TCHS Rolls Over Metter In Scrimmage
Courtesy of TCHS
The Toombs County High School Bulldogs football team gave a strong preview of their 2024 season on Friday night, delivering a decisive victory over the Metter Tigers in a scrimmage at The PIT. The Bulldogs’ Red Bullet defense set the tone early, while the offense showcased its firepower through the air, leading to a blowout win.
The action started quickly for the Bulldogs when sophomore quarterback Joseph Owens connected with wide receiver Kareem Palmer on a quick hitch route. Palmer sprinted 73 yards for the first touchdown of the night, with freshman placekicker Ross Bowen adding the extra point to give Toombs a 7-0 lead. The first quarter ended with that score, setting the stage for the varsity squad to take over in the second quarter.
The Red Bullet defense continued to impress, forcing a Metter punt early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs took over at their own 47-yard line, and on the very first play, senior quarterback TJ Stanley found senior wide receiver LaGonza Heyward deep down the field for a 53-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 13-0.
Later in the quarter, with 6:41 left in the half, Stanley led another scoring drive, connecting with senior Mike Polke and junior Justice Wilds on key passes. Stanley capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:10 remaining, and sophomore placekicker Alex Otero added the extra point, making it 20-0 in favor of Toombs County.
On Metter’s ensuing drive, the Red Bullet defense intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it deep into Metter territory. This turnover set up another 1-yard touchdown run by Stanley, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 27-0 lead at halftime. The combined efforts of the varsity and JV defensive units were stellar, as they did not allow a single first down except via penalty and forced three turnovers.
The Bulldogs opened the second half continued from page
with an 80-yard scoring drive on just four plays, highlighted by two long runs from senior running back Dabyn Wadley. Stanley connected with Heyward again, this time for a 9-yard touchdown pass, pushing the score to 34-0.
Metter managed to drive deep into Bulldog territory on their next possession, aided by several penalties against Toombs County. However, the Red Bullet defense stood firm, stopping the Tigers on a 4th-and-1 from the 2-yard line. Starting from their own 2-yard line, Stanley saw junior Gavin Fletcher wide open along the sideline and hit him with a quick hitch. Fletcher did the rest, racing 98 yards for another Bulldog touchdown, bringing the score to 41-0.
With the game in hand, the clock ran continuously in the fourth quarter. Metter finally recorded their first first down of the night through the air in the final period. The Bulldogs closed out the game with a 41-0 victory, celebrating not only the win but also the return of junior Kammari Williams, who had two carries and a big sack in his first action in almost a year.
Stanley finished the night with an impressive stat line, completing 8 of 10 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns. The Bulldogs will have a bye week to start the 2024 season but will return to action on August 23, hosting a tough Dougherty High School team at 8:00 p.m. in The PIT. Dougherty showed promise in their own scrimmage against Thomasville on Friday.
