Friday night in Brooklet was a monumental one as Southeast Bulloch defeated Johnson 35-14.
In the very one sided affair, the biggest storyline of the night was senior running back Chase Walker hitting 5,000 career rushing yards and going for another 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the rout of region rival Johnson.
The Jackets (2-4, 2-1 Region 3-AAA) started the night off with a strong 8 play, 58-yard drive capped off with a Jaleel Hodge rush into the end zone from 7 yards out. After an Atomsmashers three-and-out and two punts, SEB had the ball back on Johnson’s 48 yard line.
Quarterback Blaise Minick kept the ball and weaved his way through defenders to score, but a blind side hit negated the touchdown and left the Jackets on the JHS 43 yard line. Just five plays later, they found the end zone on a pitch play.
Down 14-0, the Atomsmashers began their longest drive of the first half. Two costly penalties stalled out the drive for the visitors and they were forced to give the ball back to the Jackets.
As the second quarter began, it only took Chase Walker three plays to go 55 yards and find the end zone.
“He prepares himself physically, mentally, and emotionally,” SEB coach Steve Pennington said of Walker, “He would be the first to…credit his offensive lines he has had for four years.”
Johnson still couldn’t move the ball and punted the ball back to the home team, which was set up with excellent field position on its own 43 yard line.
On this drive, Minick got involved in the passing game and threw two beautiful passes to Tyler Bailey, one of them being a touchdown - on a brilliant, falling away grab by Bailey - making it 28-0.
Johnson’s next drive was given 30 free yards thanks to a pair of Southeast Bulloch penalties. After two strong runs from Earl Hamilton, quarterback Troy Mitchell threw a wild interception to Toby Williams.
Another drive for the Jackets resulted in Walker picking up 58 yards and his second score of the night. The second half featured mainly the backups for the home team and a running clock.
But, Johnson did not want to be shutout.
Hamilton rushed for 106 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the second half.
Those 14 points were all the Jackets’ defense gave up on homecoming to make the final score 35-14.
“The key was that (our defense) didn’t have to stay on the field long because the offense kept the chains going” Pennington said. “Our players are starting see results…giving us confidence.”
Tonight was also a personal milestone as Pennington picked up the 200th win of his coaching career. The players honored this rare accomplishment with a Gatorade bath as the clock hit 0:00.
“I’ve had a very blessed career and am humbled by the opportunity to get to do what I do,” Pennington said.
Southeast Bulloch will travel to Savannah next Thursday in a game that will likely factor heavily in postseason seeding for both teams.