The Swainsboro Tigers’ 2020 football season came to an anticlimactic close this past Friday night in the first round of the state playoffs, losing to Dodge County 35-0. Offense continued to be a struggle as Swainsboro averaged only 14 points per game this season and less than 8 points per game in their final 5 games. Swainsboro used 4 different QBs on the night as starter Ty Adams left in the second quarter due to injury and Lenox Lively also missed a series after getting dinged up, but returned.
Swainsboro started the game with a penalty that made them re-kick from the 35 yard line. The Tigers attempted a squib/onside kick but were unable to execute, pushing the kick only 5 yards which allowed Dodge County to start their initial possession on Swainsboro’s 40 yard line. The Indians wasted no time, taking the first play to the end zone for a 40 yard score to immediately put the Tigers in a hole.
Swainsboro’s defense stiffened for the rest of the half, allowing only one more score and the Tigers trailed 13-0 at the half. Dodge County got on the scoreboard again early in the third quarter as their defense scooped up a fumble and took it 25 yards for the score to put the game out of reach. Swainsboro’s offense had but one legitimate scoring opportunity, penetrating inside of Dodge County’s 20 yard line to the 18 yard line but turned the ball over on downs.
