A lightning delay and a last minute touchdown made for an exciting way to open the 2025 season for the Long County Blue Tide football team. They pulled out a 28-27 victory over the Vidalia Indians to open the season 1-0 for the second year in a row.

Tyrell Grayson scored on a two-point conversion after Cortney Charles’ 68-yard touchdown catch with 30 seconds left to lift the Tide to the dramatic victory.

The Tide’s final drive started from inside their own 10-yard line with 2:02 to go in the game. Charles got the Tide some breathing room with a 21-yard gain and on fourth and 3 from the 32, Dylan Tyler rolled out to his left and found Charles down the Indians sideline.

On their first drive of the game, the Tide reached the Vidalia 8 but the Indians blocked Nick Contreras’ 25-yard field goal try.

Long County started its next drive at the Tide 20, and Jehmiel Pettis’ 21-yard run moved them to the Vidalia 22. Charles scored from 9 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

After the Indians tied the game at 7-7 with 7:49 left in the first half, Tyler found Grayson for the Tide’s first completion. Long County got to the Vidalia 22 before the lightning detector sounded, bringing the game to a half for nearly 90 minutes.

Wesley Williams’ touchdown run put the Tide in front 13-7 with 1:59 left in the half, but the Indians ran the ensuing kickoff back for a 90-yard touchdown return and a 14-13 lead.

The Tide’s first possession of the second half reached the Vidalia 5 but the Indians recovered a fumble, ending the threat.

A 65-yard touchdown gave Vidalia a 20-13 lead. Long County tied the game with 8:25 to play on Jason Familia’s 8-yard run on third-and-goal.

Just 1:05 later, the Indians found paydirt again on another big play. A 54-yard pass made the score 27-20 with 7:20 left to play.

The Tide got into Indian territory before a fumble seemed to be the beginning of the end. However, the defense stepped up and forced a punt

The Tide, 1-0 for the second straight season, will be off for a week before they travel to play Johnson to open Region 3-AAA play Thursday, August 28.