VHS Falls Short To Bleckley Co.

For the second time in consecutive weeks, the Vidalia Indians fell to a more seasoned and ranked opponent. The young Indians lost to seventh ranked Bleckley County 26-13 a week after dropping a 17-14 heartbreaker to ECI, ranked eighth in Class A-Public. The Indians are close, but obviously as a team aren’t quite there yet. In both games, there were opportunities to win. The road doesn’t get any easier. This week, the Indians travel to Augusta, where they have a return engagement with Class AAA Richmond Academy. The Indians handed the Musketeers, the defending Region 4-AAA champions a 33- 21 loss last season. The Musketeers are the same as Vidalia, 0-2 after close losses to good teams. Vidalia missed a chance to jump out early, when a good return and an unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Indians the ball at midfield on the opening kickoff.

The drive fizzled though when Bryce Davis’s pass sailed just past the outstretched hands of Antonio Barron. Bleckley County was the first team to dent the scoreboard, getting on the scoreboard when quick, little T.J. Mays broke a couple of tackles on his way for 32 yards and the touchdown. James Fordham’s kick made the score 7-0 with 8:38 left in the first half.

The Indians mounted a drive toward the end of the half. A sack ended the touchdown threat with 35 seconds left; but Tate McDaniel came out and boomed a 46-yarder with room to spare to cut the lead to 7-3 at the end of the half.

Bleckley tried to put Vidalia away early in the second half when they dented the scoreboard twice. The Royals' second really good back, 205-pound Jahvon Butler, scored on a 17-yard run with 8:11 still left in the third quarter. Fordham made it 14-3.

Then, only 4 minutes later, Royal QB Eli Mullis bootlegged around the end to give his team a commanding 20-3 lead. Fordham’s PAT attempt was blocked.

If Bleckley relaxed, it was a mistake. Because Bryce Davis, on a draw play, broke through the Royal line and sprinted away from the pursuing secondary, crossing the goal line with 4:23 left on the clock. McDaniel’s extra point cut Bleckley’s lead in half to 20-10 after McDaniel’s PAT.

The Indians cut into the lead again, making it 20-13 when McDaniel drilled another field goal, this time from 37 yards out, with 10:42 left in the game.

Vidalia got the ball back in a hurry, as a fired up defense stopped the Royals and forced a punt. But a chance at a comeback ended when a short Indian drive was halted on fourth down.

The Royals quickly drove to clinch their victory. This time, it was Jahvon Butler who took it in from 4 yards out to make the final score 2613.

After going to Augusta next week for their battle with Richmond Academy, the Indians will host Tattnall County and Class AAAAA Stockbridge in Vidalia.