Homecoming is always a special time during the high school football season. A celebration of community, tradition, and school pride. It’s a chance for people to come together, tailgate, and reconnect with old friends. The energy in the air is unmistakable, with the crowning of the homecoming king and queen. The marching band playing fan-favorite tunes, and the stands buzzing with excitement.
This past Friday night was no different for the Swainsboro Tigers, except this year’s homecoming brought a familiar foe back to town, the Appling County Pirates. The last time these two teams met at Tiger Field was Halloween night in 2003, when Swainsboro came out on top 21-10.
The game began with the Tigers kicking off to Appling County, and from the start, it was clear this would be a hard-fought battle. Appling much like Swainsboro, has made deep playoff runs in recent years. But right out of the gate, the Pirates were met with resistance. Despite an early first down off a screen pass, Appling’s drive was stalled by a few key penalties, setting the stage for the Swainsboro defense to shine. Senior defensive lineman Wendell McLeod (#61) made a crucial play, breaking through the line and disrupting the Pirates’ handoff, causing a fumble. Junior Marcus Watkins (#33) was quick to recover, giving the Tigers their first momentum shift of the night.
Swainsboro’s offense took the field with a balanced attack. Senior running backs Quinn Brown and Bryson Tarver each contributed with short-yard runs, but the Tigers’ opening drive stalled on a fourth-down conversion attempt. The Pirates took back over, but the Tigers’ defense remained resilient, stopping them just short of a first down and forcing a punt deep into Swainsboro territory.
However, Appling County’s defense proved just as formidable. On a critical third down, the Pirates sent an all-out blitz that resulted in a sack and a fumble recovery, setting up their first score of the night. It wasn’t easy for Appling, though the Tigers made several key stops near the goal line before the Pirates finally broke through on a third-down play.
For most of the night, Appling County showed they were a well-rounded team, controlling the clock and eventually putting up 32 points. On defense, they stifled the Tigers for the majority of the game. Still, Swainsboro found some late-game spark, with sophomore Shannon Benjamin scoring two touchdowns, one on a 9-yard reception and another on a 45-yard catch to close the gap Both thrown by junior Quarterback Kason Edenfield. The final score was 35-12 in favor of the Pirates, dropping the Tigers to a 1-3 record for the season.
Though this loss stings, it’s important to remember that all of these defeats have come in non-region play, meaning the Tigers still have everything to play for as they prepare for the rest of the season. These early challenges may serve as the growing pains that will ultimately make this team stronger. Swainsboro has the talent and determination to bounce back, and they’ll have their next opportunity this Friday night against the Thomson Bulldogs in the Brickyard. It’s the Tigers’ first true road test since their rivalry game against ECI, and it’s time for the community to rally behind them.
Let’s pack the Brickyard and show our Tigers that we believe in them.
