A 27-yard pick-6 from Bainbridge cornerback Zyon McGee was the difference maker at Centennial Field as the Bearcats beat the Warner Robin Demons 24-21 on Friday.

McGee’s interception off quarterback Michael Bradley and an extra point kick from Caleb Harris put Bainbridge ahead 24-13 with 4:53 left in the game. On the first play of the next possession, Bradley threw a 72-yard touchdown pass and put the Demons within 3 points.

The Bainbridge defense kept Warner Robins out of the end zone and locked in a second place finish in Region 1-AAAAA for the Bearcats.

“We were just doing our job and kept fighting until the end,” defensive end Devin Morris said. “We played really well. We worked hard. But we got a lot of work left to do.”

Bainbridge’s 3-1 region record (4-5 overall) was enough to clinch a home playoff game next Friday. Warner Robins (3-7, 2-2 Region) came into the game with similar hopes as the Bearcats, needing a win to take the second place region finish and host a playoff game.

Quarterback Brett McLaughlin returned after sitting out the last game with an ankle sprain, going 13-for-20 for 186 yards and a touchdown.

“It felt good to be back to my old self,” McLaughlin said. “We had a really good week in practice, and just got our confidence back in throwing the ball.”

McLaughlin’s touchdown pass was a 35-yarder to A.J. Cooper with 22 seconds left in the first half to give Bainbridge a 7-6 lead.

A wide right field goal attempt in the third quarter from Warner Robins kept Bainbridge on top.

Harris was able to put one between the goal posts for 24 yards at the start of the fourth quarter to give the Bearcats a 10-6 edge.

The Demons scored a touchdown on their next possession to reclaim the lead 13-10.

Running back Dameon Pierce rushed for 264 yards on 31 carries, scoring on an 83-yard run that saw him tumble over a Warner Robins defender and presumed down. There were no whistles on the play as Pierce returned to his feet and dashed another 55 yards for the score to put Bainbridge up 17-13.

Warner Robins’ first play on the next drive was McGee’s pick-6, securing the win for the Bearcats.

“Coach told me what the coverage was,” McGee said about the pick play. “Everybody had to do their job and we played our job, played our role. That was it.”

Bradley was 9-for-20 with 165 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“Brett can throw the ball down the field and stretch the defense,” coach Jeff Littleton said. “We got to continue to still work on making plays and catching the football and making better throws, but you know, we played well, we stuck together and that’s all that matters and we won the ballgame.”

The Bearcats will host Whitewater, the third place team in region 3-AAAAA, at Centennial Field next Friday.