WAYCROSS – While Coffee and Ware County are the apparent 1-2 finishers in some order again this year in Region 1-AAAAA, the race for the other two spots is heating up.

Bradwell Institute, 0-2 in the region and 2-5 on the year, hosts Statesboro, which is 1-1 in the region after a 51-0 loss to Coffee.

The Blue Devils are averaging fewer than 8 points per game and have been shut out three times.

The Tigers fell 52-20 to the fifth-ranked and defending state champion Gators on Friday at Memorial Stadium.

Luke Hooks threw four first-half touchdown passes, and the Gators ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Hooks hit Quinton Orange with a 33-yard touchdown pass on the Gators’ first play from scrimmage.

Hooks found an open Cole Cox for a 40-yard TD strike late in the first quarter, and followed that with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cox for a 28-0 lead.

The Gators blitzed Tigers quarterback Christopher Garrett, who lofted pass down the left sideline for Tyon Jones. Jones caught it and dashed across the field for a 70-yard touchdown.

But the Gators’ Dae’jeaun Dennis, who earlier scored on a 12-yard run, ran the ensuing kick back 80 yards for a touchdown.

After a field goal from William Bates, Hooks dumped off a screen pass to Jamario Rice, who ran untouched for a 23-yard score and a 45-6 Gators lead at the half.

Ware County scored on each of its first six possessions and the defense notched six first-half sacks, holding the Tigers to -17 yards rushing. The Gators offense rolled up 236 yards, and Hooks, who sat out the second half, finished 10-of-13 for 174 yards.

Ware County (5-2, 2-0) struck again with the opening kickoff of the second half. Rice bobbled the kickoff but then took off and raced 85 yards untouched for a touchdown.

Garrett threw two more touchdowns to complete the scoring, a 40-yarder to Bryant Thomas and a 41-yarder to Zay Thomas as the Tigers went 98 yards in five plays against the Gators’ reserves.

Garrett was 13-of-22 for 255 yards, and Zay Thomas had 106 yards on five receptions. Jones had three catches for 74 yards, and Bryant Thomas had 63 yards on three catches.