Lyons, GA – October 8, 2022 | Matt Lynn
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On Friday, the Dogs hosted new region rival Appling County Pirates, who just came off a huge upset win over #2 Ranked Pierce County. The Bulldogs entered the game as 22-point underdogs to the fast and big Pirates.
Appling County won the opening toss and elected to receive the ball. On the Pirate’s first drive, the stingy Red Bullet defense netted the Pirates no yardage in a quick three and out. Toombs County began moving the ball quickly on their first drive, which started out with a 16-yard run by senior Tank Morris. Unfortunately, the drive ended with a Toombs County fumble with 8:14 to go in the first quarter. Appling would take advantage of the turnover and scored on a 51-yard pass play to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead. Both teams exchanged punts and the first quarter ended at 7-0 Appling.
On Appling County’s first drive of the second quarter, they drove 56 yards on 7 plays and scored on a 19-yard pass to extend the Pirate lead to 14-0 with 6:02 remaining in the half. On the ensuing Toombs County possession, the Dogs answered quickly with a 2-yard touchdown run by Morris that was set up by a 53-yard pass from Senior Gavin Hall to Junior Caden Marsh. The half ended with Appling County leading Toombs County 14-7.
On Appling’s opening drive of the second half, the Pirates rolled off a 10-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by a 2-yard touchdown run that gave Appling a 21-7 lead. Toombs would not quit and answered on their next drive with a crafty 7-play, 68-yard drive that Morris finished when he scored his second touchdown of the night from 18 yards out closing the gap to 21-14. With 1:20 left in the third, Appling began eating time off the clock with a 9-play 61-yard drive before scoring on another Pirate pass from 12 yards out. Marsh blocked the PAT to keep the score at 27-14 Appling County. The Bulldogs then botched the kick return and it was recovered by the Pirates sending the Red Bullet defense back out. Appling reached the endzone again after 4 plays with a 2-yard run making the score 34-14. Toombs County would not be denied on their next drive racing down the field with Hall passes to Wil Watts of 16 and 18 yards. Dawson Brantley also snagged one for 23 yards and Marsh would catch his second pass of the night for 19 yards. The drive was completed by a 1-yard Morris touchdown run pushing the Dawgs closer with Appling leading 34-21.
That would be the final score as the Bulldogs drop to 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in Region 3AA. Next week the Toombs County Bulldogs are on the road to Blackshear to face the Pierce County Bears who were recently ranked #2 in Class AA before dropping the Appling game 28-17.
