CANEY BAY — Brantley County wraps up its 2024 season Friday night when the Herons travel over to Sylvester to face sixth-ranked Worth County in a Region 1-A matchup.
The meeting, the first-ever between the two programs, was originally scheduled for September 27. Hurricane Helene’s passage forced the cancellation.
The Herons (2-7 overall, 2-3 region) are coming off a forfeit win against Bacon County ending a three-game losing streak. Brantley County led 7-0 at the half and was ahead 147 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter when play was interrupted and eventually called because of a brawl.
The Rams (6-3, 4-1) have won four straight starting with a lastsecond 28-27 over then thirdranked Thomasville. They have surpassed their previous point total in each of their last six games.
BCHS and Worth County have faced five common foes — all in region play. Both have wins over Jeff Davis (28-21 Herons, 62-17 Rams) and Bacon County (7-0 Herons, 54-24 Rams).
Both teams lost to Fitzgerald (46-14 Herons, 28-21 Rams). They split with Thomasville (620 Herons loss, 28-27 Rams win) and Berrien (34-14 Herons loss, 47-0 Rams win).
Worth County’s high-powered offense generates 437 yards of offense with 249.7 through the air and 187.3 on the ground. The Rams are scoring at a 39.4 clip — fifth-highest in Class A DI.
Sophomore Lyndon Worthy (6-foot-1, 155 lbs.) directs the spread attack. He’s a two-year starter completing 63 percent of his passes. Worthy has thrown for 4,904 yards and 50 scoring tosses through 20 starts (at least one in every game; six twice).
He had two 400-yard passing nights as a freshman and two 300-yard games this season. In the last three games, Worthy has completed 46-of-53 passes (87 percent) for 796 yards and 11 scores.
Georgia State-bound senior wide receivers D’ontae Fulton is the No. 1 option in the passing game. Fulton has 51 receptions for 861 yards (second in Class A, DI) with 10 touchdowns.
He has a scoring reception in five consecutive games and has three 100-yard receiving games this season. Fulton’s biggest night was an 11-catch, 198-yard, three-touchdown night in the 30-point win over Bacon County.
Junior tight end Jayden Farley (6-1, 180) is second on the team with 29 catches for 562 yards and seven scores.
Junior running back Kaden Chester is the leading rusher having gained 757 yards on 119 attempts and 12 touchdowns.
Classmate Tre’shaun Jones has 589 yards on 89 carries and nine scores. The two have combined for 26 catches out of the backfield and a score.
Defensively, Worth County’s 4-3 scheme is allowing almost 21 points per game. They have totaled 93 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback sacks.
Senior inside linebacker Shermon Smith (6-1, 210) is far and away the defensive leader with 105 tackles and 15 TFLs. He has three sacks.
Sophomore outside linebacker Daylon Smith (5-10, 165) leads the team with 21 TFLs and is second with 57 tackles. Senior outside linebacker Bernard Murphy (6-foot, 190) has 56 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Down in the trenches, three junior linemen have eight or more tackles for loss led by Tyler Fulton (6-1, 270) with nine. Joshua McGee and King Toomer have eight apiece.
