HOMERVILLE — Clinch County overcame a 7-6 first quarter deficit rallying for a 36-21 victory here over Bacon County in Jim Dickerson’s return to the Panthers’ sideline.
Dickerson, a five-time Class A state champion head coach during a 15-year reign, retired following the 2018 state championship campaign posting a 152-44-3 won-loss mark. Clinch County beat Irwin County 27-20 in the finals winning its final 10 games avenging a 21-3 setback to the Indians in the fourth game of the season.
The Class A DII sixth-ranked Panthers unleashed a potent ground attack against visiting Class A DI Bacon County compiling 332 rushing yards on 43 carries.
Clinch County pulled some trickery opening the game with an onsides kick at the Red Raiders’ 47. The Panthers turned the ball over on its second snap losing a fumble to Bacon County at the 43.
The Red Raider’s returned the favor three plays into their first possession fumbling on a reverse running play giving the ball back to the Clinch County just 34 yards away from the goal line.
The Panthers needed just one play to cover the distance for an early lead with 9:20 left in the opening period. A failed twopoint conversion left Clinch County with a 6-0 advantage.
Bacon County’s offense answered on its ensuing drive going 54 yards in four plays in under two minutes. The touchdown gave the Red Raiders their first and only lead of the game.
Adian Cothern hauled in a 36yard pass from Knox Ledbetter tying the score at 6-apiece. Isaiah Robinson’s PAT give the visitors a 7-6 lead with 7:21 remaining in the first period.
Clinch County’s offense ate up nearly the rest of the quarter with a 10-play, 40-yard drive moving from its own seven to near midfield before stalling.
The Red Raiders turned the ball over deep in their own territory for the second time in the first 12 minutes setting up a second Clinch County touchdown.
The Panthers scored in five plays on a one-yard run by allstate quarterback Aaron Bryant (25 carries, 155 yards) with 8:45 left in the half.
They converted a fourth-and-1 from the Bacon County 12 to keep the drive alive. Bryant ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead.
The momentum kept building for the Panthers after their defense stopped Bacon County with a three-and-out. An eight-play, 57-yard drive followed ending at 4:08 before intermission with an eight-yard run off a jet sweep.
The two-point conversion failed leaving Clinch County with a 20-7 lead.
Bacon County’s Keyondric Dixon returned the ensuing kick to the Panthers’ 37. The Red Raiders needed just three plays to cover the distance.
Travion Richardson plowed six yards at the three-minute mark cutting the deficit to 20-14 following Robinson’s PAT.
An interception by the Red Raiders’ Detric Smith halted Clinch County’s last possession of the first half.
The Panthers opened the second half with a five-play, 75-yard drive getting a five-yard run by Bryant with 9:43 showing on the third quarter clock. He ran in the two-point conversion extending the margin to 28-14.
Clinch County followed a Red Raiders’ punt with a time-consuming (9:31) 15-play, 75-yard drive eating up the final 7:30 off the third quarter clock and the first 2:01 of the final period.
The Panthers scored on a twoyard run with Bryant running in the two-point conversion for a commanding 36-14 lead with 9:59 remaining in the game.
Bacon County’s offense responded with a 17-play drive eating up 8:07 of the clock. Ledbetter connected with Theron Moore on a 16-yard aerial with 1:52 remaining for the touchdown with Robinson splitting the uprights for the final points.
Bacon County will face Telfair County in its home opener Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Trojans dropped their season opener 248 to Lamar County.
Clinch County entertains Wilcox County. The Patriots fell 13-7 in overtime to ECI.
