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 two-game 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 ninegame 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.
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, 57yard drive, which ate up 9:26 off the clock, stalled at the BCHS 15. When the Herons came up with a huge fourthdown stop.
Brantley County promptly marched down the field with a nifty four-play, 85-yard scoring possession in 1:09. Senior quarterback J. T. Johns’ (eight carries, 42 yards) supplied one of two big plays with a 22-yard 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 10-6.
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 28-yard 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 second-half 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 touchdownsaving 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 2714 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.
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