Wheeler Surges In Second Half

The Wheeler County High School Bulldogs football team, led by an explosive second half, defeated the Twiggs County Cobras 39-14 on Friday night in Jeffersonville. The Bulldogs extended their 16-8 halftime lead with a surge of scoring in the third quarter, securing a convincing road victory.

In the first half of the game, the Bulldogs were in a battle as they were on top of the Cobras 16-8. It was close, but Wheeler went into halftime and made the proper adjustments.

Wheeler County set the tone for the second half immediately. Following the opening kickoff, the Bulldogs' offense moved down the field with determination. A critical long run by Justin Culver put Wheeler County deep in Twiggs County territory, on the Cobras' 12yard line. Just moments later, a rushing touchdown found the end zone, and Alvin Ricks rushed in the two-point conversion to push the Bulldogs' lead to 24-8.

The Bulldogs’ offense was far from finished. After a punt from the Cougars, Wheeler County took over at their own 32-yard line. The momentum continued to build as Reco Wooten broke away for a spectacular 45-yard rushing touchdown with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Ricks once again converted the two-point attempt, extending the lead to 32-8.

The Cobras showed signs of life late in the third quarter, managing to connect on a 32-yard passing touchdown to narrow the deficit to 32-14 heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Wheeler County’s offense put the game out of reach. With just over 11 minutes left to play, Wooten launched a deep pass, connecting with Jacorion Woodard for a 48-yard touchdown. Kicker Adam Garcia successfully made the point after attempt, bringing the score to its final tally of 39-14.

The Bulldogs’ ability to capitalize on big plays, particularly in the third quarter, was the differencemaker. Their explosive running game, combined with timely passing, proved to be too much for the Cobras to handle. Wheeler County’s defense also played a crucial role in the victory, holding the Cougars in check for most of the contest and securing the hard-fought win on the road.

The Bulldogs running game amassed over 400 yards on the night with three players over 100 yards. Alvin Ricks led the way with 127 yards, Malik Madison added 119 yards, and Reco Wooten rushed for 100 yards. Justin Culver also ran for 63 yards in the game.

Wheeler is now 2-1 on the season. They will be back in action this Friday night when the host Atkinson County at 7:30 p.m.