ALMA — A 17-point fourth quarter and good starting field position aided Bacon County in its first win of the season, defeating the Telfair County Trojans 38-21.
A pick six by Bacon County’s Michael Dixon sealed the victory for the Red Raiders (1-1) with seven seconds remaining in the game.
Bacon County pulled away from a 21-all tie with a five-yard run by K. Dixon with 9:48 remaining in the game. Isaiah Thomas added the point after for a 28-21 lead.
A Telfair County turnover with 4:18 remaining set up a 40-yard field goal by Thomas three minutes before the final horn upped the margin to 31-21.
The Red Raiders sealed the victory with a 75-yard interception return for a score with seven seconds remaining. The ensuing PAT provided the final margin.
Bacon County opened its first possession of the game with a three-and-out after holding and intentional grounding penalties backed them up to fourth-and-31 and their own 17.
The Trojans began their offensive possession at their own 39 and scored in three plays on a 59-yard toss sweep on third down. The PAT was added to give Telfair County a 7-0 early lead over the Red Raiders with 8:10 left on the first period clock.
Bacon County answered in five plays on a first down 44-yard rush by Keyondric Dixon. The long run was set up by a block from senior offensive lineman Tristan Strickland. The PAT was added by Thomas to even the score at 7apiece with 5:31 remaining in the opening stanza.
Theron Moore’s blocked punt for the Red Raiders on the Trojans’ following possession set up Bacon County’s offense on the Telfair County 37.
Red Raiders quarterback Knox Ledbetter connected with Adian Cothern on a third-and-six pass from the Trojans’ 33 giving Bacon County its first lead of the game with 3:11 showing on the first quarter clock. The PAT by Thomas made it 14-7.
Bacon County sniffed out a fake punt by the Trojans on the next possession stopping it a yard short at the Telfair County 36. The Red Raiders were unable to take advantage of the good field position eventually punting the ball away to the Trojans’ seven as the quarter ended.
Bacon County’s defense held forcing a punt and taking possession at the Trojans’ 43. The Red Raiders found the endzone in eight plays on a K. Dixon six-yard rush on second-and-goal with 6:26 left in the first half. The Thomas PAT was knocked through extending Bacon County’s lead to 21-7.
Telfair County cut into the deficit two offensive series later scoring on a 20-yard pass play just 1:31 before intermission. The PAT was blocked leaving the score at 21-13.
Telfair County found the endzone on their following drive for the first time since their first drive of the game in six plays on a 20yard pass with 1:31 left in the second period. The PAT was blocked to narrow the Red Raider’s lead to 21-13.
Telfair County misplayed a sky kick by the Red Raiders to start the second half. Bacon County was unable to capitalize from the Trojans’ 25 fumbling the ball away.
The visitors eventually pulled even late in the third period after stopping a Bacon County fourthand-one at the Trojans’ 47. Telfair County needed 11 plays to cover the distance scoring on a 10-yard pass play with 50 seconds on the third quarter clock. The two-point conversion evened the score at 21apiece.
Bacon County’s next game is Thursday night in Soperton against Treutlen (1-1). The game was moved up a day because of a shortage of referees in that area.
The Vikings beat Twiggs County 40-0 in their season opener before falling 29-7 to Wilkinson County last week.
