Tide fall to Toombs in final minute

Caleb Bailey

To open the 2022 football season, the Long County Blue Tide endured a two-hour rain delay and committed three turnovers in the first five minutes against the Toombs County Bulldogs. They lost 21-0.

The 2023 season opener was a much different story, though the ending still gave Toombs a 29-22 win.

The Bulldogs opened their road trip to Ludowici with the ball at their own 35 and they converted a third and 5 at the 47.

Just a few plays later, they were set up in Tide territory at the 45. Running back Dabvn Wadley broke a handoff for the touchdown to make the score 7-0 in less than a three-minute drive.

The Tide answered with some big plays of their own, but not in the way the Tide fans have grown accustomed to.

Quarterback Jashaun Manghane found receiver Keshawn Smith on a big 32-yard pass into Bulldog territory before the senior transfer quarterback hit Chris Hatfield on a 42-yard strike to make the score 7-6 with 6:42 left in the quarter.

Quarterback TJ Stanley hit Legonza Hayward on the next play for the a 44-yard score to stretch the Bulldogs lead out to 14-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ahmari Douglas tried to make some magic happen by reversing field, but ended up getting swallowed up at his own 8-yard line.

The Tide, though, went go on a 92-yard drive that went into the second quarter and took more than 9 minutes off the board.

The biggest play on the drive was Manghane hitting Jesse Magly with a 43-yard bomb to set up first and goal at the 6. Cortney Charles punched in the touchdown two plays later to tie game at 14 after Manghane’s John Elway impression on the two-point conversion.

The Bulldogs chipped away with short yardage plays before setting up at the Tide 35.

A defensive pass interference call on the next play gave the Bulldogs a taste of the redzone for the first time as Stanley hit Gavin Fletcher on the next play to make the score 21-14 with just over four minutes left in the half.

The third quarter was a stark contrast to the first half as neither team could get much going. The Tide suffered a three and out on their first drive before their defense stood up and forced a turnover on downs at their own 29.

Manghane was sacked on second down and recovered his own fumble as they faced a third and 15. He hit Smith, who picked 14 yards and set up a fourth and short at the 38.

The Tide picked up the first down and drove to right around midfield before a third down sack forced another Tide punt.

The Bulldogs had good field position after a return to their own 45 yard line. A defensive pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set them up at the Tide 15.

A holding call and false start backed them up to the 30 before they were faced with a fourth and long. The Bulldogs called on their kicker to attempt a near 50-yard attempt.

A low snap gave the defense just enough time to block the kick, which was picked up by Juju Clark, who returned it to the opposite 40-yard line.

Douglas found the endzone for the first time of his senior season as he picked up 28 yards on the first play from scrimmage and the final 12 on the next play.

Manghane then found Hatfield on the two-point conversion to give the Tide their first and only lead of the game as they went up 22-21 with 5:27 to play.

This was just too much time for the Bulldogs, however, as they picked up 21 yards on a long pass on third and 15, setting them up with a first and 10 at the 15.

Well within their kicker’s range, the Bulldogs slowed their offense down before Stanley found Hayward in the endzone again for the 15-yard touchdown.

The two-point conversion made the score 29-22 with 41 seconds left.

The Tide found a little hope as Manghane hit Smith on a long pass into Bulldog territory. The play, however, was negated on an illegal shift penalty as the Tide had one more try left with 11 seconds and no timeouts.

Manghane was bull rushed immediately and sacked as time ticked off the clock.

The Tide fall to 0-1 for the seventh straight season. They will look to bounce back next week as they travel up Highway 57 for a rivalry game against Tattnall County.