Swainsboro Tigers vs. Dodge County Indians (Homecoming)
By: TROUP BRINSON
THE FOREST BLADE
The Swainsboro Tigers made it look easy on Homecoming Friday night as they dismantled a potent Dodge County team, 41-0.
Dodge was averaging over 30 points per game over their past three games and put up 36 points against Vidalia the previous week. However, the Tigers seem to be playing their best football at an opportune time. With the playoffs looming in two weeks Swainsboro has matured into a legitimate postseason threat. Friday night’s victory clinched a #2 seed in Region 3 AA and insures at least one home playoff game.
The Tigers got started early against the Indians with their longest pass play of the season. From their own 17 yard line, QB Malcolm Eady rifled a pass 30 yards down the middle of the field to freshman WR Jemerico Bell. Bell made a reaching grab as the pass was high but didn’t break stride and ran away from two defensive backs for the 83 yard touchdown.
It was all downhill from there for Dodge County as the Tigers defense took over and Swainsboro’s offense never slowed down. The Indians have one of the top offensive players in the area in RB Cyprin Burse. The back has rushed for over 1100 yards on the season but Swainsboro’s defense would not allow him to get going, limiting the Indians to only 61 yards rushing and 163 yards of total offense.
Swainsboro’s offense was a different matter. The Tigers put together 8 plays of 20 yards or more and rolled up 295 yards rushing and 445 total yards on the night. RB Shaquille Cowart ran for two touchdowns and 95 yards on 14 carries. Eady threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more accumulating 105 yards on the ground (8 carries) and 150 yards through the air. TE Addison Hooks caught his first touchdown pass of the season as Eady found him for a three yard strike with 19 seconds to go in the first half.
Bell’s amazing catch and run showed that he could be a dangerous running mate with WR Lynquez Blair and his head coach believes he could provide that threat on a regular basis.
“Absolutely,†said coach Scott Roberts. He just needs to keep gaining experience. It’s a big jump from playing middle school to varsity football, but he’s getting more comfortable every day.â€
The Tigers scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters to total 41, and then emptied their bench to give some of the underclassmen a chance to strut their stuff on Tiger Field.
Coach Roberts was happy with the offense, but even more pleased with the way his defense shut down such a dangerous running back.
“I was really interested to see how we would handle their big back,†said Roberts. I still think (Dodge County) is a pretty good football team. Our kids just didn’t give them the opportunity to get anything going.â€
Swainsboro will close out the regular season with a road game against the 2-7 Toombs County Bulldogs. Toombs was blanked 21-0 by cross county rival Vidalia last Friday night.
Elsewhere, Jefferson County clinched the region championship one week ahead of their clash with Dublin by knocking off Screven County 35-0. The four playoff teams are set in the region with Jefferson County, Swainsboro, Dublin, and Vidalia clinching playoff births. Dublin and Vidalia still must settle who receives the 3 or 4 seed, dependent on their results on Friday night
Dodge was averaging over 30 points per game over their past three games and put up 36 points against Vidalia the previous week. However, the Tigers seem to be playing their best football at an opportune time. With the playoffs looming in two weeks Swainsboro has matured into a legitimate postseason threat. Friday night’s victory clinched a #2 seed in Region 3 AA and insures at least one home playoff game.
The Tigers got started early against the Indians with their longest pass play of the season. From their own 17 yard line, QB Malcolm Eady rifled a pass 30 yards down the middle of the field to freshman WR Jemerico Bell. Bell made a reaching grab as the pass was high but didn’t break stride and ran away from two defensive backs for the 83 yard touchdown.
It was all downhill from there for Dodge County as the Tigers defense took over and Swainsboro’s offense never slowed down. The Indians have one of the top offensive players in the area in RB Cyprin Burse. The back has rushed for over 1100 yards on the season but Swainsboro’s defense would not allow him to get going, limiting the Indians to only 61 yards rushing and 163 yards of total offense.
Swainsboro’s offense was a different matter. The Tigers put together 8 plays of 20 yards or more and rolled up 295 yards rushing and 445 total yards on the night. RB Shaquille Cowart ran for two touchdowns and 95 yards on 14 carries. Eady threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more accumulating 105 yards on the ground (8 carries) and 150 yards through the air. TE Addison Hooks caught his first touchdown pass of the season as Eady found him for a three yard strike with 19 seconds to go in the first half.
Bell’s amazing catch and run showed that he could be a dangerous running mate with WR Lynquez Blair and his head coach believes he could provide that threat on a regular basis.
“Absolutely,†said coach Scott Roberts. He just needs to keep gaining experience. It’s a big jump from playing middle school to varsity football, but he’s getting more comfortable every day.â€
The Tigers scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters to total 41, and then emptied their bench to give some of the underclassmen a chance to strut their stuff on Tiger Field.
Coach Roberts was happy with the offense, but even more pleased with the way his defense shut down such a dangerous running back.
“I was really interested to see how we would handle their big back,†said Roberts. I still think (Dodge County) is a pretty good football team. Our kids just didn’t give them the opportunity to get anything going.â€
Swainsboro will close out the regular season with a road game against the 2-7 Toombs County Bulldogs. Toombs was blanked 21-0 by cross county rival Vidalia last Friday night.
Elsewhere, Jefferson County clinched the region championship one week ahead of their clash with Dublin by knocking off Screven County 35-0. The four playoff teams are set in the region with Jefferson County, Swainsboro, Dublin, and Vidalia clinching playoff births. Dublin and Vidalia still must settle who receives the 3 or 4 seed, dependent on their results on Friday night
