Brantley Co. to regroup in open date ahead of No. 3 PCHS
SAVANNAH — Malachi Saunders rushed for 151 yards and scored three touchdowns helping Brantley County spoil Region 3-AAA foe Johnson of Savannah's homecoming game with a 27-14 victory here Friday night.
Saunders recorded his yardage on 21 carries as the Herons ended a twogame losing streak to improve their mark to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in region action under first-year head coach Matt Hickox. The road win snapped a nine-game losing streak dating back to a November 1, 2024 14-7 victory at Bacon County, which was called in the third quarter because of a skirmish.
The Atomsmashers dropped to 1-6 and 0-4 in the region after losing their sixth consecutive game.
Johnson's Jamal Chaplin garnered game-high rushing honors piling up 177 yards on 20 carries. Chaplin gave the Atomsmashers an early lead with a 20-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the game. The sevenplay drive took just 3:03 of the clock. The PAT failed and Johnson’s inability to score PATs eventually became a momentum changer.
Malachi Saunders (1) takes a handoff from quarter J.T. Johns on a wingback reverse during first half action Friday against Johnson-Savannah. Saunders finished with 151 yards rushing. Photo courtesy HUDL
Brantley County answered taking the kickoff and going on a 12-play drive that stalled at the Johnson 12. Kicker Kevin Guest was perfect on the night (two field goals and three extra points) and drilled a 28-yard field goal at the 1:52 mark to make it 6-3.
The Atomsmashers put together an extended drive of their own. The 18-play, 57-yard drive, which ate up 9:26 off the clock, stalled at the BCHS 15. When the Herons came up with a huge fourth-down stop.
Brantley County promptly marched down the field with a nifty fourplay, 85-yard scoring possession in 1:09. Senior quarterback J. T. Johns’ (eight carries, 42 yards) supplied one of two big plays with a 22yard run on a keeper. Two Johnson penalties advanced the ball 20 more yards before Saunders put the exclamation point on the possession breezing past the Atomsmasher defenders for a 36-yard touchdown. The PAT upped the lead to 106.
Johnson answered before intermission with a Jayden Cory 68-yard burst on a fourth down play. The Atomsmashers two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 12-10 entering the break.
Brantley County took control after the break. The Herons started the second half moving the ball to near midfield before stalling. BCHS pulled off a fake punt with Tallan Collins launching a 28yard bomb to Saunders. The Herons were able to reach inside the Johnson 20 before stalling and settling with a Guest 36-yard field goal giving Brantley County the lead for good at 13-12 with 6:36 on the third quarter clock.
Saunders extended the lead to 20-12 with 2:59 remaining in the period scoring on a 19yard run.
Johnson’s only secondhalf points came on a safety when Byrd tackled Johns in the end zone with 10:18 left in the fourth quarter to cut the margin to 20-14. That opportunity happened when Atomsmashers quarterback Shamar King broke off a long run. Tallan Collins ran King down from behind with a touchdown-saving tackle at the Heron’s six.
The BCHS defense stiffened with a goal line stand turning the ball over to the Herons' offense at the one. The stand was part of a defensive effort which held Johnson to just 11 yards of offense — all rushing — after allowing 244 yards on the ground in the opening 24 minutes.
Saunders closed the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run with 1:05 left in the game. The Guest extra point sealed the 27-14 final.
The victory was Brantley County’s first in the series since 2015. Johnson had won the previous two meetings (21-19 in 2022 and 18-12 in 2023).
The Herons will enjoy their final open date before hosting neighboring Pierce County October 23. The third-ranked Bears (6-1, 3-1) are also open after blasting Tattnall County 56-17 Thursday night at home.
YARDSTIICK
Brantley County 3 7 10 7 - 27 Johnson-Sav. 6 6 2 0 - 14 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter JHS - Jamal Chaplin 20 run (kick failed), 8:57 BCHS - Kevin Guest 28 field goal, 1:52
Second Quarter BCHS - Malachi Saunders 36 run (Guest kick), 3:17 JHS - Chaplin 68 run (run failed), 1:35 Third Quarter BCHS - Guest 36 field goal, 6:36 BCHS - Saunders 19 run (Guest kick), 2:59 Fourth Quarter JHS - Safety, J.T. Johns tackled in end zone, 10:18 BCHS - Saunders 17 run (Guest kick), 1:05 BCHS JHS First downs 14 13 Rushes-yards 33-202 41-255 Passing yards 59 15 Total yards 261 270 Comp-Att-Int 3-8-0 1-8-1 Punts-Avg 1-36.0 1-24.0 Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties 55 75 3rd Down Con. 2-of-7 4-of-10 4th Down Con. 1-of-1 1-of-4 Time of Poss. 22:35 25:25 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – BCHS: Saunders 21151, Johns 8-42, Collins 4-9. JHS: Chaplin 20-177, King 9-41, Byrd 8-36, Heyward 3-9.
PASSING – BCHS: Johns 2-7-0 31, Collins 1-1-0 28. JHS: King 18-1 15.
RECEIVING — BCHS: Byron 2-31, Saunders 1-28. JHS: Chaplin 115.
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