SHS Tigers stunned in playoff opener (Game 11)
By: TROUP BRINSON
In a roller coaster ride of emotions, the Tigers seemingly secured victory with a touchdown and two point conversion with 1:05 remaining against the Brooks County Trojans in first round playoff action. However, a 60 yard drive in less than a minute saw the Trojans score on the final play of regulation and a surprise two point conversion gave Brooks County the win on the final play of the game in front of a shocked home crowd, 15-14.
For the third time this season the Tigers were involved in a game that ended with a two point conversion on the game’s final play. Game 11 of the season proved to be a strange bookend as Swainsboro won in week number one against ECI with a two point conversion, 15-14. The Tigers also knocked off Jefferson County on the last play with a successful two point conversion, 38-37.
The Swainsboro Tigers have been here before. In three of the past four playoff seasons (2006-2010), the Tigers have lost to lower seeded teams at Tiger Field in playoff openers. Friday night’s loss was especially painful as the swing of emotions had the crowd jumping one minute and then gasping in disbelief in the next.
Brooks County had only mustered 65 yards of total offense before that final drive, though they led throughout after scoring at the 9:20 mark in the 2nd quarter. The Tigers offense sputtered for the second consecutive game, albeit without a major cog in their run game as Jemerico Bell was unable to go with an ankle injury. Bell has been important to the success of leading rusher Quan Gardner as Bell stretches plays outside while Gardner pounds the ball between tackles. Without Bell, there was no one to keep defenders from sending the bulk of their efforts after the Tigers’ big fullback.
However, the Tigers found a way to manufacture a drive midway through the fourth quarter. Swainsboro was unable to pass as each time QB Lyquez Blair dropped back he had Trojans in his lap with no time to look for receivers. In a surprise move, backup QB Tyler Brown came in for one play and completed a 30 yard pass to WR Deantae Johnson. The pass was nearly intercepted as two defenders got their hands on it and kept the ball tipped in the air for Johnson to make an improbable grab. Blair scored on a 1 yard run and the extra point was no good to leave the Tigers a point shy, 7-6 with 4:54 remaining.
The stingy Tigers’ defense gave the ball back to the offense quickly and Swainsboro seemed to be rolling downhill now with an excited Swainsboro crowd behind them. Gardner scored on a 9 yard burst with 1:05 to go and the two point conversion was good to give Swainsboro what seemed like a sure victory with a 14-7 lead.
However, the officials (who seemed to be confused on several plays throughout the heavily flagged game) called an excessive celebration penalty on the Tigers which backed them up 15 yards on the kickoff. That would prove to be a key component in the final outcome.
Brooks County received the kickoff and setup on their own 40 yard line, 60 yards away with 56 seconds remaining. After moving to the Tigers’ 48 with a short pass, the Trojans completed a 28 yard slant over the middle to Swainsboro’s 20 yard line. The defense ignited the crowd on the next play with a sack to push the Trojans back to the 27 yard line with only 16 seconds on the clock.
The next three plays would prove the difference. Brooks County sent all their receivers on routes to the right side of the field. One running back stayed in to block, but leaked out to the left as the Tigers rushed after the QB. A short pass to the wide open back turned into a race to the left corner of the end zone as safety Dustin Kirkland tackled him at the 1 yard line. With 7 seconds remaining, the Trojans had one shot to make it happen. A one yard plunge left question to whether the back made the goal line and took 20 seconds to uncover. But in the end, the official raised his hands to signify “touchdown†and the Trojans were only one point down.
Brooks County lined up for the extra point and spread the offense across the field with only the kicker, holder, and snapper in the middle of the field. Normally, the offense will shrink back to a traditional kicking formation but not this time. The Trojans snapped the ball and dove towards the goal line with a two point conversion that stunned all in attendance and ended the Tigers’ previously undefeated season, 15-14.
Swainsboro out-rushed Brooks County 178-32 and overall 214-125. Gardner led the way with 112 yards on 21 carries. Gardner finishes a wonderful junior season with 1255 yards rushing.
Unfortunately for region 3-AA, no team could make it out of the first round. Jefferson County lost 17-14 to Thomasville. Dublin lost 42-10 to Fitzgerald. Laney lost 34-23 as region 1-AA swept through a potent stable of teams in impressive style.
For the third time this season the Tigers were involved in a game that ended with a two point conversion on the game’s final play. Game 11 of the season proved to be a strange bookend as Swainsboro won in week number one against ECI with a two point conversion, 15-14. The Tigers also knocked off Jefferson County on the last play with a successful two point conversion, 38-37.
The Swainsboro Tigers have been here before. In three of the past four playoff seasons (2006-2010), the Tigers have lost to lower seeded teams at Tiger Field in playoff openers. Friday night’s loss was especially painful as the swing of emotions had the crowd jumping one minute and then gasping in disbelief in the next.
Brooks County had only mustered 65 yards of total offense before that final drive, though they led throughout after scoring at the 9:20 mark in the 2nd quarter. The Tigers offense sputtered for the second consecutive game, albeit without a major cog in their run game as Jemerico Bell was unable to go with an ankle injury. Bell has been important to the success of leading rusher Quan Gardner as Bell stretches plays outside while Gardner pounds the ball between tackles. Without Bell, there was no one to keep defenders from sending the bulk of their efforts after the Tigers’ big fullback.
However, the Tigers found a way to manufacture a drive midway through the fourth quarter. Swainsboro was unable to pass as each time QB Lyquez Blair dropped back he had Trojans in his lap with no time to look for receivers. In a surprise move, backup QB Tyler Brown came in for one play and completed a 30 yard pass to WR Deantae Johnson. The pass was nearly intercepted as two defenders got their hands on it and kept the ball tipped in the air for Johnson to make an improbable grab. Blair scored on a 1 yard run and the extra point was no good to leave the Tigers a point shy, 7-6 with 4:54 remaining.
The stingy Tigers’ defense gave the ball back to the offense quickly and Swainsboro seemed to be rolling downhill now with an excited Swainsboro crowd behind them. Gardner scored on a 9 yard burst with 1:05 to go and the two point conversion was good to give Swainsboro what seemed like a sure victory with a 14-7 lead.
However, the officials (who seemed to be confused on several plays throughout the heavily flagged game) called an excessive celebration penalty on the Tigers which backed them up 15 yards on the kickoff. That would prove to be a key component in the final outcome.
Brooks County received the kickoff and setup on their own 40 yard line, 60 yards away with 56 seconds remaining. After moving to the Tigers’ 48 with a short pass, the Trojans completed a 28 yard slant over the middle to Swainsboro’s 20 yard line. The defense ignited the crowd on the next play with a sack to push the Trojans back to the 27 yard line with only 16 seconds on the clock.
The next three plays would prove the difference. Brooks County sent all their receivers on routes to the right side of the field. One running back stayed in to block, but leaked out to the left as the Tigers rushed after the QB. A short pass to the wide open back turned into a race to the left corner of the end zone as safety Dustin Kirkland tackled him at the 1 yard line. With 7 seconds remaining, the Trojans had one shot to make it happen. A one yard plunge left question to whether the back made the goal line and took 20 seconds to uncover. But in the end, the official raised his hands to signify “touchdown†and the Trojans were only one point down.
Brooks County lined up for the extra point and spread the offense across the field with only the kicker, holder, and snapper in the middle of the field. Normally, the offense will shrink back to a traditional kicking formation but not this time. The Trojans snapped the ball and dove towards the goal line with a two point conversion that stunned all in attendance and ended the Tigers’ previously undefeated season, 15-14.
Swainsboro out-rushed Brooks County 178-32 and overall 214-125. Gardner led the way with 112 yards on 21 carries. Gardner finishes a wonderful junior season with 1255 yards rushing.
Unfortunately for region 3-AA, no team could make it out of the first round. Jefferson County lost 17-14 to Thomasville. Dublin lost 42-10 to Fitzgerald. Laney lost 34-23 as region 1-AA swept through a potent stable of teams in impressive style.
