SGA Warriors cannot tame the Wildcats
by Paul Bridges

SGA players huddle up. Photo submitted

The SGA Warriors (5-1) traveled up to Woodbury to play the Flint River Academy Wildcats (5-0) Friday night. The Wildcats came in riding an impressive 44 game regular season winning streak, and they proved to be just as good as their record would indicate. The Warriors played the Wildcats tough for a half as the teams went to halftime with Flint River up only 6-0. The second half belonged to the Wildcats, though. Flint River running back Ethan Strickland was unstoppable, scoring four second half touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 42-3 victory over the Warriors.

The captains for the Warriors were Keaton Smith, Beau Clenney, and Drew Bridges. The Wildcats won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

The Warriors received the opening kickoff and, after picking up a first down, were forced to punt.

The Wildcats, a veer option offensive team, faked the run and threw the ball deep completing a 50 yard pass on their first play from scrimmage. Two plays later Strickland gave the Wildcats the early lead running it in from 18 yards out. The extra point failed, and Flint River led 6-0 at the 10:00 mark of the first quarter.

SGA put together a nice drive on the ensuing possession. The Warriors moved from their 18-yard line to Flint River's 25-yard line in eight plays. The big play on the drive was a 24-yard pass completion from Drew Bridges to Beau Clenney. The drive stalled, however, and SGA turned the ball over on downs.

The defenses took over for the rest of the first half of play. Both teams managed to pick up a few first downs but could not sustain enough offense to score, and we went to halftime with Flint River leading 6-0.

The Warriors kicked off to the Wildcats to start the second half and got a big break. On second down from the Wildcat 30-yard line, Alex Wilson blitzed in and drilled the Flint River quarterback, forcing a fumble. Clenney recovered for the Warriors at the 18-yard line. SGA could not move the ball and Chandler Ray came in to try a 35-yard field goal. Just as he has been doing all season, Ray nailed the kick right down the middle to cut Flint River's lead to 6-3 at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter.

The rest of the game turned into a highlight reel for Flint River's Strickland.

On the Wildcats' first play from scrimmage on the following possession, Strickland ran one in from 66 yards out to up their lead to 14-3.

The Warriors fumbled on the next possession, giving the Wildcats the ball at the SGA 30-yard line. On third down and one, Strickland ran it in from 21 yards out, making the score 20-3.

Strickland broke additional touchdown runs of 51 and 53 yards as the Wildcats ran away with the game.

The Warriors seemed to forget how to tackle in the second half, and Flint River took full benefit of it. SGA had players in position to make tackles, but the Wildcats just ran through the Warriors time after time.

Strickland finished the night with an amazing 310 yards rushing on 15 carries with 5 touchdowns.

For the Warriors, Drew Bridges completed 10 of 23 passes for 93 yards, and Andrew Stone completed 1 of 3 passes for 20 yards. Miles Lee was the leading receiver with four catches for 39 yards, and Keaton Smith added 4 catches for 30 yards. Alex Wilson led the Warriors rushing with 58 yards on 11 carries.

The Warriors (5-2) have an open date this Friday before finishing the season with three crucial region games at Tift Area and Valwood, then at home in Damascus against Brookwood. Go, Warriors!