The Tattnall County High School (TCHS) Warriors’ rally came up a little short, as they fell to the Toombs County Bulldogs, 31-29, on Friday, September 23, 2022, in a thriller over at the Pit in Lyons.
The Bulldogs got on the board first with a five-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, a 7-0 lead. The Warriors would answer soon after with a 37-yard field goal by Angelio Bonilla at the 11:47 point of the second period. Toombs County led, 7-3.
The Warriors would later take the lead when David Hill broke a tackle and dashed 54 yards to pay dirt. Bonilla added the PAT, and Tattnall County led, 10-7. The Bulldogs would then drive to the Warrior five-yard line. The Warrior defense bowed up and made a goal line stand as the Bulldogs failed to crack the end zone after four tries. The first half had ended with the Warriors on top, 10-7.
The Bulldogs didn’t waste any time regaining the lead in the third stanza. Toombs County took the record-half kickoff and marched to the end zone. The Bulldogs scored on an eight-yard run by Tank Morris. Angel Morales added the PAT, and the Bulldogs led, 14-10.
Not to be undone, the Battle Creek Warriors lived up to their name and battled back. Tattnall County forged back in front after Xavier Friendly broke free for a 61-yard touchdown jaunt. Angelio Bonilla made good on the PAT, and the Warriors led, 17-14, still in the third quarter.
Once again, Toombs County would answer. Tank Morris capped the drive on a seven-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs up, 21-17, with 2:42 minutes left in the third quarter. The action was fast and curious, as Tattnall County desperately tried to keep pace.
The Warriors moved deep into the Bulldogs’ territory but missed on a 35-yard field goal attempt at the start of the fourth quarter. After another long drive by the Bulldogs, the Warriors resourced a fumble on their own two-yard line. On the next play, a Tattnall County runner was stopped in the end zone for a safety.
Toombs County now led, 23-17, and the Warriors had to kick off to the Bulldogs from their own 20-yard line. The Bulldogs then took advantage of the short field when Tank Morris plowed through the Warrior defense for a 45-yard touchdown run. Toombs would add the two-point conversion and seemed to have had control of the game with a 31-17 lead with 5:34 minutes remaining… but, not so fast.
Tattnall County would not go quietly into the good night. The Warriors still had a little fight left. The Warriors scored quickly on a 65-yard pass from Miles Brown to Xavier Friendly. On the play, Friendly caught about a seven-yard pass, and the Toombs defender attempted to make the tackle. Friendly kept his knee from touching the turf and darted down the left sideline to the end zone, and the Bulldog faithful were stormed. The PAT was no good, and Toombs County led, 31-23, with 3:36 to go.
And when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder, they really did. On the ensuing kickoff, a Toombs County return man mistakenly let the ball roll free deep inside his own five-yard line. He assumed it would roll deep into the end zone, but not on this night. The ball seemed to have a backspin on it as it rolled near the goal and scooted sideways, coming to a rest near the Bulldogs’ two-yard line. The shocked Booster Stadium crowd was now on their feet to see what was going to happen next. Two plays later, Miles Brown scored on a one-yard run to trim the Toombs County lead to 31-29.
Tattnall County would then attempt to tie the game with the two-point conversion, but the Bulldog defense made the play of the game by tackling the Warrior running back just short of the goal line and preserved the lead, 31-29. From there, Toombs County would take down the clock and hang on to get the win in a thriller, 31-29.
Jeremiah Mayner had 13 carries for 85 yards and was 0-2 for passing.
Xavier Friendy had five carries for 65 yards and one touchdown.
Miles Brown went 1-4 for passing with 65 passing yards, one touchdown, and two carries for 11 yards.
Kell Lawson had two carries. Trey Rogers had two carries for five yards. David Hill had seven carries for 58 yards and one touchdown.
The Warriors will host Windsor Forest for their Homecoming game at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, September 28, rather than Friday, September 30, due to the threat of Hurricane Ian.
