Fans packed the bleachers on both sides of the Aquinas High School football field Oct. 10 as two long-time region rivals faced off in a hard-fought game that maintained its energy from the moment the two teams burst through their banners onto the field.
The Fightin’ Irish struck early with Christian Kates sprinting 30 yards into the endzone in the first two minutes of the game.
Harlem responded with the first of quarterback Rod Anderson’s three touchdowns of the night.
The Bulldogs would take the lead in the third quarter with 8:25 left on the second Anderson push into the endzone.
Aquinas quarterback Jack Rhodes evened up the game on a one-yard run with 5:47 left in the third.
The Bulldogs pushed it back down the field in the fourth for final Anderson dive into the endzone. The extra point was good. The Bulldogs took the lead, winning the game with a final score of 21-14.
Harlem is 6-1 overall and 4-1 in Region 4-AAA while Aquinas falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the region.
Harlem will host Westside Oct.17, and Aquinas will travel to Baldwin Oct. 17.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
