Tigers pounce on the Gamecocks
By: TROUP BRINSON
The Swainsboro Tigers bounced back from a painful loss to Jefferson County to capture an important win in region 3 AA against the Screven County Gamecocks, 27-7.
This game had the potential to be what many call a “trap game”. Sandwiched between two spotlight home contests against Jefferson County and Dublin, it’s often a difficult proposition to maintain the emotional intensity and attention to detail in every game. However, the Tigers showed the maturity of a championship team by taking care of a dangerous and always tough Screven County team in Sylvania.
After an uneventful first quarter, Swainsboro went to work in the 2nd stanza by popping the scoreboard for 20 points. Tailback Cobie McCloud got things started with 8:49 remaining in the half with a 4 yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, but the Tigers took a 6-0 lead. Five minutes later, QB Malcolm Eady threw a dart to his favorite target WR Lynquez Blair for a 7 yard score and the PAT made the score 13-0. Blair was not finished for the half as he took a handoff on an end-around, blowing past the defense for a 51 yard touchdown dash with 1:10 remaining, 20-0.
The defense continued to grow stronger, allowing the Gamecocks a paltry 6 yards rushing on 27 attempts.
Tailback Quan Gardner capped the scoring for Swainsboro with a 5 yard rumble and the Tigers claimed an important victory, 27-7. Offensively, Swainsboro dominated the line of scrimmage and the rushing stats. Eady collected 113 yards on 13 carries, Blair picked up 75 yards on 3 carries, and Gardner added 68 yards on 12 carries for a total of 309 yards on 41 carries. Eady was 6 of 9 passing for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The win sets up another monster matchup this Friday night in Swainsboro as the Dublin Irish come calling fresh off an upset loss to the Vidalia Indians, 27-23. Dublin turned the ball over 9 times and has struggled in recent weeks to separate themselves from what many would call lesser opponents. Dublin is still 5-1 and battling for a top seed in the region. The Tigers will get another chance to show that they are worthy of a top seed with all the attention focusing again in their direction in this marquee matchup pitting two long-time rivals.
In other region action, Jefferson County hammered East Laurens 49-14. Dodge County handled Toombs County 28-24. Laney beat Bleckley County 33-24.
This game had the potential to be what many call a “trap game”. Sandwiched between two spotlight home contests against Jefferson County and Dublin, it’s often a difficult proposition to maintain the emotional intensity and attention to detail in every game. However, the Tigers showed the maturity of a championship team by taking care of a dangerous and always tough Screven County team in Sylvania.
After an uneventful first quarter, Swainsboro went to work in the 2nd stanza by popping the scoreboard for 20 points. Tailback Cobie McCloud got things started with 8:49 remaining in the half with a 4 yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, but the Tigers took a 6-0 lead. Five minutes later, QB Malcolm Eady threw a dart to his favorite target WR Lynquez Blair for a 7 yard score and the PAT made the score 13-0. Blair was not finished for the half as he took a handoff on an end-around, blowing past the defense for a 51 yard touchdown dash with 1:10 remaining, 20-0.
The defense continued to grow stronger, allowing the Gamecocks a paltry 6 yards rushing on 27 attempts.
Tailback Quan Gardner capped the scoring for Swainsboro with a 5 yard rumble and the Tigers claimed an important victory, 27-7. Offensively, Swainsboro dominated the line of scrimmage and the rushing stats. Eady collected 113 yards on 13 carries, Blair picked up 75 yards on 3 carries, and Gardner added 68 yards on 12 carries for a total of 309 yards on 41 carries. Eady was 6 of 9 passing for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The win sets up another monster matchup this Friday night in Swainsboro as the Dublin Irish come calling fresh off an upset loss to the Vidalia Indians, 27-23. Dublin turned the ball over 9 times and has struggled in recent weeks to separate themselves from what many would call lesser opponents. Dublin is still 5-1 and battling for a top seed in the region. The Tigers will get another chance to show that they are worthy of a top seed with all the attention focusing again in their direction in this marquee matchup pitting two long-time rivals.
In other region action, Jefferson County hammered East Laurens 49-14. Dodge County handled Toombs County 28-24. Laney beat Bleckley County 33-24.
