Veterans holds off late Central charge

Published 11:51 pm Friday, October 26, 2018

KATHLEEN, Ga. — On senior night for the home team, the visiting Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets gave the Veterans Warhawks all they wanted, falling just short 31-27 in an important Region 1-5A game. 

“We’re seeing flashes of the kind of team we’re going to have at Thomas County Central,” coach Ashley Henderson said after the game. “These guys kept fighting back and fighting back, and in the end we came up just short.” 

After forcing a Central punt on the first series of the game, the Warhawks opened with a touchdown drive on their initial possession with 215-pound senior running back Cyrus Zuell leading the way. 

On the ensuing kickoff, Central sophomore sensation Tykeem Wallace caught the ball with one leg in the end zone and one in the field of play. Starting on the right hashmark, Wallace veered to the left and found a wall of Yellow Jacket blockers clearing a path in front of the Central sideline all the way to the Warhawk end zone for an electrifying 100-yard kickoff return. With the PAT, the game was tied 7-7. 

On Veterans’ next possession, with Wallace leading the way, the Yellow Jacket defense created a score. Warhawk quarterback Sebastian Verger was flushed out of the backfield, and he attempted to throw back into the middle of the field. However, Wallace flashed in front of the pass, and took it 40 yards for another spectacular pick-6 touchdown. With the PAT, Central led for the first time in eight quarters by a 14-7 score. 

After that score, Veterans’ offense took control of the game. Running behind Zuell, the Warhawks scored 14 unanswered points to take a 21-14 lead into halftime, including a touchdown that was set up by a fumbled punt by Central deep in Yellow Jacket territory. 

Veterans’ opening drive of the second half had the Warhawks drive the ball down the field and set themselves up with a first-and-goal from the Central 2-yard line. On first down, Veterans moved to the six-inch line, but on second down fumbled going into the end zone as the ball rolled out of bounds at the 1. Central’s defense continued to bow its neck, holding Veterans out on two more downs for its best defensive stand of the year. 

On its first play from scrimmage, Central quarterback Kalique Guyton handed off to senior running back Quay Edwards 2 yards deep in the end zone. Edwards found a crease on the left side of the offensive line, and took it untouched for a 99-yard touchdown on the biggest offensive play of the season for the Yellow Jackets. With the PAT, Central had tied the score 21-21. 

After Veterans kicked a 36-yard field goal to take a 24-21 lead on its next possession, Guyton was knocked out of the game with a concussion after the Warhawks intercepted an errant pass. Veterans drove for a touchdown to take a commanding 31-21 lead. 

Senior quarterback Adam Tedder was effective coming off the bench to lead Central for another touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut the Warhawk lead to 31-27 as he took it in from 2 yards out, but the PAT was no good. Veterans got the ball back, gained a first down with time running down, and punted to Central with just more than a minute remaining.

However, the Yellow Jackets were unable to convert and Veterans hung on for the win. 

Veterans raised its record to 8-1 with the win. With the loss, Central’s record drops to 5-4, which effectively eliminates them from making the playoffs, and will close their season next week hosting Bainbridge, which whipped Harris County 49-0 Friday night.

”For the first time this year our team faced adversity and really fought back,” Henderson concluded. “We’re learning how to be the team we want to be. We are going to get back to work on Monday and get ready to defend The Jackets Nest next week against Bainbridge.

“It’s going to be our senior night and we’re going to do all we can to win that game. I love these guys and am proud of them.”