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Bobcats defeat Thomasville Bulldogs
Things started out great for Early County. The Bobcats built a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Kodell Collier tipped a Kendrick Dixon pass and Trent George intercepted the ball and returned it 18 yards for a score at the 6:59 mark of the first quarter. Quentin Stamper added the extra point to make the score 7-0. The Bobcats then forced a Thomasville punt that gave them a first down at their own 6 yard line. From there, Early marched 94 yards on 9 plays. Emmanuel Taylor was 4-5 throwing on the drive for 64 yards. Dionis Bryant caught a couple of those throws for 17 yards. John Micah Henderson had a big 22 yard reception, and Vintavious Stovall added a 21 yard catch. James Summerset scored the first of his 4 touchdowns of the night with a 34 yard run at the 10:30 mark of the first half. Stamper added the extra point to make the score 14-0. The Bulldogs needed just 3 plays to cut into the Early County lead. Lanoris Christopher scored on a toss sweep from 37 yards out to make the score 14-6 with 9:59 still to play in the second quarter. The extra point try was blocked. The Bobcats had to punt on their next possession and the Bulldogs went on another touchdown march. The 11 play, 50 yard drive ended with Christopher scoring from 3 yards out at the 2:43 mark of the half. He then added the two point conversion to tie the score at 14 apiece heading into intermission. The momentum stayed with the Bulldogs as the second half opened. Thomasville's kicker, Vann Davis, executed a perfect onsides kick that the Bulldogs recovered at the Early County 48 yard line. Thomasville drove to the Bobcats 15 yard line and tried a 32 yard field goal. The attempt went wide left and the game remained tied. "I thought that was a turning point in the game." Woolf said. "Our defense bowed their necks and forced a field goal that they missed. Then we go down and score twice in a row. It switched the momentum a little bit," he said. Early drove 80 yards on 7 plays after the missed field goal. Taylor rushed 3 times for 24 yards on the drive. Henderson made a great catch for 23 yards, and Summerset got his second score of the night on a 21 yard run at the 4:04 mark of the third quarter. Stamper's kick made the score 21-14. The Early County defense forced a 3 and out from Thomasville and the offense good field position at the 33 yard line. Taylor and company picked up right where they left off on the last drive, going 67 yards on only 6 plays. The senior quarterback carried the ball 3 times on the drive for 13 yards and was a perfect 3-3 passing on the march for 54 yards. Henderson caught a pass for 38 yards on the drive. Bryant caught the other two, the last one was good for an 11 yard touchdown at the 11:50 mark of the final period. Stamper made the score 28-14 with his extra point. To their credit the Bulldogs answered back with a long 82 yard drive that used 17 plays and 6:28 seconds of clock. Dixon scored from 7 yards out and Christopher added the two point conversion to make the score 28-22 with just 5:17 left to play in the ballgame. Summerset had a quick answer for the Bulldogs. The senior capped a 5 play, 60 yard drive with a 29 yard touchdown run that gave the Bobcats a 35-22 lead with 2:57 left to play. Thomasville could not move the ball after the ensuing kick off and turned the ball over on downs to the Bobcats at the 41 yard line. Summerset, like Elvis doing a curtain call, added 1 more touchdown to his night with a 35 yard touchdown reception at :37 mark of the ballgame to make the final 41- 22. "Offensively we played really well, particularly in the second half. And our defense played pretty well, too. Thomasville runs the option and it's hard to prepare for. I was proud of all our kids and their effort. It was a big win," Coach Woolf said.
The Bobcats' march to a state title begins against Toombs County of Lyons at 7:30 Friday night at Standifer field.
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