By John Glover

The Daily News

The Varnado Wildcats defeated the visiting Ringgold High School Redskins Friday night, 54-0, in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wildcats had a 6-3 regular season with a 4-1 record in district. They went into Friday’s game coming off a 22-0 victory against Mangham the previous week.

“It was the first round, you’re supposed to go out and take care of business. We did,” said Varnado coach Scott Shaffett.

The Wildcats scored seven touchdowns — five in the first half and two in the fourth quarter, and added the two-point conversion for all but the final attempt.

Setting the tone of the game, the Wildcats scored the first touchdown on the second play of the game with a handoff from quarterback James Williams to JaDarrell Magee from the Redskins 8-yard-line. Williams and Magee repeated the play for the two-point conversion and set the score at 8-0 just 45 seconds into the game.

A minute and a half later, Williams haded off to Jacorius Bickham from the Redskins’ 5. Bickham ran up the right side and put the second touchdown on the board. For the two-point attempt, Williams handed off to Magee, who bulldozed his way through the center line of the Redskins and moved the score to 16-0.

With six and a half minutes left in the first quarter, Williams again handed off to Magee from the 2, for the Wildcats’ third touchdown. Williams pitched back to Bickham, who ran it up through the line for the two points and put the score at 24-0.

Five seconds into the second quarter, the Wildcats chalked up their fourth touchdown with a hand off from Williams to Magee at the 5. Williams opted for the quarterback keep on the two-point attempt and slipped in through the Redskins’ right side, increasing the score to 32-0. With four minutes left in the half, Williams passed to Bickham from the 24-yard-line. Bickman caught it and ran it back for the touchdown. Williams again opted for the keep on the two-point conversion. He pushed through and set the score to 40-0 at the half.

The clock ran for the second half with the Redskins keeping control of the ball for most of the third quarter. Once back in possession, sophomore quarterback Zantonio Peters stepped up. He led the Wildcats on a nine-play drive down the field. At the start of the fourth quarter, that drive ended with a hand off to DeMarcus Boston at the 20. Boston ran through the Redskins’ defense and put the Wildcats’ fifth touchdown of the board. Peters handed off to Darrius Harry for a successful two-point attempt and the score moved to 48-0.

With just over three minutes left in the game, Peters opted for the quarterback keep at the Redskins 25. Peters weaved and cut his way through the Redskins and into the end zone for the final touchdown of the game. The two-point attempt was stopped by the Redskins, and the final score stayed at 54-0.