Top-Ranked Showdown: Toombs Battles With Raiders

Courtesy of TCHS

On Friday night, two of the state’s top-ranked teams collided as the No. 1 ranked Toombs County High School Bulldogs (Public A1) traveled to Pooler to take on the No. 1 ranked Savannah Christian Red Raiders (Private A-3A) for the Region Championship. This marked the first time since 1965 that two No. 1 ranked teams met to vie for the title, and both teams brought their all in a tough, defensive battle.

The first quarter was a showcase of defensive prowess, with both teams scoreless—a rare sight for two of Georgia’s highestscoring offenses. Toombs County was the first to strike in the second quarter. Senior QB TJ Stanley connected with Junior WR Gavin Fletcher, who turned on the speed to complete a 50-yard touchdown. Kicker Alex Otero added the extra point, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 9:45 remaining in the half.

After an exchange of punts, Savannah Christian’s RB Zo Smalls broke free on a 48-yard run to tie the game at 7-7, where it would remain going into halftime.

The second half mirrored the first, as both defenses continued to battle fiercely, keeping the scoreboard unchanged through the third quarter. In the fourth, with around six minutes left, the Bulldogs’ Red Bullet Defense stopped the Raiders on a critical 3rd and long at the Toombs County 37-yard line. However, a face mask penalty gave Savannah Christian a fresh set of downs, and they capitalized on the opportunity, connecting on a 20-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-7 lead with just over five minutes remaining.

After a three and out on the Bulldog’s next drive that resulted in a punt, the defense responded, as Alex Scott recorded his second sack of the night, forcing a fumble deep in Raider territory. However, the Bulldogs fell just short of tying the game, resulting in their first loss of the season.

Toombs County now sits at 7-1 while Savannah Christian remains undefeated at 9-0. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back as they host a resurgent Swainsboro Tigers team at The Pit this Friday with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. With playoffs on the horizon, it’s a game that could shape the postseason path.

The TCHS Red Bullet Defense gave Savannah Christian problems all night as they held them to a season low in offense. Here DJ Jordan brings down the Raiders quarterback.Photo by TCHS

Gavin Fletcher broke free for a 50 yard touchdown as the Bulldogs took the lead over Savannah Christian in the second quarter.Photo by TCHS