The Long County Lady Blue Tide flag football team had not allowed a single point at home entering Monday’s contest, but that changed as outlasted the Claxton Tigers 21-19 in triple overtime.
The Tide opened the scoring as quarterback Mallory Skipper hit Macey Higgason for a 40-yard touchdown pass to put them up 6-0 with 3:00 left in the first quarter.
On first and goal from the Tide 14, the Tigers looked to become just the second team to score on the Tide all season. That was put to rest on a Safeara McGhee interception in the endzone.
The Tide turned it over on downs at the Tiger 24 as the score was 6-0 for the Tide at the half.
The Tide marched down the field on the first drive of the third quarter as they ticked time off the clock. On fourth and 4 from the 24, they picked up 7 on a Miley Maulden run.
Skipper then hit twin sister Alyssa for an 11-yard gain to the 6. They finished off the drive two plays later as the sisters hooked up again to make it 12-0 late in the third.
The Tigers opened the fourth quarter with a first and goal after a 26-yard pass converted a third and long. Claxton scored to end Long County’s home shutout streak with 7:40 left in regulation, cutting the lead to 12-6.
The Tide drove down to the Tigers 23 after Skipper’s 19-yard pass to Catherine Sikes. A personal foul gave them a first down and goal at the 13, but they only picked up three yards before facing a fourth and goal.
The Tide turned it over as the Tigers took over from there. It only took them one play to score as a 70-yard pass tied the game at 12 with 1:36 left in the game.
Skipper hit Higgason on a 49-yard pass to the 17, but the Tide could not get into the endzone as they turned it over on downs and the time ran out as the Tide went to overtime.
Neither team scored on the first possession after freshman Madison Gomez came up with a big interception in the endzone to keep the Tigers from getting the game-winning score.
The Tigers scored in two plays in the second overtime as they went up 19-12 after the one point conversion. Skipper hit Maulden as the Tide tied the game in the second overtime.
From the third overtime, the teams were to trade either two or three point conversion attempts. The Tide chose the two-point conversion as Skipper hit Skipper to give them the 21-19 lead.
The Tigers went for the three-point attempt at the win, but their pass was knocked away in the endzone as the Tide held on for the thrilling victory.
The Tide took on First Preparatory in their second game of the night and had little trouble with the Lady Highlanders.
Skipper went back to work through the air, hitting Higgason and Sikes before connecting with her sister from 7 yards out to put the Tide up 7-0.
On second and goal from the 13, Skipper hit Skipper, who flipped it back to Maulden, and she went into the endzone to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
The Skippers connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass and a 20-0 lead, and a punt return score put the Tide in front 27-0. Gomez flipped the ball back to Ta’maira Mallard on the return and she went the last 30 yards for the touchdown.
McGhee’s second interception of the night set up the Tide at the FPCA 13, and Skipper found Higgason from 4 yards out as the Tide increased their lead to 33-0.
From there, the game was well in hand with the Tide adding a final score late in the fourth as Maddi Brannen flipped a pass back to Maliah Canete and she scored from 5 yards out to make the final score 39-0.
With the wins, the Lady Tide move to 14-1 on the year and play their final two games of the regular season over the next two days. They played a key region game at Camden County on Tuesday and host Appling County on Thursday, November 20 to close out the regular season.
Playoffs will begin on December 6.