BROOKLET - The Long County Blue Tide football team went into Friday’s road game against the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets knowing they needed to win to give them a better chance at making the state playoffs.
They also knew that they had never beaten the Yellow Jackets in their previous five matchups, but the 2024 meeting was probably the most painful, a last-minute loss that knocked the Tide out of contention for a home playoff game.
The Tide ended that streak with a 43-21 romp at Fred Shaver Field that puts them at 6-3 overall and 5-3 in Region 3-AAA.
It was a slow and methodical pace for the Tide as they went on a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ate up nearly eight minutes off the clock in the first quarter. Dylan Tyler’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Cortney Charles punctuated the drive, giving Long County a 7-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
The Tide blocked a SEB punt and took over at the Yellow Jackets 20-yard line, setting up Wesley Williams’ 9-yard touchdown run
Colton Zito answered for SEB with a 33-yard scoring run, bringing the Jackets within 14-6
The Jackets were able to answer as they worked their way into Tide territory after a good kickoff return. They got on the board on a 33-yard run by quarterback Colton Zito.
TJ Grayson went up 40 yards up the middle to put the Tide up 21-6 with 8:15 left in the first half.
The Tide held on fourth down at its own 27, and that led to Grayson’s 56-yard touchdown run and a 28-6 lead.
Long County amassed 229 yards rushing in the first half, and Grayson accounted for 127 of those.
SEB cut the lead to 28-14 but the Tide went on another long drive, taking off nearly seven minutes in the quarter. Tyler plunged in from the 1-yard line to make the score 35-14 with 1:46 left in the third.
The Jackets got to within 35-21 on a 16-yard touchdown run with 10:15 to go in the game. But Sandejago Wilson handled the onside kick attempt and raced 50 yards for a touchdown and a 43-21 lead.
In the fourth, defensive end Tyler Gamble picked up three sacks to help seal the win.
The Tide finished the night with 302 rushing yards, 150 coming from Grayson.