Injury-plagued Gators gut out win at Bainbridge

BAINBRIDGE — “I am so proud of you for finding a way to win and overcoming some adversity.”

The message was clear from Ware County head coach Jason Strickland to his Gator team after a season-opening 22-21 lightning-delayed, dogfight victory against 24point underdog Bainbridge Friday night here at Centennial Field.

A two-point pass from quarterback Isaiah White to Ma’Siyer McKoy with 4:55 remaining gave the Gators a lead they would hold on to.

The game was halted for one-hour, six minutes (8:06 p.m.-9:12 p.m.) as a weather system moved through the southwest Georgia forcing many delays.

The adversity was the loss of starters on both sides of the ball thrusting some backups, many with limited to no Friday night experience, into battle. Junior kicker/punter Jeffrey Gonzalez (leg), senior wide receiver Ja’Londi O’Hara (undisclosed), sophomore running back Jimmy Taylor (undisclosed), senior defensive back/kick returner Davion Jones (shoulder) were key losses.

“Gonzo (Gonzalez) is probably the most concerning one right now,” Strickland said after the game. “He’s one of the two or three best kickers in the state. He was having a good night. I’ve really got to find out what his situation is.

“Davion, I think, has a separated shoulder and is going to miss some time. The other guys, I think, will be okay. They may miss some (practice) time in the early part of the week, but they could be back (for Coffee). We’ll get home tonight and see.”

Strickland praised the effort of McKoy (offense — 14 carries for 50 yards; two catches for five yards, touchdown; two-point conversion; defense — interception with six-yard return; numerous tackles and assists) who took on more of an offensive responsibility after the Taylor injury. He was already doing double duty playing more on the defensive side of the ball.

“What a tough kid,” Strickland said of McKoy. “His presence on the field, both sides of the ball, was huge tonight. He’s an energy guy who plays with great passion. He practices so hard and cares so much about his teammates.

“We (coaches) were hoping he wouldn’t have to play as much both ways tonight. He came up and said ‘coach, I’m fine. I’ll rest tomorrow (Saturday).”

McKoy’s fourth down reception for a five-yard score with 4:55 to play capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive eating up 5:56 off the fourth quarter clock pulling the Gators to within 21-20. The scenario then turned to whether to kick the ball with an untested kicker or try to win the game with a twopoint conversion.

Strickland and his staff opted to roll the dice for the win.

“Coach (Hunter) Evans called the play on the touchdown,” said Strickland. “It was a fake to “MooMoo”, who leaked out of the backfield with Isaiah boot-legging away from the play-action going left. We executed it perfect.

“We (coaches) called timeout to figure out a play-call to get the ball in “MooMoo’s” hands. He was able to slip into the flats with Isaiah getting him the ball, again.”

Ware County made quick work on scoring its initial touchdown of the 2026 season needing just three plays to cover 34 yards for the early 7-0 lead with 9:10 on the clock. White (13-of-22, 118 yards) connected with O’Hara (five catches, 56 yards) on the opening snap and the touchdown play. Gonzalez drilled the PAT.

The short field was one of six for the Gators’ offense inside Bainbridge territory. Ware County managed just two touchdowns. Two others had touchdowns nullified by penalties ending with a punt and a missed field goal, one ended on downs while the last was stopped by the final horn.

All total, the Gators’ 11 offensive series (two started inside the Bearcats’ 20 — one touchdown) had an average starting position at the Bainbridge 47. The three touchdown drives covered 34 yards, 18 yards and the game-winning drive of 70 yards.

The Bearcats, on the other hand, had 10 offensive possessions with an average start at their own 19 — a 34-yard difference. Bainbridge’s best starting field position was its own 31. The Bearcats’ three scoring drives covered 69 yards, 84 yards and 91 yards.

Bainbridge needed just three plays to tie the score after the Gators’ kickoff following the first touchdown. A 75-yard pass completion on a thirdand- 16 from Lee County transfer Jeremy Jones (9of-14, 192 yards) to a streaking Zaidun Bodison (three catches, 119 yards) was the big play. Eduardo Miranda split the uprights tying the score at 7-apiece with 7:36 left in the first period. The possession covered 69 yards.

The “big play” was one of seven covering 20-plus yards by the Bearcats against the Ware County defense.

“We played first and second down really good,” Strickland said of the Bainbridge answering score. “Then we kind of had a mishap in the secondary to give up the big play. Now they’ve (Bearcats) got energy and started playing lights out.” Both teams would turn the ball over on their next possessions in opponents’ territory. The Gators came up a yard short on a fourth-and-seven from the Bainbridge 31. McKoy’s interception came on a Bearcats’ third-and-15 from the Ware County 31.

Bainbridge moved 84 yards on its ensuing series in six plays with the sky lighting up more frequently as the storm closed in. Backup quarterback Benji Dollar capped the drive with a four-yard scamper up the gut of the Gators’ defense for the goahead score with 9:16 on the clock. Miranda kicked the margin to 14-7 before the stadium siren started blaring halting play.

When play resumed at 9:12 p.m., Mehki Porter returned the Bainbridge kick 67 yards to the Bearcats’ 18. Ware County needed six plays and 3:35 of clock time to punch the ball in.

O’Hara did the honors on a wide receiver reverse getting just inside the front pylon on a thirdand- goal play. Gonzalez knotted the score at 14apiece with 5:41 left in the opening half.

“I would say I would never want that (delay), but I think it really helped us (coaches) to settle the secondary,” said Strickland. “Coach Evans drew up a heck’uva kick return for when play resumed. He was convinced they (Bearcats) were going to kick the ball deep to start.

“Mehki, who’s just a freshman, did a great job on the return. That was huge.”

Ware County came away empty on its second offensive series of the second half after reaching the Bearcats’ eight. A 56-yard pass from White to O’Hara on the first snap pushed the ball inside the Bainbridge 10.

An eight-yard score by McKoy on the ensuing snap was nullified by a penalty. The Gators were unable to recover eventually settling for a Gonzalez 28-yard field goal attempt that stayed wide of the left upright from the left hash by the leftfooted kicker.

Bainbridge opened the final period covering the final 85 yards in a fiveplay, 91-yard possession. The Bearcats gutted Ware County’s defense with the final two plays covering 32 yards (Jaylen Sweet) and 51 yards (X’zabion Jackson) breaking the tie. Miranda’s PAT gave the home team a 21-14 advantage with 10:51 to play.

Ware County followed with its most impressive offensive series of the night.

The Gators had a chance to extend the margin when Ja’Qavius Owens pounced on a fumble of the kickoff at the Bainbridge 19. It was the seventh of eight fumbles by the Bearcats, who lost two.

McKoy bolted across the goal line on the next snap only to have the touchdown called back. Ware County turned the ball over two snaps later.

The Gators renew acquaintances with Coffee Friday night in Douglas at Jardine Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Trojans opened the season with a 49-14 trouncing of Parkview in Atlanta at the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic played inside Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.