Turnovers Cost TCHS Against Rome
The Toombs County High School Bulldogs made the long trek north on Friday night to take on Class 5A powerhouse Rome. Despite coming in as the No. 1 team in Class A, the Bulldogs entered the game as 14-point underdogs. For two quarters, however, Toombs looked every bit the favorite, building a 21-7 halftime lead before ultimately falling 49-28.
Rome struck first midway through the opening quarter, breaking the game open with an 85-yard punt return touchdown to grab a 7-0 advantage. Toombs responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by junior quarterback Joseph Owens finding wideout Brandon Stevens on a 15-yard scoring strike. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Bulldogs down 7-6.
Moments later, Owens connected with senior receiver Gavin Fletcher for a 23-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion by Hayden Roy gave Toombs its first lead at 14-7, which held through the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the Bulldog defense made a statement, turning back Rome on four plays inside the 5-yard line. Taking over at their own 1-yard line, Toombs needed just seven plays to go the length of the field. Owens hit Slade McDonald in stride for a 66-yard touchdown, pushing the Bulldog lead to 21-7.
Behind a dominant “Red Bullet” defense, Toombs held Rome to just 20 yards of offense in the first half.
But the game flipped quickly after halftime. Rome’s opening drive of the third quarter stalled, but a missed field goal attempt was wiped out by a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Wolves capitalized with a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14.
Disaster struck for Toombs on the ensuing kickoff when a fumble gave Rome the ball back, and the Wolves tied the game on a touchdown pass. Lightning struck twice as the Bulldogs fumbled the very next kickoff return, setting up another Rome score and a sudden 28-21 deficit.
Rome stretched the lead to 35-21 before Owens and Stevens hooked up again, this time on an 80-yard touchdown, narrowing the gap to 35-28. But Rome’s depth and momentum proved too much as the Wolves tacked on two more scores to seal the 49-28 win.
The loss drops Toombs to 3-1, while Rome continues to roll as one of Georgia’s top programs regardless of classification. The Bulldogs return home to “The Pit” this Friday night to face Charlton County, looking to bounce back in front of their home crowd. Kickoff will be at 8:00 p.m.
