Swainsboro vs. MCA (Round 1 State Play off)
By: TROUP BRINSON
THE FOREST BLADE
The Swainsboro Tigers used a familiar recipe to gain a hard fought victory in the first round of the state playoffs. Great defense, playmakers making big plays, and determination were all on display as Swainsboro grabbed their first playoff victory since 2004 against a dangerous McIntosh County Academy team, 21-7.
Facilitated by the Tigers’ talented QB Malcolm Eady, the rushing game churned out 282 yards as Swainsboro dominated the 2nd half in a game that hung in the balance until late in the 4th quarter.
It was a game of two halves as MCA’s defense wouldn’t allow Swainsboro to get on track in the first two quarters. Eady was unable to get past a strong defensive front and the passing game was off-kilter as well. WR Lynquez Blair tried to light the fire with a 45 yard run in the 2nd quarter. On his next carry he picked up 20 more yards before being stripped of the ball, resulting in a turnover that halted a promising scoring drive.
The Buccaneers won the battle for field position and converted a short drive into the only points of the first half and led 7-0 at intermission.
Tigers Head Coach Scott Roberts was disappointed in his team’s execution early on but knew that they had the intestinal fortitude to get back on track.
“Our guys woke up a little bit at halftime and fought through the adversity like they have done all year,†said Roberts.
The intensity and execution did change in the 2nd half as the Tigers took the opening kickoff and moved quickly down the field. Eady exhibited why the postseason is about special players making big plays as he used his legs to get the drive going, then found the end zone through the air with a 26 yard touchdown pass on a post pattern to Blair. The extra point was wide, leaving the Tigers still down a point 7-6.
The Swainsboro defense continued lean on what had been a high powered Buccaneer offense, averaging 33 points per contest throughout the season. With two 1000 yards rushers and a dual threat QB, MCA had not scored fewer than three touchdowns since their opening game of the season. However, MCA concluded what many are coming to understand: The Tigers, statistically one of the top three defenses in AA, are the backbone of this team’s success.
Eady led the team on another 3rd quarter drive which culminated in a spectacular catch and run by freshman WR Jemerico Bell. Bell snatched a ball out of the air, near the sideline at the 10 yard line and then danced around a defender to find the end zone. Eady added a 2 point conversion and the Tigers took a 14-7 lead.
With just a few minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, Eady put the game away with a 44 yard touchdown run to provide the final margin of victory, 21-7.
Eady finished the night with 145 yards on 15 carries and 6 of 13 passing for 71 yards. Lynquez Blair added 121 yards on the ground on 6 carries.
Swainsboro now looks towards a rematch of the 2000 AAA state championship game as they travel to Fitzgerald to take on arguably the top team in the state. Fitzgerald is 11-0 and averages 46 points per game while allowing only 8 points per contest. They had little trouble with Greene County, dispatching them 42-21.
“Fitzgerald is the most solid football team we have seen in two years,†said Coach Roberts. They are extremely talented and well-coached. They are not a really big team, but they are fast everywhere. We must execute our plan much better this week to be successful.â€
Tickets are $8 and will be pre-sold on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the commons area at SHS. This will be the only time tickets are sold during the week at SHS.
Facilitated by the Tigers’ talented QB Malcolm Eady, the rushing game churned out 282 yards as Swainsboro dominated the 2nd half in a game that hung in the balance until late in the 4th quarter.
It was a game of two halves as MCA’s defense wouldn’t allow Swainsboro to get on track in the first two quarters. Eady was unable to get past a strong defensive front and the passing game was off-kilter as well. WR Lynquez Blair tried to light the fire with a 45 yard run in the 2nd quarter. On his next carry he picked up 20 more yards before being stripped of the ball, resulting in a turnover that halted a promising scoring drive.
The Buccaneers won the battle for field position and converted a short drive into the only points of the first half and led 7-0 at intermission.
Tigers Head Coach Scott Roberts was disappointed in his team’s execution early on but knew that they had the intestinal fortitude to get back on track.
“Our guys woke up a little bit at halftime and fought through the adversity like they have done all year,†said Roberts.
The intensity and execution did change in the 2nd half as the Tigers took the opening kickoff and moved quickly down the field. Eady exhibited why the postseason is about special players making big plays as he used his legs to get the drive going, then found the end zone through the air with a 26 yard touchdown pass on a post pattern to Blair. The extra point was wide, leaving the Tigers still down a point 7-6.
The Swainsboro defense continued lean on what had been a high powered Buccaneer offense, averaging 33 points per contest throughout the season. With two 1000 yards rushers and a dual threat QB, MCA had not scored fewer than three touchdowns since their opening game of the season. However, MCA concluded what many are coming to understand: The Tigers, statistically one of the top three defenses in AA, are the backbone of this team’s success.
Eady led the team on another 3rd quarter drive which culminated in a spectacular catch and run by freshman WR Jemerico Bell. Bell snatched a ball out of the air, near the sideline at the 10 yard line and then danced around a defender to find the end zone. Eady added a 2 point conversion and the Tigers took a 14-7 lead.
With just a few minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, Eady put the game away with a 44 yard touchdown run to provide the final margin of victory, 21-7.
Eady finished the night with 145 yards on 15 carries and 6 of 13 passing for 71 yards. Lynquez Blair added 121 yards on the ground on 6 carries.
Swainsboro now looks towards a rematch of the 2000 AAA state championship game as they travel to Fitzgerald to take on arguably the top team in the state. Fitzgerald is 11-0 and averages 46 points per game while allowing only 8 points per contest. They had little trouble with Greene County, dispatching them 42-21.
“Fitzgerald is the most solid football team we have seen in two years,†said Coach Roberts. They are extremely talented and well-coached. They are not a really big team, but they are fast everywhere. We must execute our plan much better this week to be successful.â€
Tickets are $8 and will be pre-sold on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the commons area at SHS. This will be the only time tickets are sold during the week at SHS.
