The Long County Blue Tide football team got its first win in almost three seasons last Monday, but the downside of that win is having to play a second game just three days later. The short week caught up to the Tide on Friday, September 20 as they fell to the Vidalia Indians 36-0.
The Blue Tide started the game on offense and they seemed to get some good movement with the ball. Quarterback Dominic Roschmann found receiver Trajan Weatherspoon on a few good passes to get some decent yardage through the air. They also had success on the jet sweep as receiver Calvin Fate also picked up some good yards on the ground.
The Indians forced the Tide to punt on their first drive, but Vidalia hit punter Joseph Cammack, drawing a personal foul penalty. This brought the Tide offense back on the field and they were able to go to work again.
Dwayne Rowe came in at quarterback for a few plays as the Tide drove down inside the Vidalia 30. Rowe kept the ball on a few designed quarterback runs and took the ball all the way down inside the 5.
The Tide faced a fourth and goal from the 2 and they decided to stay on the field and go for it. The Indians held strong and forced a turnover on downs. The first quarter came to a close with the score tied at zero.
The Indians went on a long eight-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off by a 25-yard run for the touchdown. The extra point went wide as Vidalia held a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter. That is when things went from bad to worse for the Tide.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Indians popped up a pooch kick down their own sideline. The catch was mishandled by the Tide and the Indians were able to recover at the Tide 30. Just five plays later, the Indians punched it from ten yards out with the two-point conversion making the score 14-0.
The Indians forced a three-and-out, which was also helped by a miscommunication on the snap for the Blue Tide. Vidalia took over at the Tide 46 after a good return of Cammack’s booming punt.
Vidalia drove down the field once again and were set up inside the Tide 20. A pass to the endzone was nearly broken up by Cole Moss, but the receiver made an athletic play to catch the tipped pass for the 18-yard touchdown to put his team up 21-0 late in the first half.
The Tide did get some movement in their final drive before halftime, but they could not get in position to score as they went into the locker room down by three scores at halftime.
The Indians ran a lot of time off the clock with the first drive of the second half and drove right down the field. They eventually capped off their drive with a 9-yard run right up the middle to take a 28-0 lead.
On the Tide’s first offensive play of the second half, Roschmann looked for Weatherspoon over the middle on an open slant. However, Roschmann’s throw was just a little behind his target and it was intercepted, his first thrown of the season.
The Indians found themselves in great field position and took advantage of it quickly. From just outside the Blue Tide 30, Vidalia found some open room through the air and were able to get into the endzone. The two-point conversion on the botched extra point was good and made the score 36-0.
The Tide were never able to get on the scoreboard despite getting down to the Vidalia 25. They faced a fourth and 15 and called on Chris Garcia for the 42-yard field goal attempt. The kick fell short of the goal posts as the Indians took over from the 25.
With the loss, the Tide fall to 1-3 on the year and will look to get back in the win column Friday as they travel to Hinesville to play the Bradwell Institute Tigers in the team’s final non-region game of the year. The Tigers defeated Long County 34-0 in Ludowici last season.