The Long County High School football team lost its preseason scrimmage 41-14 to Bacon County on Thursday night at Veterans’ Stadium in Ludowici.
The Red Raiders led 13-7 at halftime, then scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to put the scrimmage away.
Long County’s touchdowns came on a long run from Jermaine Gibbs in the second quarter and on a 53-yard pass from Jacob Turner to Vanda Vereen. Kicker Miguel Hernandez made both extra points.
Bacon County quarterback Matthew Thrift ran and passed for first-half touchdowns for the Red Raiders, whose option offense proved hard for the Blue Tide to stop.
“I never want to make excuses, but we had no idea what to expect from this team,” Blue Tide coach Ronald Flott said. “They ran the option and it’s always hard to stop a team that runs the option…you have to take your hat off to Bacon County, they’re a well-coached football team.”
Flott, in his first year at Long County, said his players worked hard.
“We got a good group of kids who did exactly what they were supposed to do this week,” he said. “They did what they were supposed to at school. They practiced hard. They were in our meeting today at 3:15. Tonight during the second half, things didn’t go well between the whistles, but that’s football.”
Flott told his players to keep their heads up and keep working.
“We’re going to be a good football team. We’re going to be a good football team,” he said. “It’s going to take practice, conditioning and working hard, but we’re going to keep getting better. I’ll never give up on you guys, and don’t you ever give up on yourselves.”
The Blue Tide open the 2011 season on Friday at Bryan County High School.
See photos at coastalcourier.com.