by TROUP BRINSON
For the second consecutive season, the SMS Tigers won their area championship in a season that saw the Tigers play their best when it mattered most, winning 30-20.
The Tigers matched up with an undefeated Vidalia squad that had dominated their regular season game 34-6. Swainsboro entered the playoffs as the third seed in the 4 team pool, with an opening tilt against Bleckley County who had beaten Swainsboro earlier as well, 14-6. However, Swainsboro was just getting healthy and playing their best football for the playoffs. The Tigers knocked off Bleckley County 16-14 in double overtime to set the matchup with Vidalia.
The teams looked evenly matched early as Vidalia held a close 12-8 lead with the teams headed into half time, but that’s where Swainsboro flipped the switch. In the third quarter, the offensive line started to pick up steam and star running back Quindarius Brown grabbed control of the game. Brown scored 4 TDs on overall as Swainsboro took a 24-12 lead and turned it over to a defense determined to lock up another championship.
Jylerrius Williams, Nehemiah Bond, and Macaurion Williams led a physical attack on defense that Vidalia had no answer for.
“We were able to flip the tables by establishing a solid ground attack,” said head coach Corey Chalker. “Defensively, we focused on getting 11 hats to the football and being the most physical team. The turning point came in the second half when we controlled the clock and had some key defensive stops which we converted into touchdowns.”
QB Bryson Tarver also had a strong game with a couple of important runs and a 30 yard pass to convert on fourth down.
