The hype surrounding a cross-region matchup between Pierce County and Southeast Bulloch did not disappoint.
It was a back-and-forth game for both teams at Fred Shaver Field with the Bears coming out on top 40-35, driving 70 yards in the final two minutes of the game to take the lead for good.
SEB head coach Pat Collins and the Yellow Jackets were put to the test Friday. Coming into the game, the Bears were ranked No. 10 in AAA high school football with a highly-touted defensive line.
The Bears extended their five-game win streak in the series against the Yellow Jackets, but SEB wouldn’t go away quietly after trailing 13-0 early.
After the game, Collins had nothing but praise for his team and for a quality opponent like Pierce County.
“You have two teams that want to win a football game. It was a great high school football game and it was a shame either team had to lose this one,” Collins said, minutes after a tough defeat. “I just want to thank the fans for coming out and showing their support. We just wish we could have got the win for them.”
The Bears seemed to control the ball game from the start, going up 13-0 after two touchdowns. However, the Yellow Jackets’ defense buckled down and got a big fourth down stop with 3:57 left until halftime. On SEB’s subsequent drive, Jaylen Wells put the Yellow Jackets on the board for the team’s first score of the season on a quarterback keeper.
Wells took the majority of the snaps Friday night, throwing for 52 yards on seven attempts and rushing for 53 yards on 9 carries.
As a team, the Yellow Jackets had over 350 yards rushing.
Anton Lanier had the play of the game to start the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, Lanier made a few nice cuts in the middle and then turned on the jets and outran the Bears’ defenders on his way to an 80-yard touchdown. Lanier’s score gave the Yellow Jackets a 14-13 lead.
“We have some guys that can run. We have guys that can make you miss once they get out into open space,” Collins said.
Lanier wasn’t the only player with a big gain on the ground. Cecil McCollum took a 50-yard run to the endzone in the third quarter, evening the score at 21-21.
The second half had four lead changes, two coming in the final five minutes of the ball game.
It appeared as though the Yellow Jackets would clinch the upset when Chase Walker ran the ball in from six yards out with 1:57 left to play in the game. Walker ran for 110 yards on 28 carries.
However, the Bears starting quarterback Stetson Bennett appeared to have ice water in his veins, taking his team in for the game-winning drive.
“You have to tip your hat to Pierce County. Bennett is one heck of a player. They are a quality opponent and they exploited some things,” Collins said. “Our defense played hard. You have to give the quarterback credit.”
Bennett threw for 200 yards on 25 attempts with two touchdowns through the air and the game-winning touchdown run.
Next for the Yellow Jackets will be
