BROOKLET - Southeast Bulloch used a powerful running game and a strong second half defensive performance to pull away from Johnson High School 35-13 in a steady rain Friday night at Fred Shaver Field.

Juniors Jayden Murphy and Colby Smith both ran for more than 130 yards and two touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets (3-1, 2-1) piled up 336 rushing yards and five total scores on the ground.

“We thought we could be more physical than them. At the end of the day that’s who we are and we felt like that was a matchup in our favor,” said SEB Head Coach Jared Zito. “We felt they were going to have some skilled kids that were maybe a little faster than us so we had to make it a physical game and we did a great job of that.”

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early lead. After holding the Atomsmashers (1-3, 1-2) to a three-and-out on their opening possession, the Yellow Jackets took over at the Johnson 49 yard line and proceeded to march down the field, keyed by a 32 yard Smith run. 

Four plays later, Murphy capped off the drive with a six-yard score to put SEB ahead. Thomas Edge’s extra point made it 7-0 Yellow Jackets.

Southeast Bulloch surprised everyone with an onside kick, recovering the ball at the Johnson 46 and moving methodically down the field behind efficient run blocking. Murphy and Smith combined to get the ball to the eight where, facing a third-and-two, Smith found a hole on the left side and took it in for an eight yard score. 

“It’s something we work on every week and on the opening kick we saw they weren’t covering it so we took advantage of it,” Zito said. “When we got up seven, our Special Teams coordinator, Coach Lee, asked me if we wanted to go for it and I said ‘let’s do it.’ We didn’t know we were going to do it tonight but they gave us the opportunity and we took it.”

Edge’s extra point made it 14-0 with 1:11 remaining in the first.

Johnson would respond on their next possession, going 84 yards on six plays with Atom Smashers’ quarterback Shamari King having the key play with a 55-yard bolt to flip the field. After converting on a fourth-and-one at the SEB 10, Isaiah Scott would punch it in from one yard out to cut the lead to 14-6.

The Yelllow Jackets would need just one play to take back their two touchdown lead as Murphy would take the handoff on his own 34 and race 66 yards for the score. Edge’s third extra point of the half put SEB ahead 21-6.

Johnson, however, would mount a 65 yard drive lasting more than nine minutes. Twice it appeared the Yellow Jackets had stopped the drive, only to be flagged for penalties. Facing a fourth-and-nine from the 25, King’s pass was intercepted in the end zone, but SEB was called for roughing the passer to give Johnson a new set of downs.

Four plays later, Johnson again faced fourth down and again the SEB defense seemed to stop them. However, a facemask call extended the drive and Scott would score from one yard out to trim the lead to 21-13 just before halftime.

The Yellow Jackets would assert control in the third quarter, scoring on their opening drive with Smith’s second score of the night on a 35-yard run. Edge’s point after extended the lead to 28-13.

After forcing another three-and-out, the Yellow Jackets went 58 yards on six plays, keyed by a 26-yard pass from quarterback Rhett Morgan to Gavin Ivey to the Atom Smashers’ 18 yard line. Four plays later, Chase Douglas would score from three yards out to put SEB ahead 35-13.

The only first downs the Yellow Jackets allowed in the second half came as a result of penalties in the fourth quarter.

“The big thing is we tackled better in the second half instead of reaching and grabbing,” Zito said.

Despite the performance, Zito said the penalties are something he and his staff will take a look at.

“Sometimes we get a little over aggressive,” he said. “It’s hard to not want your kids to be aggressive, but we’ve got to be right on the line there.”

The Yellow Jackets will travel to play Windsor Forest on Friday in Savannah.