CANEY BAY – Windsor Forest scored two touchdowns inside the final eight minutes overcoming an 8-6 deficit to spoil Brantley County’s home opener with a 20-8 victory.
The win was the 200th in Knights’ program history, which began playing in 1967.
“We played a lot better than we did last week,” said first-year head coach David Shores referencing the 61-13 loss at Charlton County. “We had opportunities and we had some good plays, but we let some things happen that we shouldn’t have. Our execution was better, but we still have a ways to go. We were hoping to be further along than we are, but we are getting better.”
Trailing 8-6, the visiting Knights moved 95 yards after getting a defensive stop on downs. Brantley County (0-2) was threatening to widen the twopoint advantage when a fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
Windsor Forest was facing a third-and-7 from its own 8-yard line when the momentum swung its way. Quarterback Anthony Williams (8-of-13, interception, 104 yards; 14 rushing attempts, 56 yards) broke off a 26-yard run kickstarting the eventual game-winning drive.
The Knights also benefitted from a 34-yard pass from Williams to Jaysen Jackson (five receptions, 76 yards) and two plays later covering 25 yards. The last set up a one-yard sneak by Williams with 7:58 to play. Jackson hauled in the two-point conversion pass from Williams for a 14-8 lead.
The touchdown drive came after Brantley County moved from its own 32 to the Knights’ five. The big play was a swing pass from quarterback Kaden Hendrix (4of-15, interception, 152 yards) to Mason Kicklighter (two catches, 69 yards) for a 69-yard gain to the Windsor Forest three.
“That was a great play, great execution,” Shores said of the 69-yard catchand- run by Kicklighter. “Mason is a tough, hardnosed runner with a never say die attitude. He put us in a good spot.”
Three consecutive runs by Kicklighter (14 carries, 33 yards) followed a holding penalty setting up fourth-and-goal at the Knights’ 10. An offsides penalty moved the ball to the five where Hendrix and Daesean Hutcherson were unable to hook up on a fade pass.
“Not being able to score when we were so close was a killer,” Shores said of the empty possession. “The holding penalty put us in a bad spot.”
Trailing late in the game, Windsor Forest’s Jayden Thomas picked off a “Hail Mary” pass returning it 52 yards for the dagger with eight seconds to play.
Brantley County scored on its opening possession of the game. The Herons overcame to two penalties and lost yardage in the run game to face a third-and-18. Hendrix found Anthony Walker for a 78-yard pass completion for a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line.
Hendrix connected with Haden Kicklighter for the five-yard score for a 6-0 lead with 8:42 showing on the first quarter clock. The pass on the two-point conversion fell incomplete.
The Knights scored their initial touchdown of the season 4:02 before intermission. An interception by Windsor Forest on a fake punt attempt was returned to the Herons’ 39.
Windsor Forest, facing a fourth-and-7 from the BCHS 12, scored when Williams and Jackson hooked up. An unsportsmanlike penalty forced the Knights to attempt a 32yard PAT, which was blocked leaving the score at 6-6.
An ensuing punt by Brantley County on its next possession rolled to the Knights’ one. Williams was tackled in the end zone on the next snap for a safety giving the Herons an 8-6 advantage with 1:13 left in the half.
Neither team threatened in the third period heading to the final stanza with BCHS clinging to an 8-6 lead.
Photo By CONNOR SELPH
