The Toombs County Bulldogs have proven once again that they belong among Georgia’s elite, grinding out a 24–6 win over #4-ranked Northeast in a highly anticipated quarterfinal playoff clash Friday night at The Pit. The victory sends the Bulldogs (12–1) to the state semifinals, one step closer to a championship appearance.
In a defensive battle early, neither team found the end zone in the first quarter. The Bulldogs finally broke through with 3:30 remaining in the half when Alex Otero hit a 20-yard field goal that gave Toombs County a narrow 3–0 lead — the only points scored before halftime.
But the second half was where Toombs County’s trademark toughness took control.
The “Red Bullet” defense continually stonewalled the Raiders’ offense, stopping four separate fourth-down attempts and forcing turnovers that shifted momentum permanently in the Bulldogs’ favor. Meanwhile, the offensive line owned the trenches, paving the way for senior running back Justin Powell to deliver one of the biggest performances of his career.
Powell exploded after the break, ripping off 126 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone. His first score came with 2:17 left in the third quarter, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 10–0 and igniting the packed home crowd.
Northeast briefly showed signs of life, punching in a touchdown on an 18-yard pass early in the fourth quarter, though a missed extra point kept Toombs in front, 10–6.
The Bulldogs answered with their most important drive of the night, an 8-play, 56-yard march that chewed nearly five minutes off the clock. Powell capped it from six yards out, extending the lead to 17–6.
Any last hopes for Northeast were crushed with 1:34 remaining when Powell blasted through the defense for a 23-yard touchdown, his third of the half, sealing the decisive playoff win. Powell finished the night with 183 yards and 3 touchdowns on 30 carries, a true workhorse performance under the brightest lights.
Defensively, the Bulldogs were swarming. Hayden Roy and Hayden Bullard each recorded sacks, Nick Carroll grabbed his seventh interception of an outstanding sophomore season, and Brandon Stevens added his first pick of the year to help shut down the Raiders’ attack.
With momentum and confidence soaring, Toombs County now turns its attention to what may be its toughest challenge yet, a semifinal showdown on the road against the undefeated Heard County Braves (13–0) in Franklin, Georgia.
A win there would lift the Bulldogs into the state championship game — and with the grit they’ve shown over the last two weeks, this team appears more than ready for the moment.
