SAVANNAH - The Long County Blue Tide football team went on the road Friday in a key region game against the Savannah Country Day Hornets. The Tide rallied late in the fourth quarter, but fell 17-14 after a failed fourth down conversion attempt deep in Hornet territory.
The Hornets had third and goal from the 5-yard line on their first possession, when freshman linebacker Jason Familia came up with a big sack that pushed the Hornets back to the 16. The resulting field goal attempt put SCD up 3-0.
Keshawn Smith’s diving grab of a Jashaun Manghane pass set up the Tide inside the Hornets 30. But the Hornets picked off Manghane’s fourth-down pass and returned it to the Tide 40.
The Tide defense made a big stand, forcing an incomplete pass on SCD’s own fourth-down try.
Late in the second quarter, on fourth and long from the Hornets 41, Manghane found Chris Hatfield for a 26-yard gain. Manghane then connected with who muscled his way into the endzone to make the score 6-3 after the failed two-point conversion.
Ahmari Douglas’ interception foiled SCD’s attempt to score just before the half.
Long County’s first possession of the second half ended in a big play for the Hornets, after an errant punt snap set up SCD at the Tide 3. That led to a Hornets touchdown and a 10-6 lead.
The Hornets got to the Tide 31 on their next possession but another Douglas interception, this time in the end zone, kept Country Day from extending its lead.
A big run and a personal foul set the Hornets up at the Tide 35. Two plays later, they found the endzone from 31 yards out as they took a 17-6 lead with 8:23 left in the game.
The Tide desperately needed a big play and they got it on the next drive. After an offsides against the Hornets, Douglas took the handoff from the 35 and that’s all he needed.
Douglas broke one tackle and was off to the races as he scored from 65 yards out as they made the score 17-14 with 8:10 left in the game.
Douglas made another big play on defense as he diving pass breakup on third and 5 stopped a potential conversion.
On Long County’s ensuing possession, the last Hornet defender finally brought down Steven Wyatt on a 55-yard run to the Hornets 16 with just over 4 minutes left in the game.
The Tide faced a fourth and 5 at the 11 as Manghane looked to Zion Ervin. He was open, but he was just not able to make the catch as the Hornets took over.
Savannah Country Day ran out the clock, snapping the Tide’s three-game win streak.
With the loss, the Tide fall to 3-2 and 1-1 in the region. They will be back at home next week against Savannah Christian in another big region matchup.