The Long County Blue Tide football team has started 2-0 for the third year in a row after a 28-7 Thursday night victory over region opponent Johnson. The final score, however, does not indicate how close the game truly was.

The Tide led just 6-0 at halftime and after their third fumble of the night on the first drive of the second half, they found themselves trailing 7-6 early in the third quarter.

Things got off to a great start for the Tide as Nick Contreras’ pooch kick on the opening kickoff dropped into a hole in the Atomsmashers’ return team and Tyrell Grayson recovered it at the Johnson 23-yard line.

On third down, quarterback Dylan Tyler dropped back to pass and found a wide open Wesley Williams down the middle of the field for a 33-yard touchdown pass, putting the Tide up 6-0 early after the extra point banged off the left upright.

The Tide turned away a Johnson drive that got to the Long County 7, and Ethan Miller ended another drive with a fumble recovery at the Tide 28.

But a Tide fumble on the first possession of the second half put the Smashers at the Tide 33. Shamari King converted that with a 20-yard touchdown run, and Johnson took a 7-6 lead.

The Tide turned away another Johnson scoring chance on the next Smashers possession when a 32-yard field goal attempt fell short.

Grayson’s 37-yard run ignited the ensuing Tide series, and he capped the drive with a 3-yard TD run. A two-point conversion gave the Tide a 14-7 lead.

Grayson scored on a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter for a 20-7 lead. Grayson and Jehmiel Pettis led the next drive before Casey Dean’s 13-yard touchdown run sealed the win.

They also earned their first victory in Region 3-AAA games, the first of nine for the Tide. They will finally get to play in Ludowici when they host Groves next Friday, September 5 at Veterans’ Stadium.