POOLER - The Long County Blue Tide football team has had a rough go of things during the 2026 season and it looks like they will be playing for pride in their final two games of the year. This comes after a 34-14 loss to the New Hampstead Phoenix on Friday, October 23.

Four first half fumbles led to a 21-7 deficit for the Tide, but things looked promising on the first drive of the game.

The Tide opened the game on a 14-play, 65-yard drive that lasted over seven minutes and ended on quarterback Zayne Vaughn’s 1-yard sneak. With Jhon Rioja’s extra point, the Tide led 7-0 with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

A surprise onside kick caught the Phoenix off guard as the Tide recovered at midfield. Just three plays into the drive, however, the Tide fumbled a snap and the Phoenix recovered at their own 38.

The Phoenix converted a fourth-and-4 to open the second quarter and that led to a 3-yard TD run to tie the game 7-7.

Another fumble on the next Tide series set up the Phoenix at the Long County 11-yard line.

The Tide set up deep in their own territory after a penalty on the kickoff and were in trouble on the first play as a fumble on the handoff set the Phoenix up with great field position at the Tide 11. Antonio Benton hit Mekhi Lynn for an 11-yard TD pass on the next play, and the Phoenix went in front 14-7.

After the Phoenix held on fourth down at their own 37, and drove to extend the lead to 21-7.

Another fumble, this one at midfield, put the Phoenix in great field position again but the Tide defense held and forced a punt.

Long County drove to the New Hampstead 31 but the Phoenix intercepted the Tide’s last-second, last-ditch pass to close the first half.

To open the third quarter, the Phoenix used an efficient passing attack, as Benton completed passes of 33 and 18 yards before throwing for his second touchdown of the game.

The Tide got as far as the Phoenix 5 but were pushed back and a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Lynn turned Benton’s screen pass into a 51-yard touchdown and a 34-7 lead to open the fourth quarter.

They drove down inside the five yard but a tackle for loss forced them to go for it on fourth and 12. Vaughn’s pass was incomplete as the Phoenix took over there late in the third.

Jason Scriven found the endzone late in the game for the Tide’s second touchdown.

The Tide fall to 1-7 and 0-4 in region play. This all but guarantees the Tide will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and the first time coach Mike Pfiester’s tenure in Ludowici.

They will look to bounce back from their five game losing streak when they take on the Windsor Forest Knights on Friday, October 30 for homecoming.

The Knights are 4-4 on the year and coming off their first region win of the season, a 29-28 upset of Harlem.