The Long County High School football team had its homecoming game ruined by Toombs County, 33-20, on Friday in Ludowici.
The game was a tale of three different chapters: The first half was dominated by the visiting Bulldogs, the Blue Tide controlled the third quarter, and the final period was a competitive fight between the teams.
The Bulldogs had an offensive line that was larger than the defensive front of the Blue Tide, and Toombs County used the advantage to score on three of its four possessions.
The Tide weren’t able to do much on offense and had to punt on all three of their possessions as Toombs County held a 21-0 lead in at the break.
Long County got a big lift at the start of the second half. The Tide’s Josh Berry took the opening kick at the Tide 4, let the return team set up its wall and found a seam to race 96 yards for a touchdown. After a failed conversion, the Bulldogs led, 21-6.
Long County kicked off to Toombs County and the Dogs began their series at their own 31.
The Blue Tide’s defense stepped it up and held the visiting team to a three-and-out.
After a Toombs punt, Long County had the ball again at its own 31. Quarterback Jacob Turner tossed a perfect pass to wide receiver Shawn Mills for a big gain, but the drive stalled at the Bulldogs 46, and the Tide punted again.
However, on Toombs’ first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive, Long’s Deonte’ Ellis picked off a pass and returned the ball to midfield.
On the next play, Turner tucked the ball and ran to the Bulldogs 36. That play was followed by another big run from Berry. Turner handed the ball to Berry, who crashed through the line and found another gear when he hit the secondary en route to a 36-yard touchdown. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Tide trailed, 21-12, after three quarters of play.
Trailing 27-12 in the fourth quarter, Long County faced third-and-12 from its own 35. Ellis caught a pass from Turner and broke for an 18-yard gain to the Bulldogs 47.
With a roughing-the-passer passer penalty by Toombs tacked on to the play, the Blue Tide had a first down at the Bulldogs 30. Ellis took a handoff from Turner and pounded his way to the 14. On the next play, Berry took the rock in for a score and his third touchdown of the game. After a successful 2-point conversion, the Tide had narrowed the score to 20-27. However, Toombs added an insurance score shortly after.
Blue Tide head coach Ron Flott said that his team made some minor adjustments in the second half, but that the primary reason for the improvement was that the team just played better.
“The kids played hard and didn’t quit,” he said. “That’s a real big thing, but also we get a break, and the game could have had a different outcome. We just can’t catch a break.”
With the loss, the Blue Tide fell to 3-4 overall and 2-4 mark in Region 2-AA. The Bulldogs improved their overall record to 5-2 and 4-2 in the region.
A preview of the Long County/Jeff Davis game will run in Friday’s Courier.