What people sometimes say is true: a win is a win. The Long County Blue Tide football team is probably feeling that way after they had to pull away late from the Beach Bulldogs to remain undefeated on the season, beating the Bulldogs 30-17 Friday.

With the win, the Tide move to 5-0 and 4-0 in region play, putting them firmly in first place in the region standings.

Cortney Charles scored on a 21-yard run on the Tide’s first possession, but a muffed hold on the extra point attempt left the lead at 6-0.

The Bulldogs converted a third-and-long with a 32-yard completion, and took a 7-6 lead with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

After a facemask penalty put the Tide in Beach territory, the Tide picked up a fourth-and-two and that led to a 15-yard Charles TD run and a 12-7 lead.

The Tide did something on their next possession they had not done all year – throw a touchdown pass.

On third and eight, Wyatt Huston found Jason Familia with a short pass, and Familia went the rest of the way on a 47-yard touchdown as the Tide went up 20-7 after the two-point conversion.

Beach cut the lead to 20-10 on a 26-yard field goal with 5:48 left in the half.

The Tide fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Bulldogs took over at the Long 30. But the Tide held on fourth and 3 from their 5-yard line.

Beach got back into the end zone on its next possession, culminating with a 17-yard touchdown pass as the first half expired.

The Tide got to the Bulldogs 20 on their first drive of the second half, picking up a fourth and 3 to keep the drive alive, but a penalty and a sack forced a punt.

Following another Tide punt, the Bulldogs started at their own 7-yard line. After a bad snap, Bulldogs quarterback Jayvion Williams was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. With the safety, the Tide took a 22-17 with less than a minute to play in the third quarter.

The Tide went 42 yards following the resulting kickoff, with Dylan Tyler scoring from 4 yards out with 10:45 to go in the game

The next few possessions consisted of two Jay’Quan Johnson sacks, a Tide fumble, an interception by Chris Hatfield, and another Tide punt before the Tide defense forced a turnover on downs to take over for the final time and complete the second half shutout.

They will have a week off before welcoming in the other first place team Calvary Day on Friday, October 4 in a game that will have region championship implications.