Bulldogs Dominate Patriots
On Saturday of last week, the #4 ranked team in the state, the Toombs County High School Bulldogs football team hosted Southwest of Macon in the first round of the GHSA State AA Playoffs. After a bit of a rocky start, the Bulldogs settled down and dominated the Patriots.
The Dogs scored early and often as junior QB TJ Stanley went 8/12 for 201 yards and 2 TDs. Stanley didn’t even have to attempt a pass in the second half. Dabyn Wadley had a careerhigh day as the junior carried the ball 16 times for 175 yards and 3 scores. Hayden Roy added 2 touchdowns of his own—a 34-yard TD reception and a 7-yard TD run.
The “Red Bullet” Defense had a night forcing a handful of Patriot turnovers and scoring on a scoop-and-score by senior Keshon Deloach in the 3rd quarter.
The Bulldogs racked up 475 yards of total offense while holding Southwest to 169 yards and -22 yards on the ground. The Dogs also set a school record for points in a game when Kadayvious McCall rolled in for a 22-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes remaining. Senior placekicker Braylen Dietrich punched through the record point on his point-after kick.
Southwest had the ball to start the game and completed a long pass but just a couple of plays later fumbled the ball with the Bulldogs picking it up at the 39-yard line. Toombs moved across midfield and then Wadley broke a 36yard run for the first touchdown of the game. Dietrich added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 9:16 left in the first quarter.
The Patriots started their next drive at their 23-yard line, and on the first play connected on a 77-yard touchdown pass, but it was called back on a holding penalty. Toombs took advantage and forced a punt with Toombs taking over at their 43-yard line with just over seven minutes to play in the first quarter.
A run by Wadley and then a pass to Deloach took the Dogs across midfield, and then from 34 yards out Stanley connected with Roy for a touchdown pass. There was a bad snap on the extra point which left the Bulldogs on top 13-0 with 6:05 left in the first.
Toombs defense began to settle down and took control of the game from here out. They forced another punt and started at their 41-yard line with four minutes to go in the quarter. Stanley found Gavin Fletcher across the middle for a nice gain, and with a penalty added to the end of the play, the Bulldogs were all the way down to continued from page
the Patriots' 12-yard line. Alex Scott took it to the 2-yard line, and Stanley went in from there on the keeper with two minutes left in the first. Dietrich added the PAT for a 20-0 lead over Southwest.
Southwest fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff with Toombs starting deep in their territory after the recovery. A penalty stalled the short drive from Toombs, but Dietrich kicked a 24-yard field goal as the Bulldogs took a 23-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
Toombs added another touchdown on a pass from Stanley to Deloach from 49 yards out. With the PAT it was a 30-0 lead for TCHS.
Deloach then pulled down an interception on defense that led to a Wadley 25-yard touchdown run. That put the Bulldogs up 36-0.
Southwest did get on the board on their next possession to make it 366, but those were the only points they scored in the game. That was the scored as the teams went to halftime.
Toombs continued to pull away in the third quarter as they led 57-6 by the end of the third quarter. It was a running clock in the fourth, and Toombs scored one more time when Kadayvious McCall rolled in for a 22yard touchdown run with two minutes remaining. Senior placekicker Dietrich punched through the record-setting point on his point-after kick, putting Toombs on top 64-6. The 64-point total is the most ever scored in a game by the Bulldogs.
As for the four teams out of Region 3AA, the only loss came from the Vidalia Indians as they played a tough game against Spencer, losing by just one touchdown to the #1 team out of Region 2, 41-34. The other two teams, Appling and Pierce both rolled in their first round matchups.
Appling, the #2 ranked team in the state, won their game over Northeast Macon 49-0, and the #3 ranked Pierce Bears won their game over ACE Charter 42-7. So the top three teams out of Region 3AA won by a combined 155-13 in the first round of the playoffs This week will be tougher for the Region 3AA teams. The Bulldogs are on the road to Thomson this Friday to face the #1 ranked and defending State Champion Thomson Bulldogs in the Brickyard. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Appling County will travel to take on Cook County and Pierce County will be at home against Laney.
