tonight than winning. I wish we could practice tomorrow, but I really wish I could play one more game with these seniors. They're just a great bunch and I'm going to miss them.
"I think we'll take a belief into next season."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.