CANEY BAY – A special night was even more unique as Brantley County got up off the turf to upset eighth-ranked Jeff Davis here Friday night.
The Herons (1-4 overall, 1-0 Region 1A) rallied for a 28-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Yellow Jackets. It was just the fourth victory over a ranked foe in program history and the first since 2019 when BCHS knocked Charlton County.
The victory ended a 44-game losing streak to ranked teams in the same classification dating to 1972.
The crowning of Miss Kelsie Gilbert as Queen and Braiden Gilbert as King was memorable.
Then there was the play of Brantley County’s special teams.
Antony Walker returned a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the opening period and Peyton Perez returned a blocked punt for a score.
Walker caught a key pass on 4thand- 13 in the game winning drive. Perez returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
It was head coach David Shores’ first win as the Herons head coach. He agreed it was a signature victory.
Brantley County, down 21-20, took possession at its own 42 with 4:22 to play. Four plays later, facing fourth-and-13, quarterback Kaden Hendrix connected with Walker, who made a spectacular catch along the sideline.
“Play of the game,” said an exuberant Shores after the game, “just an absolutely superb play. We don’t win that game without Anthony Walker. It was a great play by a great kid.”
Haden Hickox kept Brantley County’s possession alive recovering a fumble on the next play after Hendrix’ completions to Payton Hanchey and Walker covering 17 yards.
Two plays later, Devein Saunders pulled in the 21-yard gamewinner from Hendrix, outwrestling a Jeff Davis defender for possession. Carson Jacobs caught the two-point conversion pass for a 2821 lead with 1:25 left.
“Give Jeff Davis a lot of credit,” said Shores. “Their (Yellow Jackets) defensive front is really good — the best we have faced. They made things hard for us.”
Jeff Davis opened the game with an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive eating up 4:17. Kyrice Hunt (13 carries, 92 yards) raced 34 yards on his fifth carry of the possession for the touchdown with 7:43 on the clock. Fabian Valdelemar’s PAT gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Eli Thomas threw the ball across the field to Walker. The speedster jetted 78 yards for the touchdown pulling, BCHS to within 7-6. Rylen Smith’s PAT knotted the score with 7:14 to play in the opening frame.
Jeff Davis caught the penalty plague during its second possession, eventually punting the ball away. Walker fielded the ball, zigged and zagged behind great downfield blocking to score on a 70-yard return. Smith’s try on the PAT was unsuccessful leaving the score at 13-7 just 2:17 before the end of the quarter.
Walker, a senior, called his performance the best of his career.
“No doubt,” he said. “I came from nothing. I moved in with my grandma last year and my life has been different since. I went to alternative school and then I got out. I decided to change my life.
“I gave my life to Christ, and He’s just delivering for me. He really is. I love Him more than anybody in this world.”
Brantley County forced a turnover on the Yellow Jackets’ third offensive series. Kyler Knox made the recovery for the Herons.
The home team returned the turnover favor two plays later when Ian Griffin intercepted a Kaden Hendrix pass at the Jeff Davis 35.
The Yellow Jackets cashed in the miscue with a seven-play, 65-yard drive. The big play was a double pass from quarterback Colby Beach to Haydon King to Mark Durden for 38 yards to the Brantley County 16. Beach hooked up with Durden one play later for the touchdown with 6:12 left in the first half. Valdelemar kicked Jeff Davis into a 14-13 lead that stood until the third quarter.
BCHS’s last possession of the half, a nine-play drive stalling at the Herons’ 47, ate up 5:14 of the clock. Jeff Davis snapped the ball nine times in the final 58 seconds. The last play was a Hail Mary into the end zone which was batted away by Perez.
Following a three-and-out to start the third period, the Herons’ defense bowed its back. With Jeff Davis in punt formation, Brantley County stormed through blocking the punt. Perez scooped up the ball, sprinting 66 yards for the touchdown. Smith’s PAT gave Brantley County a 20-14 lead with 6:43 to play in the third quarter.
After an exchange of punts, the Yellow Jackets put together a 64yard scoring drive to grab its final lead of the night at 21-20 with 8:12 remaining in the game.
The drive was kept alive early when Jeff Davis converted a fourth-and-one. From midfield, Beach completed two passes down to the Herons’ 12. The signal- caller carried on each of the next three plays scoring the tying touchdown on a two-yard sneak. Valdelemar’s PAT put the Jackets back in front.
Following Brantley County’s goahead score with 1:25 to play, the Yellow Jackets picked up one first down before three final incompletions turned the ball over on downs.
The Herons took a knee twice setting off a wild celebration.
YARDSTIICK
Jeff Davis 7 7 0 7 - 21 Brantley Co. 13 0 7 8 - 28 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter JDHS - Kyrice Hunt 34 run (Fabian Valdelemar kick), 7:43 BCHS - Anthony Walker 78 kick return (Rylen Smith kick), 7:14 BCHS - Walker 70 punt return (kick blocked), 2:17
Second Quarter JDHS - Mark Durden 16 pass from Colby Beach (Valdelemar kick), 6:12 Third Quarter BCHS - Peyton Perez 66 blocked punt (Smith kick), 6:43
Fourth Quarter JDHS - Beach 2 run (Valdelemar kick), 8:12 BCHS - Devein Saunders 21 pass from Kaden Hendrix (Carson Jacobs pass from Hendrix), 1:25 JDHS BCHS First downs 20 6 Rushes-yards 36-210 16-16 Passing yards 151 71 Total yards 361 87 Comp-Att-Int 9-23-0 6-12-1 Punts-Avg 1-41.0 4-37.8 Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0 Penalties 6-53 5-40 3rd Down Con. 8-of-16 2-of-7 4th Down Con. 2-of-3 1-of-1 Time of Poss. 31:25 16:35 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – JDHS: Hunt 13-92, Beach 15-45, West 4-34. BCHS: M. Kicklighter 10-19.
PASSING – JDHS: Beach 8-22-0 113, King 1-1—0 38. BCHS: Hendrix 6-12-1 71.
RECEIVING — JDHS: Sellers 455, Durden 2-54, Bryant 2-32.
BCHS: Walker 2-35, Saunders 1-21.
