Jackets close out 9-2 on the year with fifth region title in a row before move to 5-AA

Jacket Nation were excited to host the first round of the playoffs on Friday night, but Rockmart ended their year against a Stephens County squad who were ready for anything thrown at them.

Rockmart – who finished last week’s regular-season run 9-1, undefeated in Region 6-AAA and with a fifth region title in a row – fell in a 27-13 game against the Indians, who had come into the game as the fourth-place school out of a tough Region 8-AAA.

The Jackets held a 6-3 lead early on in the game, but the Indians put up 17 in the second quarter and another touchdown in the third quarter for the win as the Stephens County offense got the better of a Rockmart defense that has been tough all year long.

Mason Phillips came into play under center as quarterback JD Davis remained sidelined by an injury sustained in the Ringgold game, and was able to bring some positive to the end of the game with a last-second touchdown pass to Jakari Clark in a final try to get on the scoreboard and try and catch up with the Indians.

Dennis Sims scored the first touchdown of the night in the first quarter, but the Jackets missed the point after.

Rockmart’s 9-2 season closed out with another big record broken as well: the highest-scoring game for the Jackets in their history after taking a 72-0 victory over Murray County back in mid-October.

The game ended Rockmart’s time in Class AAA in football as well, with the GHSA announcing in recent days that Rockmart would move back down to Class AA in 2022 and 2023.

The Jackets will replace Bremen in 5-AA, playing in a region that includes Haralson County, Temple, Heard County, and Callaway.