CANEY BAY – Winless Berrien High spoiled Senior Night here Friday night turning back Brantley County 34-14 in a Region 1-A matchup.
The Rebels (1-7 overall, 1-3 region) ended an eight-game losing streak and improved to 22-6 in the series against the Herons (1-7, 1-3).
Berrien scored on its first two possessions for a 12-0 lead and carried an 18-14 advantage into the final period before tacking on two more scores.
“We struggled offensively,” said head coach David Shores. “We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds, especially in the ‘Red Zone’ and that was really frustrating. I felt like this was a game we could have won, but give Berrien and its coaching staff credit for doing a good job.
“Defensively, we had an interception and three fumble recoveries so we had our chances. We battled back to go up 14-12 and then gave up a big play on their (Rebels) touchdown drive to take the final lead.”
After stalling on its opening drive of the game, the Rebels pinned Brantley County at its own one. The Herons punched the ball out to the five before punting the ball away.
The nine-yard effort gave the visitors a first down at the Brantley County 14. Gabe Wesley (23 rushes, 158 yards) capped the possession racing 12 yards for the initial score with 5:52 on the first quarter clock. The two-point conversion failed.
Following a second three-and-out by the Herons, Berrien began its next possession near midfield. Quarterback Cash Perkins eluded a fierce rush to convert a 3rdand- 10 with a 14-yard scramble to move the chains.
Flanker Nyjel Johnson (four carries, 62 yards) raced 39 yards on the next play on end around for the touchdown with 52 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. A pass for the two-point conversion fell incomplete.
The Herons answered quickly. Mason Kicklighter (10 carries, 106 yards) raced 64 yards on Brantley County’s first snap of the ensuing possession for a score cutting the deficit in half to 12-6. Rylen Smith’s PAT conversion pulled the Herons to within 12-7 with 35 seconds on the clock.
Neither team would score in the second period. The Herons’ Mathew Minard recovered a fumble at the Berrien 18, but Brantley County was unable to capitalize.
A 16-yard loss on 2ndand- four from the Rebels’ 12 was followed by a holding penalty and an incomplete pass forcing the Herons to punt the ball away.
Berrien followed with a mistake-prone possession giving the ball back to the home team 54 yards from the end zone with 4:39 left in the half.
Brantley County converted a 3rd-and-11 when quarterback Kaden Hendricks (6-of-22, interception, 92 yards) hooked up with Payton Hanchey (two catches, 34 yards) for 21 yards down to the Rebels’ 20. The Herons faced 4th-and-four at the Berrien 14 when a pass fell incomplete ending the drive.
Freshman linebacker Clark Carter intercepted an errant Berrien pass giving the Herons possession at the visitors’ 41 to start the second half after the Rebels recovered their own onside kick.
Brantley County needed seven plays to score and take its first lead of the night. Hendricks connected with Anthony Walker (two catches, 34 yards) for a 26-yard score to cap the drive. Smith’s PAT gave the Herons a 14-12 lead with 7:40 left in the third period.
Berrien took the ensuing kick 82 yards in five plays. A 21-yard pass from quarterback Cash Perkins to Tay Lyas, the Rebels’ lone completion of the game, sparked the drive.
Perkins eventually scored from 28 yards out on a scramble with 5:02 remaining in the quarter. The pass for the two-point conversion failed leaving the score at 18-14.
A second onside kick by Berrien in the period was recovered by the Rebels. A second turnover followed when Minard stripped the ball loose with Paul Yawn making the recovery.
It wasn’t until about midway through the final period Berrien tacked on a couple of insurance touchdowns. Wesley did the honors with 6:39 to play scoring from five yards out. The pass for the two-point conversion was successful pushing the margin out to 26-14.
Johnson scored his second touchdown of the night with 40 seconds remaining on a 30-yard reverse. The Rebels ran in the two-point conversion for the final score.
