Highlanders fall at Toombs
Patty Leon
First Presbyterian Christian Academy lost at Robert Toombs Christian Academy, 46-12, during a conference game Friday night in Lyons.
FPCA is 1-7 overall and 0-2 in Region 2-AA of the Georgia Independent School Association classifications. The Highlanders play their final regular-season game next Friday against Davis Emanuel Academy in Stillmore
GUYTON — Bradwell Institute couldn’t recover from South Effingham’s big push in the first half and lost, 30-12, Friday in Region 3-AAAAA action.
Bradwell slipped to 0-8 on the season and 0-6 in the region, while the Mustangs improved to 4-4 on the year and 3-3 in the region.
The Tigers, facing the prospect of the school’s first winless season in six decades, had four turnovers and two punts that were partially deflected. They also committed four penalties in their first 11 plays from scrimmage.
“The ball hasn’t bounced our way all year,” said first-year Tigers coach Greg Hill. “We try to find a way to stop ourselves. That’s a pretty good team, but we were moving the ball on them pretty well. But the penalties and putting the ball on the ground stopped us.”
The Tigers outgained the Mustangs 257-208 and held the Mustangs to 28 total yards in the second half.
“Our kids did a better job tackling in the second half, and that stopped some drives,” Hill said. “We gave up some big plays in the first half. Our kids never quit. The adversity we’ve faced all year, they have been fighting all along. I’m proud of them for that aspect.”
After the teams swapped fumbles on their opening possessions, the Mustangs tipped the game in their favor when they partially blocked a Bradwell punt. South Effingham took over on the BI 22-yard line, and Patrick Brown bolted in on the next play. James Hodges’ PAT put the Mustangs ahead, 7-0.
D’Angelo Smith’s 1-yard run capped a long Bradwell drive and cut the lead to 7-6, though the Tigers’ 2-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
The Mustangs answered with a long drive of their own, twice converting third downs before Tyler Pullum connected with Landon Lanier on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Hodges’ kick put the Mustangs in front, 14-6, with 5:55 to go in the first half.
Three plays later, Brandon Jenkins fell on a bad exchange between Bradwell quarterback Duane Johnson and running back Luther Echols, and South Effingham took over at the Tigers 25. Pullum and Marcus Boyd hooked up for a 22-yard gain, and Brown scored from 3 yards out to pad the lead.
Bradwell answered yet again, going 60 yards in four plays, all on the ground. Trevon McCoy capped the drive with a 30-yard scoring burst to cut the lead to 20-12.
But Brown delivered a 72-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, leading to Hodges’ field goal with 1:09 remaining in the half. On the Tigers’ next play from scrimmage, Isaiah Hudson stepped in front of a Bradwell pass and raced 32 yards untouched. Hodges’ point after with 54.8 seconds left provided the final point of the night.
“That was a huge play at the end of the half,” Mustangs coach Donnie Revell said. “It took some momentum out of them.”
Echols led Bradwell, which had all of its offense on the ground, with 126 yards on 24 carries. McCoy added 54 yards on six attempts, and Smith ran 10 times for 46 yards.
Bradwell hosts Brunswick this coming Friday on senior night.