BROOKLET - Four quarters wasn’t enough for Southeast Bulloch and East Laurens to settle things on a rainy Friday night at Fred Shaver Field.

It didn’t take long, in overtime, however, for the Yellow Jackets to come away with the win. The SEB defense forced a turnover on the Falcons’ opening possession over overtime and then sophomore Jordan Dawson’s eight yard touchdown run on their second play from scrimmage gave SEB a dramatic 26-20 victory.

“It was a great job by the team. A collective team win,” said SEB Interim Head Coach Jason Anthony, who earned his first head coaching win with the Yellow Jackets. “It was a little sloppy on both sides of the ball early on. The rain affected us, but it also affected them too.”

Anthony credited his players for persevering and sticking to the game plan and what they have been working on.

“We’re going to run the ball. Defensively, we’re going to stop the run,” he said. “In overtime, what happened? We stopped the run, created a fumble and then we scored on a running play at the end.”

The Yellow Jackets (1-1) forced their way into overtime on the foot of placekicker Owen Turner, who hit two field goals, including a 30 yard attempt with under five minutes remaining to tie the game at 20.

The Falcons (0-2) took the lead early in the fourth quarter on a Sky Snead quarterback keeper to put East Laurens ahead 20-17. Somewhat confusingly, the Falcons opted to go for two rather than kick the extra point and go ahead by four. The Yellow Jacket defense was able to step up and stop the two point conversion, allowing for Turner to kick the Jackets into the extra frame.

After a first half that saw both defenses score a touchdown, Southeast Bulloch was unable to move the ball on the opening possession of the second half. The Falcons, meanwhile, took over on their 45 yard line and two plays later found the end zone to take a 14-7 lead.

Southeast Bulloch responded on their next drive, going 64 yards in five plays, keyed by a Dawson 38 yard run. Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Ja’alian Small ran up the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown to knot the game at 14.

On the Falcons next possession, senior linebacker Brant Horst was able to pressure Snead in the backfield, forcing a fumble that would be recovered by junior Riley Marsh at the Falcons’ 20 yard line.

Unable to move the ball, the Jackets settled for Turner’s first field goal of the night to take a 17-14 lead before the Falcons’ rallied to take the lead.

It appears for a moment that after tying the game, the Falcons found a miracle. Backed up at their own 13 with 1:29 remaining, Snead found Bryson Hazley on a short pass over the middle. Hazeley was able to shake a tackle and race 87 yards for the apparent score but it was called back for multiple penalties on East Laurens, including the fact that Haley was an ineligible receiver.

The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring late in the first quarter. Following a punt on their second possession, the Yellow Jackets pinned the Falcons back at their own 10 yard line. Facing a third down, East Laurens lined up in shotgun, but Snead was unable to handle a low snap and the ball bounced into the end zone.

A scramble for the ball ensued and eventually senior David Thompson was able to fall on the ball for an SEB touchdown.

Owen Turner’s extra point extended the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 7-0 with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter.

The Falcons would take the following kickoff and march from their own 26 as far as the Yellow Jackets 17 yard line. However, a loss of three yards on third down and then a quarterback sack on fourth down ended the Falcons 17 play drive with nothing to show for it.

Following an SEB punt, the Falcons looked to start another drive, but following a completed pass, the ball popped out of the receiver's hands and right into the waiting arms of Tyler Edmon who returned it to the Falcons 42.

Two plays later, Dawson appeared to be down at the 48 before fumbling, but the officials ruled it a live ball and East Laurens’ Jamari Harvey scooped up the loose ball and raced 48 yards to the endzone. The following extra point tied the game at seven with 2:22 left in the first half

Neither team was able to find much offense in the first half with the Yellow Jackets held to 56 yards while the Falcons ended with 91 yards, including only seven on the ground as the SEB defense stifled any rushing attack from the Falcons.

Southeast Bulloch had excellent field position in each of their first two possessions, starting at midfield and the East Laurens 48 to open the game. Each drive netted one first down, but the Yellow Jackets were unable to convert on third down and were forced to punt.

The SEB defense, however, dominated the first quarter, holding the Falcons to just 14 yards in the opening quarter.

For Anthony, getting his first win was a special moment.

“I mean, to be completely honest, it feels good,” he said. “The way that we won, it feels good.”

Anthony then went on to explain that it was not only his first win, but it came against a special opponent.

“East Laurens is an outstanding football team with great athletes. Their coach was my coach in high school, so that means a lot to me to get that first win against him.”

Anthony said it was a little surreal to get his win against his former coach.

“Both of us are the same. We’re not going to talk to each other before the game and we're not going to look at each other on the sideline. But after the game, we shook hands. We hugged each other. I told him I loved him and he said he loves me too,” Anthony said. “He’s my mentor and I appreciate everything he does for me,” he said.

The Yellow Jackets will hit the road for the first of three straight road games starting next week with Burke County before facing Westside. After a bye week, they’ll travel to West Laurens before finally returning home on October 2 against Harlem.