Box Score
SWN SHS
First Downs 7 15
Rush Yards 26-75 41-320
Pass Yards 30 59
Total Yards 105 379
Passing 5-17-0 3-7-0
Turnovers 0 0
Penalties 3-25 8-60
Individual Leaders
Rushing: SWN: Poole, 4-50 SHS: Grant, 10-124, TD
Passing: SWN: Somerville SHS: Chance, 3-7-59, TD
Receiving: SWN: Buley, 1-13 TD. SHS: Corless, 1-43 TD
SWN 0 0 7 0 7
SHS 14 3 7 10 34
Scoring
1st Quarter
9:37 — Corless (SHS) 43 pass from Chance (Hill kick)
4:44 — Chance (SHS) 39 run (Hill kick)
2nd Quarter
5:51 — Hill (SHS) 39 field goal
3rd Quarter
4:32 — Buley (SWN) 13 pass from Somerville (Delima kick)
2:08 — Brunson (SHS) 2 run (Hill kick)
4th Quarter
8:34 — Hill (SHS) 36 field goal
6:11 — Grant (SHS) 24 run (Hill kick)
After a week full of festivities, Statesboro put a bow on homecoming, cruising to a 34-7 victory over Swainsboro Friday night at Womack Field.
The Devils’ newfound passing attack has been the story for much of the season, but Statesboro featured its ground game heavily, racking up 320 rushing yards.
“We executed our option game very well,” SHS coach Steve Pennington said. “We challenged our offensive line at halftime to finish strong, and I think we did that. We got good blocking and a few big runs.”
Quarterback Colin Chance got things done in all phases of the game.
Chance began the scoring on the game’s opening drive. Statesboro quickly drove into Swainsboro (0-5) territory, but ran into a third-and-8 situation. Receiver Joe Corless ran a post behind the Tiger defense and Chance hit him in stride for a 43-yard touchdown strike.
On the next Statesboro drive, Chance rolled left on the option and faked a pitch. Only one Swainsboro defender had an angle on Chance, but a quick juke got him into open space for a 39-yard touchdown run.
George Hill knocked a 39-yard field goal through the uprights to give Statesboro a 17-0 lead at halftime.
The Devils were just as efficient defensively.
Swainsboro utilized both Dylan Poole and Kory Somerville at quarterback and showed multiple looks, but Statesboro had it all covered. The Tigers managed just seven first downs — three by way of Blue Devil penalties — and gained just 105 total yards on the night.
“Swainsboro had an extra week to prepare for us,” Pennington said. “They threw in some new formations that we hadn’t seen on tape. We were a little surprised, but I think we adjusted well.”
The Tigers’ only threat came on the first drive of the second half.
Swainsboro covered 80 yards in 7:28, largely on the legs of Poole.
The Tigers converted on fourth down as Somerville found Daterius Buley for a 13-yard touchdown strike.
Two plays later, Statesboro struck back as Anthony Curtis broke loose on a 49-yard run. Diquan Brunson capped the drive three plays later with a 2-yard scoring run.
Hill added his second field goal of the night — a 26-yarder — early in the fourth quarter and Chance made a perfect option pitch to Zach Grant (10 carries, 124 yards) to spring him on a 24-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring.
Next week, the Devils open up sub-region play with a trip to Liberty County.
Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.
