MARIETTA — JT Way delivered back-to-back clutch plays late in the first half as Pope went on to complete a 34-23 win over neighboring rival Sprayberry in the Region 6AAAAA opener for both teams at the Pope Multi-Sport Complex.
Way’s first big play was a 19-yard touchdown catch with 2:16 left in the second quarter to give Pope (2-2, 1-0) its first lead of the game. The second came on the next play when Way recovered a Sprayberry fumble on the kickoff return.
Pope took advantage of the turnover when John Stuetzer rushed it in from 4 yards out to give the Greyhounds a double-digit lead of the break.
Strayberry (3-1, 0-1) never seemed to fully recover from the turn of events. Pope maintained its lead throughout the second half, en route to beating the visiting Yellow Jackets.
“It was a complete team effort,” Pope coach Sean O’Sullivan said. “Hats off to Sprayberry. They are a good team as well. Our kids held an explosive offense. It was the best that our defense has played.”
It was the win Pope was looking for after giving up 65 points in its loss to Cherokee last week.