It has been four years since Bryan Co. visited Rountree Stadium. The team has been moving from class A to AA, back down to class A division 1 and this season drops down to division II. The Bulldogs defeated the Indians 26-12 to pick up an important region win and a 3-2 season record. It was a total team effort with the offense, defense and special teams putting points on the board. The game was just a one score game, 20-12, with 10 seconds left in the game. But an 80-yard interception return as time ran off the game clock, doomed Bryan’s chance to tie the game. The Indians had two chances to tie the game late in the fourth but were turned away by the interception and a defensive stand deep in the redzone earlier in the fourth. “Good team win for our guys this week” commented head football coach Chris Kearson. “We needed a three-phase game this week to get it done. Offense had a really good first half and I thought the defense had a pretty good second half. The special teams pitched in with two field goals and some great punts and kickoff coverage to give us good field position.”
The Bulldogs got on the board first. After being stopped on their initial possession, the offense marched 60 yards for the first score. Chase Johnson weaved his way down the visitor’s sidelines for a 20-yard touchdown run. Oisin Matthews extra point try was good to put the Bulldogs up 7-0. The Bulldogs went up 14-0 in the second quarter on a 65-yard drive. Senior Tyler Foreman found the endzone from two yards out for his first touchdown in the game. The Indians put on a 70-yard drive in the second quarter and scored their first touchdown in the game on a 13-yard pass and catch. Two-point try was stopped with the Bulldogs leading 14-6 with 2:33 left in the half. The Bulldogs moved the ensuing possession from the 45 down to the Bryan 31-yard line. Coach Kearson called on Matthews for a long field goal try. With seconds left in the half, the senior kicker hooked the ball to the middle of the uprights for a 48-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 17-6. Bryan got the ball at the 20 after another kickoff into the endzone with 34 seconds left in the half. The Indian RB split the middle of the Bulldog defense on the first play for an 80-yard touchdown run. Two-point try was stopped again and the Bulldogs still led 17-12. After a short two-yard run from the 42 after the kickoff, the Bulldogs moved the ball down to the Indian 20 when Jackson Kennedy hit Daon Bethea for a 38-yard gain. With two seconds showing on the clock, the Bulldogs spiked the ball and lined up for another field goal. After a discussion, the referee determined that time should have run off the clock and called the half over. The only score of the third quarter was another Matthews field goal. The senior split the uprights from 34 yards out to add to the Bulldog lead, 20-12. While the offense struggled to find the endzone in the fourth quarter, the Bulldog defense stood the wall. They were on the field for 23 offensive plays against the Indian offense, bending but not breaking to keep Bryan from scoring. The Bulldog defense forced a turnover on downs late in the fourth after turning away the Indians on seven plays inside the Bulldog 20. Bryan got the ball for the last time in the game with 1:10 left in the game. On the fifth play, Chase Johnson intercepted the Indian pass. After breaking a couple initial tackles, the Sophomore DB raced down the home sidelines as the horn sounded to preserve the Bulldog region win 26-12. Tyler Foreman led the 162-yard Bulldog rushing attack with 95 yards on 23 carries and one TD. Chase Johnson carried the ball four times for 43 yards with a touchdown. Jackson Kennedy completed eight passes for 93 yards. Daon Bethea had the longest reception with his 38-yard catch. Chase Johnson caught three Kennedy passes for 20 yards.
The Bulldogs travel down Highway 23 Friday, September 27, to Metter to take on their longest running rivalry in another region match-up. The Tigers are 4-1 with their only loss a 37-14 defeat by Swainsboro.
