CANEY BAY — Topranked Worth County lived up to its billing spoiling Brantley County’s homecoming here with a 49-0 victory.
The Rams (6-0 overall, 2-0 Region 1-A) scored on all six first-half possessions en route to a 40-0 advantage and scored on both in the “mercy rule’ second half in handing the Herons (0-6, 0-2) a fourth consecutive shutout loss.
“I couldn’t help but be disappointed in how our team competed,” said head coach David Shores. “The offensive line had its worst game of the season so far ... we had been improving up to that point. Worth County had a lot to do with that with one of the top defenses in the state allowing a mere six points a game.
“Kaden (Hendrix) was out with concussion protocol, so Clark Carter was thrown into quarterback duty. I thought the defense played well at times and held Worth County to couple of field goals in first half despite giving them (Rams) the ball in our own red zone multiple times.
“Our kicking game wasn’t much better than our offense with a couple of starters sidelined with injuries. Hopefully we can get everyone back healthy and to their normal positions this week. We definitely need to be “full-go” versus a strong Fitzgerald team.” BCHS travels to Fitzgerald (2-3, 0-1) this week. The Purple Hurricanes fell from the Class A DI Top 10 poll with a second straight defeat following a 15-14 loss to Appling County. Fitzgerald lost 30-7 to Worth County in the region opener September 19.
Worth County’s Treshaun Jones is pulled down from behind by Brantley County’s Clark Carter and Zayne Smith inside the Herons’ 10 during first quarter action. Jones finished with 54 yards rushing on six attempts. Photo By CONNOR SELPH
BCHS running back Malachi Saunders (4) looks for an opening to turn upfield against a stout Worth County defense. The Herons’ rushing attack struggled all night finishing with zero yards on the ground. Photo By CONNOR SELPH
Worth County’s defense set up its offensive brethren with great field position all night. Only one of eight Ram possessions started in Worth County territory, that coming with the second half kickoff.
The furtherest the Rams offensive unit started from the Brantley County goal line was the Herons’ 48. The other five were the BCHS 38 or better including the 13 and nine. For the night, Worth County’s average start was the Herons’ 31.
The Rams finished the game with 231 yards, six touchdowns and three field goals. Defensively, Worth County allowed BCHS just 29 yards — all in the air.
The Herons had zero rushing yards on 26 attempts with half of the running plays (13) being stopped behind the line of scrimmage totaling 57 yards in losses.
Brantley County’s longest rush was a 30-plus yarder by Mason Kicklighter (10 carries, three yards) which was wiped out by a penalty. Daesean Henderson (four carries, 11 yards) had the official longest gain with an 18-yarder.
Carter (2-of-8, two interceptions) connected with Hutcherson for a 24-yard pass play on a crossing pattern for the biggest offensive play of the night.
The Herons deepest penetration was the Worth County 43, that coming on the last play with quarterback Jayden Bryon (two attempts, 18 yards) scrambling for 14 yards.
Worth County moved 48 yards on its first touch of the ball with running back Kaden Chester (nine carries, 67 yards) bulldozing his way in from a yard out on the Rams’ sixth snap. Brodey Hancock kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 6:40 on the first quarter clock.
Following a second three-and-out and a 14-yard punt, Worth County began 32 yards away from the BCHS goal line. A 22-yard run by Treshaun Jones (six carries, 54 yards) advanced the ball to the Brantley County 10.
After three plays netted four yards, Hancock kicked a 24-yard field goal, the first of his three on the night, for a 10-0 advantage with 2:44 remaining in the opening stanza.
Two plays after the kickoff, Rams’ defensive back Dawhaun Rockwell stepped in front of an errant Carter pass returning it 16 yards for a touchdown. Hancock kicked the lead to 17-0 with 1:24 to play in period one.
Brantley County turned the ball over for a second time two plays following the kickoff setting the visitors up at the BCHS nine.
Worth County eventually settled for a 29-yard Hancock field goal pushing the lead out to 20-0 with 10:07 left in the half after a penalty disrupted the possession.
A Chance Sims interception on Brantley County’s ensuing possession was returned 13 yards to the Herons’ 13. Jace Collier pulled in a Lyndon Worthy (5-of-8, 100 yards) toss in the corner of the end zone on the first snap. Hancock was ture with the PAT swelling the margin to 27-0 7:16 before intermission.
The Herons punted the ball away on its next possession with Tray Matthews returning the 33-yard punt 31 yards to the BCHS 28. Jones carried on three straight snaps plowing the final six yards for the score with 2:40 left in the half. Hancock’s PAT pushed the margin to 340.
Brantley County’s best possession of the half reached its own 48 ending with a fumble. The Rams pounced on the loose pigskin back at the BCHS 38 in the closing seconds.
Worthy hit a streaking Jayden Farley for the score on the first snap as the horn sounded. The PAT was foiled by a high snap leaving the score at 40-0.
Facing its worst field position of the night following the second half kick, the Rams moved 64 yards in five plays. Chester scored his second touchdown with a seven-yard run up the gut of the BCHS defense for a 46-0 advantage with eight minutes on the clock. Hutcherson stormed through to deflect the PAT.
Worth County only had 13 yards to cover after hard rush in punt formation caused the Herons’ punter to run.
The Rams scored on the first play of the final period when Hancock kicked a 22-yard field goal with 11:48 to play.
