LUDOWICI – Time wasn’t on Southeast Bulloch’s side – especially down two scores against a team with a forte of controlling the football and the clock.
With a timely turnover, however, the Yellow Jackets turned the tables and held off Long County for a pivotal 15-12 Region 3-AAA win Friday night at Veterans Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-2 on the season and 5-2 in the region. The Blue Tide fell to 6-2 and 5-2 in the region.
“I was scared to death,” SEB coach Jared Zito said. “But we preach about toughness and resilience and guts and never giving up, and that’s what happened. Hats off to our defense, hats off to our offense, and hats off those guys – that was a heckuva a football game and a heckuva football team.
Long County grabbed a 12-0 lead with an 11-play, 60-yard drive, converting a third down and a fourth down. Jaquan Johnson dashed in from 6 yards out with 3:15 to go in the third quarter, but the Tide’s second two-point play attempt – Long County often eschews kicking the point after – came up short.
It didn’t take long for the Yellow Jackets to respond. On their second play of the next possession, Colby Smith twisted away from would-be tacklers at his own 40 and turned upfield, racing down the sidelines for a 67-yard touchdown run. Owen Turner’s point after cut the lead to 12-7.
Aaden Peterson picked off a third-down trick play reverse pass on the Tide’s next possession, setting up the Jackets at the Tide 47-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
Twelve plays and 6 minutes and 17 seconds later – along with two third-down and one fourth-down conversion - Smith capped the drive with a 3-yard run. Zito sent the point after team onto the field before calling timeout and then opting for a two-point play. Rhett Morgan rolled to his right and found Trenton Jones open in the end zone for a 15-12 lead with 5:43 to play.
It was also defensive coordinator Jason Anthony’s birthday, and Zito told the defense to give him a great present.
“I told the defense, if you want to respect that guy, you play your tail off for him,” Zito said. “I’m proud of them, I’m proud of him. The whole staff really worked their tail off the whole game.”
But the Tide continue to hammer away with their running game, reaching the Yellow Jackets 19. Chris Jones came up with a crucial third-down sack, forcing the Tide to attempt a game-tying field goal. Nick Contreras’ attempt from 43 yards away fell short with 53.7 seconds, sending the Jackets team into jubilation.
“It was guts on guts tonight,” Zito said. “We came out just a little bit ahead. That was a helluva football game.”
The Tide took a 6-0 lead into halftime on Cortney Charles’ 21-yard touchdown run with 1:49 to go in the second quarter.
Smith had a 63-yard scoring gallop in the second quarter truncated by a holding penalty.
With power rankings involved in the playoffs, SEB’s win over a 6-2 Long County could boost its chances. The Yellow Jackets will face Beach and Groves in their final two regular season games.
“We’ll see,” Zito said. “We’re going to celebrate this one like crazy, but Monday, we’re going to go back. We’re going to celebrate, but we’re not there yet. We have to finish strong.”
