RTCA Over Briarwood

The Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders football team improved to 2-2 on the season by beating the Briarwood Academy Buccaneers 45-39 in a shootout Friday night in Lyons.

The Buccaneers got on the scoreboard first on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 5:28 in the first quarter. The PAT was no good for a 6-0 lead.

RTCA answered on their next offensive possession when Justin Powell broke free from 42-yards out. The extra point was good to put RTCA on top 7- 6.

After a defensive stop on fourth down by the Crusaders, RTCA scored at the 8:29 mark in the second quarter when quarterback TJ Stanley threw a touchdown pass to Jashaun Powell from 33-yards out. Kicker Justin Bowers made the PAT giving RTCA a 14-6 lead.

The Bucs came back quickly with a 55-yard rushing touchdown with 6:50 left in the quarter. The two-point try was no good as RTCA held onto a 1412 lead.

RTCA added another score with 6:25 left in the first half. Aaron Hankerson took it in from 45 yards out. RTCA missed the extra point, but were now on top 20-12.

The Crusaders scored on their next possession capping off a drive when Stanley ran the ball into the endzone from 10-yards out. The snap was low on the PAT, but Bowers picked the ball up and ran it in for 2 points. RTCA led 28- 12.

Briarwood answered when Charlie Mosley ran the ball in from the 9-yard line. The two-point conversion was continued from page

good to close the lead to 28- 20.

RTCA scored next with just 3 seconds left in the first half when Stanley hit WR Tripp Durden from 11-yards out. Bowers made the PAT to make the score RTCA 35-20 at the half.

The Bucs came out and controlled the clock for most of the third quarter and scored with 7:35 left when Mosley took it in from 1-yard out. The PAT was good to cut the RTCA lead to 35-27.

On their next offensive possession, the Crusaders drive stalled. Bowers kicked a 25-yard field goal with 4:14 left in the third quarter. RTCA led 38-27 at the end of the period. In the fourth quarter after a long drive, the Bucs scored when Mosley took the ball into the endzone from 3-yards out. The two-point try was no good. RTCA led 38-33.

Tripp Durden recovered a Bucs fumble at the 20-yard line with 5:16 remaining. The Crusaders failed to score when Stanley threw an interception in the endzone with just 2:49 left in the game. The Bucs scored next and took the lead with 1:12 left in the contest on a 56-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try was no good, but Briarwood now led 39-38.

The Crusaders drove down the field and scored with only 28 seconds left in the game when Stanley threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jashaun Powell. The PAT from Bowers was good to put RTCA back in front 4539.

Briarwood had one last chance in the game, but DB Jayden Toole intercepted a Buccaneer pass with 7 seconds left to seal the win for the Crusaders.

The Crusaders are on the road this Friday night to take on the Valwood Valiants in Valdosta at 7:30 p.m.