Lyons, GA – November 5, 2023 | Head Coach Buddy Martin | Article by Matt Lynn
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On Friday, the Bulldogs entered into Vidalia with a Region Title on the line. The Dogs received the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards before the drive stalled at the Indian 16-yard line. Senior Braylen Dietrich kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Dogs an early 3-0 lead with 8:56 remaining in the first quarter. The Indians would answer on their first drive, through the air connecting on a 72-yard pass on a 3rd and 9 from their own 22-yard line. The would score 3 plays later on a 3-yard run, taking the lead with 5 minutes to play in the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs were unable to get anything going on their next drive, but Dietrich would pin Vidalia on their own 2-yard line with a 42-yard punt. The Red Bullets pushed the Indians back to their own 1-yard line on 4th down. Vidalia set up to punt, but Sophomore Hayden Roy would shoot around the end and block the Indian punt in the end zone, and Aiden Stokes would recover for the Toombs County touchdown. The teams would exchange possessions, and at halftime, the score remained 10-7 Toombs.
Vidalia punted on their first possession of the second half, and the Dogs took the ball with 9 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Bulldogs drove 61 yards on 7 plays, capped off by an 8-yard Dabyn Wadley run for another Bulldog touchdown, giving Toombs a 17-7 lead with 5:18 to go in the third. Vidalia would answer with a 10-play, 70-yard drive, scoring on a 36-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the Bulldog lead to 17-14 at the start of the 4th quarter.
The Bulldogs took over the game on the next drive. The Red Bullet defense would force 3 turnovers and capitalize, putting 2 more touchdowns on the board. A 12-yard TJ Stanley pass to Senior Keshon Deloach and a 2-yard run by Wadley with 1:55 remaining in the game sealed it for the Dogs with the final score out of Vidalia: Toombs County 31, Vidalia 14.
The Dogs will be home for Round 1 of the GHSA State playoffs and will host Southwest Macon on Saturday at the PIT. SW Macon is 6-4 on the season and is known for putting up big numbers through the air.
Toombs County:
Passing: 11/23 for 143 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
Rushing: 25 carries for 132 yards, 2 TDs
Total Offense: 275 Yards
Penalties: 6 for 65 Yards
Turnovers: 0
1st Downs: 14
3rd Down Conversions: 5/9
4th Down Conversions: 0/0
Time of Possession: 20:22
Vidalia:
Passing: 11/18 for 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 34 carries for -36 yards, 1 TD
Total Offense: 281 Yards
Penalties: 3 for 30 Yards
Turnovers: 3
1st Downs: 10
3rd Down Conversions: 9/14
4th Down Conversions: 0/0
Time of Possession: 27:38
