CORDELE — The defending Class AAA champions will be at home in the first round of this year’s playoffs.

Cairo secured Region 1’s No. 2 seed with a 14-7 victory over Crisp County Friday night. The win improved Cairo to 5-1 in region play and 6-3 overall.

The Syrupmakers won despite committing three turnovers and not scoring a point after the first quarter.

Cairo took a quick 14-0 behind a pair of touchdown runs by Laquinton Williams. He scored from four yards and 24 yards out and finished the night with 93 yards on 14 carries.

Williams’ first score came after Cairo’s Jermyrin Bodiford collected one of his two interceptions. Cairo recorded four interceptions in the game, with J.J. Cooper and Brian Walker notching the other two picks.

Williams’ second touchdown followed a blocked punt by Cairo’s Quinton Jones.

Crisp was held to 105 yards in the first half and just 172 in the game.

Cairo, though, was limited to 125 yards in the game. The Syrupmakers were penalized seven times for 50 yards and completed just 3-of-11 passes for 45 yards.

Crisp County’s only score came in the second quarter on a halfback pass from 10 yards outs.

Cairo will close out the regular season next Friday at West Thomas Stadium when it hosts region rival Westover.

The Patriots are 1-5 following Friday night’s 21-6 loss to Worth County.

Friday night’s defeat to the Syrupmakers dropped the Cougars to 3-3 in region play. They are tied with Worth County in fourth place.

The Rams hold the tiebreaker over the Cougars after beating Crisp County 22-0 earlier this season.

In other games in the region Friday night, top-seed Peach County had little trouble with Dougherty, beating the Trojans 41-13. The win improved Peach County to 6-0 in region play and gives the Fort Valley squad the region championship.

Peach County is at Crisp County next week.