MILLEDGEVILLE — There will be a new No. 1 team in Class 1A next week.

The No. 3 Missiles shocked No. 1 Galena by rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win, 22-16, Friday and put themselves in the driver’s seat for a top ranking in the state and a conference title.

Milledgeville quarterback Kirk Engelkens had several key runs down the stretch, but said that when the Pirates built their 10-point lead in the beginning of the second half, he was worried the team was tiring out already.

Instead, it would be the Pirates (5-1, 4-1 Upstate) who would tire as Milledgeville (6-0, 5-0) controlled the clock in the fourth quarter, getting first down after first down with its power running attack. Running back Jake Workman led the Missiles with 104 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries.

After the Pirates went ahead, 16-6, on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Phillips to Adam Hocking with 4:58 to play in the third, the Missiles went to work.

They grinded out an 18-play drive punctuated by Workman’s second touchdown of the game with 9:20 to play and two-point conversion to cut the deficit to two. The Missiles converted two key fourth downs inside the 10. On fourth and 2 from the 8, Workman plunged ahead and got what Milledgeville needed with nothing to spare, as a measurement showed the nose of the ball barely reached the first-down marker.

Four plays later, Workman appeared to be stopped short on fourth and goal from the 2, but his second effort got him into the end zone.

The ensuing kickoff gave Milledgeville more momentum. The Missiles’ pooch kick spun off the side of the kicker’s foot, and the Pirates weren’t able to get a handle of the ball. The Missiles eventually recovered the kick at Galena’s 45.

The Missiles took full advantage of the quick change in possession, as Engelkens ran for 28 yards on third and five, and Workman gave Milledgeville the lead on the next play with 2-yard plunge.

- Jeremy Anders, GateHouse News Service