Statesboro head football coach Jeff Kaiser knew Burke County had a huge offensive line, and a lot of speed and power in their backfield. Friday night in Waynesboro the Bears put on quite a show, led by bruising running back Leon McGee who had 177 yards rushing and three touchdowns, the Bears ran all over the Blue Devils to a 47-21 victory.
“Credit to Burke County, they have been doing this to everyone this year,” said Statesboro coach Jeff Kaiser. “They have a great offensive team. The disappointing thing on our end is we just got physically whipped defensively. I also didn’t feel like our kids fought till the end.”
Statesboro actually started the scoring in the game as quarterback Drake Horton looked sharp on the opening drive connecting on a couple first down passes, followed by a 37-yard run by Jaylin Roberson to get inside the Burke County 20-yard line. Roberson then capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 Statesboro lead.
The Bears responded, going on a six minute scoring drive which was capped off by a 16-yard McGee touchdown. The extra point failed and Statesboro led 7-6. Adding injury to insult on the Bears scoring drive Statesboro lost senior defensive lineman Corey McCullough who helps anchor the front line.
“Losing Corey definitely hurt us,” Kaiser said. “But we played without him a few weeks ago and beat a tough Veterans team. We have to be able to overcome adversity better than we did tonight.”
The Blue Devils wasted no time answering the Bears touchdown, as on their first play from scrimmage Aundrell Grace took off up the middle, and then outraced the Bear secondary for a 71-yard touchdown. Cody Parker’s extra point gave Statesboro a 14-6 lead with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
The Bears would not punt the rest of the game, and scored on each possession. Burke County got to within two a few minutes into the second quarter. McGee capped the scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed and Statesboro led 14-12.
Statesboro was unable to hold serve, as their drive stalled out, and the Bears proceeded to go just over 80-yards in less than three minutes, capping the drive with a seven-yard pass from quarterback Juanva Dove to Michal Johnson for a 19-14 halftime lead.
The Bears would go on to outscore Statesboro 21-0 from there as they added a pair of touchdowns, one in the third, and one early in the fourth. Dove scored late in the third, and took in the two-point conversion for a 26-14 lead. Johnson added a seven-yard touchdown run early in the fourth for a 33-14 Burke County lead.
Statesboro finally scored in the second half, after recovering a fumble inside Bear territory Horton hit James Flagg with a pass inside the 10-yard line. Grace then went in from six-yards out to cut the lead to 33-21.
Burke added two more scores before things ended. After an unsuccessful Statesboro onside kick, McGee went 51-yards on the first play from scrimmage to give the Bears a 40-21 lead. Vernon Denmark set up the next score as he intercepted a Horton pass and went 55-yards inside the Statesboro 10-yard line. Eric Williams then scored the final points of the game on a three-yard touchdown run and a 47-21 Burke County win.
“We will just go back to work, and try and figure this out,” Kaiser said. “Some young guys will get some opportunities, and we will just get ready for Wayne County next week.”
The loss drops the Blue Devils to 3-2 on the season. Up next Statesboro opens up region play on the road at Wayne County next Friday night.
