Not many coaches can talk about the time they turned the ball over five times and were able to win a big game. Matt Dobson has that rare opportunity as Statesboro High overcame five turnovers and scored a D.J. Brooks touchdown with just over 30 seconds to play as they knocked off Burke County 29 to 22 Friday night at Womack Field to improve to 2-0 on the season.
“Burke is a great football team with championship pedigree,” Dobson said. “They won it all two years ago and went to the semifinals last year and to beat them when we didn’t play our best is saying a lot. Good football teams find a way to win and we did that tonight.”
In a game that saw quite a few momentum shifts the Bears took advantage of a pair of Statesboro turnovers to take a 14 to nothing lead. The Blue Devils stormed back to grab a 15-14 halftime lead. The Blue Devils then went up 22-14 only to see the Bears answer late in the fourth to tie it at 22-22 before Brooks put them game on ice.
“If you would have told me we turned the ball over five times against these guys I’d have said no way we win,” Dobson said. “I felt like our defense just really battled tonight and kept us in the game. Our offense finally got going and I felt like it was a total team effort.”
Burke took advantage of a pair of Statesboro tunrovers as they scored on a 15-yard run by Mykheal Smith and a screen pass from Ranquavious Morris to Smith for a 69-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Statesboro responded with a 45-yard D.J. Brooks touchdown to make it 14-7. Quarterback Beckham Jarrard later had a 23-yard run which was followed by a 13-yard Brooks touchdown. The two-point conversion from Davis Harrison to Todd Easter gave Statesboro a 15-14 lead.
In the second half Statesboro received the kick and proceeded to go on a six-minute drive capped by a fourth and 12 pass from Jarrard to a wide-open Jhaden Perkins for a 22-14 lead.
Late in the third the Bears went on a 60-yard drive which continued into the fourth, capped off by an eight-yard run by Landen Wright. The two-point conversion run by Morris tied the game at 22-22 with 10 minutes to play.
The Bears fumbled the ball six times and Statesboro had three balls that could have been intercepted but with just over two minutes to play a Bear miscue finally hurt them. A low snap saw punter Asher Price reach and drag his knee on the ground. Officials gave Statesboro the ball at that spot on the 44-yard line.
On the very next play from scrimmage Jarrard connected with Matthew White for a 38-yard completion to the six-yard line. Jarrard appeared to twist his ankle on the next play and Brooks took a direct snap and followed his blockers in for the game winning touchdown.
Burke County actually outgained Statesboro 299-224. Statesboro had 158 yards rushing led by Brooks with 89 yards on 10 carries. Dobson felt Brooks really made the difference Friday night.
“We felt like we really needed a spark and D.J. gave that to us,” Dobson said. “He had some tough runs but the 45-yard touchdown when we were down 14-0 was huge and just what we needed to get back in the game.”
Next up Statesboro hosts ECI Friday at 7:30.
