It was the Trojans’ first shutout in the playoffs under head coach Nelson Smith.

“Defensively, it was a great night,” Smith said. “We came back strong with a good start and were consistent all night. We forced turnovers and didn’t turn the ball over.”

Garner (12-0), which is set to host Wilmington Laney next week, was its usual productive unit on offense with both Juwan Moye and Demetrius Fairley going over the 100-yard rushing mark once again.

Fairley led the way with 140 yards on 22 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Moye added 154 yards on 17 carries with one score.

“We just came out and ran it right at them,” Moye said. “With the field so wet and muddy, we knew we’d have to use our line well and take the ball right at them in order to be successful.”

Moye’s two big runs of 59 and 16 yards on the first drive, set up a quick five-play TD drive on Garner’s first drive that was capped by a 1-yard Vincent Jeffries TD run.

Athens Drive (5-7) had opened the game moving the ball quickly to the Garner 15-yard-line but had to settle for a field goal.

Tommy Evanoff’s kick bounced off of the right upright.

The rest of the night, the Jaguars were only able to move the ball to the Garner side of the field just twice and never any closer to the goal line than the 36-yard-line.

The Trojan defense held Athens to 171 yards on the night.

“We controlled our gaps very well tonight and that’s what you have to do in a gap-based defense,” said junior defensive lineman Tyler Starowicz who was one of five Trojans with a sack on the night.

“We took on their blocks well and let the linebackers get to the ball.”

Garner forced four Jaguar turnovers, including three fumbles in the last seven minutes of the second quarter. Brandon Mayfield came up with the recovery on a kick off return after a 15-yard TD run by Anthony Tucker, then Tyree Chance covered a fumble on Athens’ next drive.