Indians Win Final Nonregion Tune Up
After dusting off the open week doldrums in a humdrum first half, the Vidalia Indians returned from halftime and outscored the Tattnall County Warriors 20-0 in the second half to take a 40-14 win in the final tuneup game for Region 2-AA play. The Indians improved to 2-2 after picking up their second win in a row. Vidalia opens the Region 2-AA schedule by hosting unbeaten Jeff Davis (5-0) on Friday night. The Indians got off to a great start when Josh Mincey grabbed Tattnall’s opening kickoff near the home team’s sideline, veered right, and outran all of the Warrior pursuit for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Vidalia’s try for 2 points came up just a little short when Jaedyn Stankey was pushed out of bounds just short of the goalline. The Indians had a 6-0 lead with just 15 seconds gone on the clock.
The Indian defense forced Tattnall to punt, but Tattnall got the game’s first break when the Warriors fell on an Indian fumble on Vidalia’s end of the field.
Tattnall took advantage of the short field when Matt Mobley broke a couple of tackles at the line and scored on a 14-yard run. An extra point gave the Warriors a brief 7-6 lead with 7:50 left in the quarter.
After the kickoff, Indian QB Bryce Davis showed his speed when he kept for 53 yards and a touchdown on the Indians’ next possession. Tate McDaniel’s extra point gave Vidalia a 13-7 lead with 7:12 left in the first quarter.
Vidalia seemed to take over the game on their next possession, when Vidalia’s backs started gashing the Warrior defense.
The Indians boosted their lead to a 20-7 lead when Davis picked up his second TD of the night when he used his speed to beat a couple of speedy Warriors into the right hand corner of the end zone. Another McDaniel PAT made it 20-7 with 9:53 left in the second quarter.
The pesky Warriors weren’t ready to give up yet though. On their next possession, QB Jeremiah Mayner scrambled and found Tyler Jinks running in the open behind the Indian secondary for 71 yards and a TD.
The scoring play and then the extra point cut Vidalia’s halftime lead to 20-14.
Any chance of a second half Tattnall comeback ended early, though, as the Indians were more focused on both sides of the ball in the second half.
The Indians scored three TD’s, all on long runs in the second half.
First, it was Davis scoring his third TD of the night, this time on a 24-yard run with 3:41 left the third quarter. Davis would finish his night with 199 yards running the football.
Then, Jaedyn Stanley broke free and tightroped the sideline into the end zone for 61 yards and another score. The try for 2-points failed for a second time to keep the score at 33-14.
Finally, freshman QB Antonio Barron, subbing for Davis, swept into the end zone late in the fourth quartre to make it 39-14. Tate McDaniels finished his night by going 3-for-3 on PAT’s.
After missing his first PAT of the season, McDaniel has been perfect, making all of his PAT’s and making both of his field goal attempts.
The Indians had their most productive night of the season, rushing for 370 yards against Tattnall’s defense.
Jeff Davis whipped Bacon County 41-14 last Friday and is 1-0 in 2-AA play. This will be Vidalia’s first Region contest of the season. Kickoff time is at 7:30 p.m. at Buck Cravey Field.
