CANEY BAY — Malachi Saunders ran for a career-high 200 yards and two touchdowns, and versatile junior Tallan Collins scored on defense and threw a TD pass as the Brantley County Herons beat visiting Lanier County 26-6 in Friday night’s home opener.
The Herons, who scored single touchdowns in each quarter, ended a 12-game losing streak dating to the 2024 season to improve to 1-1 in first-year head coach Matt Hickox’s debut season after Brantley’s 0-10 campaign in 2025. Lanier County dropped to 0-2.
“We’re pretty excited,” Hickox said of the victory, the first of his career. “We played an aggressivestyle of football on both sides of the ball. We were physical, expecially at the point of attack.
“Both teams were limited personnel- wise by injuries. We entered with injuries from the Bacon County game and they (Bulldogs) had a couple of injuries during our game. Overall, I thought everyone who got the opportunity to play for us stepped up.”
BCHS’s last regular season win was November 1, 2024 in a game halted by a brawl at Bacon County with the Herons being awarded a 14-7 victory after the game was called in the third period.
Saunders, a senior running back, broke a 41-yard touchdown run with 4:34 left in the first quarter to open the scoring. The extrapoint kick failed, leaving Brantley ahead 6-0.
He added a one-yard plunge with 4:01 remaining in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 carries. Saunders also caught a 37yard pass.
“Malachi could’ve probably had 300 yards rushing if not for a lot of holding penalties,” Hickox said. “He had an unbelievable night running the ball. He did a great job playing both sides of the ball.”
Collins provided the game’s most sudden swing. With 1:05 left in the second quarter, he returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown, making it 12-0 after a two-point pass failed.
Early in the third period, Collins connected with Dennis Raulerson on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Aiden Kratzer’s extra point made it 19-0 with 11:54 still on the third-quarter clock.
Lanier County’s only score came 1:47 later. Sophomore Devin Reeves broke a 46-yard run, cutting the deficit to 19-6 after the kick failed with 10:07 left in the third period. Reeves finished with 51 yards on three carries.
Brantley County closed it out on Saunders’ short, fourth-quarter run with 4:01 remaining and Kratzer’s extra point.
The Herons controlled the line of scrimmage and the clock. They rushed 43 times for 269 yards, converted on 7-of-11 third downs. They held the ball for 28:38.
BCHS totaled 365 yards of offense with 15 first downs. Collins added 22 yards rushing on seven carries and completed 4-of-5 passes for most of the team’s 96 passing yards.
Raulerson ran nine times for 38 yards in addition to his touchdown reception. J.T. Johns contributed 17 rushing yards.
Lanier County managed only 64 total yards (33 rushing, 31 passing) and five first downs. The Bulldogs were just 1-for-8 on third down and possessed the ball 19:22.
“We did a much better job of attacking on the defensive side of the ball,” said Hickox. “We forced the issue which we didn’t do a good job of against Bacon County. After watching that film, the players responded this week.
“We (coaches) had challenged them all week to step up their play, especially with it being our home opener. I challenged them to show our fans how hard they’d been working and I believe they did.”
Quarterback Alex Contreras went 5-for-17 for 31 yards with two interceptions. Jalen Lamb added 18 yards on eight carries. Waylon Tucker had an 18-yard reception.
Both teams struggled to find rhythm after being besieged with penalties. Lanier County was flagged 17 times for 150 yards while Brantley County finished with 16 penalties for 145.
“We definitely have to clean up our play with the penalties and turnovers,” said Hickox, whose team visits Claxton this week. “That could cost us in a close game.”
Each team suffered three turnovers. The Herons put the ball on the ground five times and lost three. Lanier County lost one fumble and the two interceptions.
The first half ended 12-0. After Reeves’ long run, Brantley answered with a methodical fourthquarter drive that Saunders finished from a yard out.
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