Warren County standout Tommy Seals couldn't help but tear up after Friday's 34-17 loss.

Seals led his team to 30 victories in four years as the starting quarterback. Warren County only won 29 games in the nine years that preceded Seals.

His prep career ended against a stout ECI team in the state quarterfinals. His junior year ended in similar fashion. Seals still took the high road after he shed his grass-stained jersey for the last time.

"This is the first season we won 10 games," he said. "Our team is a region champ. We had a brand new stadium built. We've got plenty of stuff to hold our heads high about. That makes it hurt. It was a lot of fun. I hate to see it all end."

Warren County (10-3) had a six-play drive on its second possession but scored no points. Two bad center-to-quarterback exchanges and an interception tripped the next drive. The visitors moved 46 yards to the ECI 12 on their fourth series, before missing a field goal.

Warren County still led 17-13 after three quarters, but ECI scored 21 points in the fourth.

"We could've won," Seals said. "We had mistakes early when we should've scored. We had opportunities. It was real hard to get the ball moving, but when we did we didn't capitalize like we had to."

NO QUIT: There was a successful hook-and-ladder play. There was a 32-yard pass on fourth-and-29 facing a 27-17 deficit. Then came the fourth-and-7 on the next set of downs. The Screaming Devils got six yards.

It was clear Warren County had plenty of fight. It just didn't have enough bodies. Warren County went 18 players deep; ECI had 24 of its players log the key snaps.

"We lost two starters in the second half," Warren County coach Lee Hutto said. "Our best defensive player had a concussion. The other we think fractured an ankle. We had to put two freshmen in. That's asking for trouble. But with all that, I want to give all credit to ECI and those coaches for winning the football game tonight."

OUTGUNNED: Lincoln County's 34-24 loss at Wilcox County hinged on an early but crucial play.

The Patriots faced a third-and-20 on their 1 in the first quarter.

"We were about to get the ball back with good field position," Lincoln County coach Larry Campbell said. "We were looking at a possible 28-point lead."

Wilcox County quarterback Lorenzo Dennard converted a 40-yard pass for a crucial first down.

"Their quarterback laid one up and their man went and got it," Campbell said. "That was a great swing in momentum there."

Dennard threw for 287 yards.

"That quarterback threw the ball better than I thought he could," Campbell said. "He was probably the best passing quarterback we've ever faced. That's also as fine a core of receivers as we've ever faced at Lincoln County."

Wilcox County (12-1) proved just as tough defensively. The Red Devils scored 21 points in the first quarter without much offense.

Alex Ellis had a 49-yard punt return for a score. The other two drives came after short fields created by a blocked punt and an interception.

Lincoln County finished with seven first downs. The Red Devils did not score in the second half.

NOT TJ'S DAY: Thomas Jefferson's seniors were disappointed after a 41-13 loss to Flint River in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class A championship.

The Jaguars went to three state title games in a row and won two. Thomas Jefferson is 46-9 over the past four seasons, with 13-1 records each of the past two seasons.

FLINT ROCK: Flint River was the lone opponent to hold Thomas Jefferson under 30 points (twice) this season. The Wildcats proved again that the best defense is a good offense. They ran the ball on 36 of their first 37 plays.

The Wildcats took control of field position with their first drive. They reached the 50 and punted 42 yards. They received the ball in Jaguars territory on their next three possessions.

"I thought it was a game of field position in the first half," Thomas Jefferson coach Chuck Wimberly said. "We were just backed up in a hole all night long. We had the ball with like 90 yards to go every single time."

Staff writer Chris Gay contributed to this report.

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.