By HUNTER THOMAS
Staff Writer
CANEY BAY — Waycross Middle School pulled away over the final three periods here Thursday from a 6-all tie to beat Brantley County Middle School 34-18 in Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference action.
The Bulldogs (3-1) will face unbeaten Ware County Middle School (3-0) at Memorial Stadium today (Wednesday, September 21).
BCMS scored on its first drive on an 18-yard pass from Charlie Cannon (5-of-8, 98 yards) to Evan Payne (two catches, 48 yards) for a 6-0 lead with 3:34 left in the opening period. Cannon was stopped short on the two-point conversion run.
Waycross Middle’s offense marched down the field on its first drive for the answer, scoring on a 12-yard run by Keavion Junious (14 carries, 144 yards) out of the “wildcat” formation with 1:28 on the clock. The pass on the two-point conversion fell incomplete leaving the score at 6-6.
A bad snap on the Herons’ next drive was recovered by Waycross Middle at the BCMS 36-yard line as the first quarter ended.
Quarterback Keaton Holloway (6-forf-7, 88 yards) hit Lejaun Blue (four catches, 78 yards) on the ensuing snap for the score with 7:51 left in the half. The run by Junious for the two-point conversion put WMS ahead 14-6.
Waycross Middle followed a defensive stop at its own 26 with a lightning quick, four-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Junious scored on a 6-yard run just 2:18 before intermission upping the margin to 20-6. His run for the two-point conversion was stopped.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with a five-play scoring drive. Holloway connected with Dallas Vinson on a 5-yard pass at the 5:26 mark for the touchdown. The two-point conversion run by Junious came up short leaving the score at 26-6.
Brantley Middle scored on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 30-yard pass from Cannon to Payne with 7:52 left in the game. Cannon’s two-point run came up short leaving the score at 26-12.
The Bulldogs scored their final touchdown on a 3-yard run from Keitron Byrd (seven carries, 45 yards) with 1:33 remaining. Byrd added a two-point conversion run extending the lead to 34-12.
Brantley Middle punched in a touchdown as the final horn sounded on a 5-yard run from Malachi Saunders (14 carries, 54 yards).
