The Swainsboro Tigers came out on top Friday night against the East Laurens Falcons in one of the wildest finishes in 3AA this season.  The Tigers needed a desperate heave from 48 yards out on 4th and 22 to score the go ahead touchdown with 33 seconds remaining for a rousing 23-20 victory.

  It was an improbable win for the Tigers.  Yet, to say improbable is to suggest that the Falcons controlled the game, which was hardly the case.   Swainsboro jumped in front early after forcing a fumble on East Laurens’ first possession.  Tiger’s RB Quan Gardner took the next carry for 35 yards to the 2 yard line.   Gardner punched it in from there and Swainsboro grabbed a lead that they would carry until late in the 4th quarter.    The Falcon’s would put together a drive built upon a couple of broken plays where there QB scrambled for big gains.  After scoring on a 3 yard run with 5:53 left in the 1st quarter, a substitution penalty pushed the extra point 15 yards further and the attempt was unsuccessful.

   With 9:25 left in the half, RB Jemerico Bell showed is gamebreaking ability with a 65 yard sprint down the left sideline.   The extra point stretched the lead out to 14-6 going into halftime.  Though the Tigers led, they were not pleased with their execution in the red zone as several opportunities were wasted and Swainsboro allowed their opponent to hang in the game.  

   With just over a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter, kicker Marcos Batista added 3 points as he nailed a short field goal, 17-6.   This is where the action took off.  In just over 90 seconds, East Laurens sprinted down field with little resistance to score a touchdown from 31 yards out.   They converted the two point conversion to pull within 3 points, 17-14.  Swainsboro mounted a short drive, but stalled and punted their opponents back to the 10 yard line with time growing short.  However, the Falcons’ offense was starting to roll downhill and their running game was in high gear.  With 2:53 remaining in the game, the Falcons burst up the middle for a 41 yard touchdown run and their first lead.   The two point conversion failed and the lead was 20-17.

   After receiving the ensuing kickoff, a penalty pushed Swainsboro back to their own 5 yard line.  Made more difficult was the relative inexperience at the quarterback position by Deantae Johnson.  Johnson used his legs to make a play and the Tigers moved out to their 40 yard line. The drive stalled and facing a 4th down, Swainsboro pulled out a trick play as Johnson pitched the ball to WR Shaquille Cowart in the backfield and Cowart threw downfield to Bell for a 25 yard conversion.  

   As time dwindled and the Tigers ran out of downs Johnson looked out of sorts, making several errant passes and looking noticeably unsure of what to do.  It became apparent that Swainsboro would need something spectacular to happen to have a chance.  From the Falcon’s 48 yards line on 4th and 22 to go, Johnson dropped back and looked for receivers in a last gasp effort to save the game and most likely the Tigers’ playoff hopes.  With immediate pressure up the middle, Johnson sprinted to the right sideline just looking to buy time but appearing as if he would turn up field or carry the ball out of bounds.  Either decision would have ended the Tiger’s hopes, but Johnson did otherwise as he threw on the run downfield.  Remarkably, Bell got behind a defensive back by a couple of yards and Johnson’s pass found its target at the Tigers’ 10 yard line.  Bell made the catch just over the defender’s head and turned up field for the 48 yard touchdown play with 33 seconds remaining, 23-20.  The Falcons were unable to answer and Swainsboro locked up an important victory in thrilling fashion.

   Bell made the difference as he had over 125 yards rushing in the first half and then two big catches on the game winning drive.  The Tigers evened their region record at 2-2 (2-4 overall).  They will face off against the undefeated Dublin Irish this Friday night in Swainsboro.  Swainsboro has defeated Dublin in each of the past two seasons.   Dublin took over sole possession of first place in the region by defeating Laney 36-20 in the Shamrock Bowl.