SYLVANIA - What started as a bad week for the Long County Blue Tide football team finished even worse as the Tide fell to 0-2 on the season with a 22-12 loss to Screven County on Friday, September 4.
Earlier in the week, the GHSA ruled that the Blue Tide must forfeit their season-opening win against McIntosh County Academy after the team self-reported the use of an ineligible player in the game. The player was ineligible due to a clerical error and promptly was declared eligible after the mistake was corrected Monday.
The Tide were determined not to let this unfortunate situation shape the rest of the season as they took the trip to Sylvania to take on the Gamecocks, a AA team that last year went 12-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Things got off to a good start as they forced a three and out and punt for the Gamecocks and went on a 12-play drive that went 66 yards. It was highlighted by a 10-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Zayne Vaughn to his older brother, senior tight end Tjayden Vaughn, on third and 6.
Zacheaus Paxton picked up 11 yards to get inside the Gamecocks 30 before the younger Vaughn capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run four plays later.
The Tide recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and were set up at the 24. They drove down to the 10 before fumbling and giving the ball back to the Gamecocks.
With the Gamecocks facing fourth and 6 to open the second quarter, but Drayden Roberts found room up the middle and broke one tackle to score on a long run to give them an 8-6 lead early in the second quarter.
On Screven’s next possession, Andy Roberts went 61 yards untouched to make the score 14-6 late in the first half.
A facemask penalty against the Gamecocks kept a Tide drive late in the half going as they set up at the 19. Donovan Antoine got as close as he could to the goal line, picking up 15 of the final 16 yards.
Vaughn capped off the drive with his second touchdown of the night to make the score 14-12 after the failed two-point conversion.
The defense came up big again, forcing a fumble on the first play from scrimmage and giving the Tide a chance to take the lead from the Gamecocks 38.
However, a sack and too little time on the clock kept the score at a two-point deficit for the Tide as they went into the locker room trailing 14-12.
On the first possession of the second half, the Tide drove inside the Gamecocks 20, but a penalty and a loss on a run set them up with fourth and 11 from the 21. Vaughn’s pass fell incomplete as the Tide turned the ball over on downs.
A Paxton interception stopped a Gamecocks drive, and later, Charlie Johnson’s punt pinned Screven County inside its own 5-yard line with just over four minutes left in the game. But the Gamecocks ripped off big chunks on two running plays, crossing midfield, and converted a third and 19 to reach the Tide 5. Andy Roberts scored two plays later and AB Hilton got the two-point conversion to put the game out of reach.
The Tide now fall to 0-2 and hope to get some reprieve from the GHSA as they have filed for an appeal of their forfeiture loss. They will look to their third opponent, former region foe Beach, as they travel to Garden City to take on the Bulldogs on Friday, September 11.