Bulldogs Cage Raiders in Elite 8 Victory, Punch Ticket to Semifinals
The No. 2 ranked Toombs County High School Bulldogs football team defeated the No. 4 ranked Northeast Macon Raiders 24-6 on Friday night at 'The Pit,' securing their spot in the GHSA Class A Division 1 State Semifinals. In a rematch of last year's state championship game, the Bulldogs relied on a suffocating defense and a relentless rushing attack led by standout Justin Powell to pull away in the second half.
The first half was a defensive stalemate, characterized by missed opportunities and penalty flags. The opening quarter ended scoreless as both defenses refused to break. Northeast, hampered by self-inflicted wounds, struggled to find a rhythm against a disciplined Toombs front. The only points of the first half came late in the second quarter when kicker Alex Otero (#88) drilled a 20-yard field goal with approximately three minutes remaining, sending the Bulldogs into the locker room with a slim 3-0 lead.
The offense found its footing coming out of the halftime break. With just under two minutes left in the third quarter, running back Justin Powell (#3) found a crease and sprinted 14 yards for the game's first touchdown. continued from page
Otero’s point-after attempt was good, extending the lead to 10-0.
Northeast Macon refused to go quietly, striking back early in the fourth quarter. The Raiders completed an 18-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes left on the clock to cut the deficit to 10-6. However, the momentum shifted permanently back to Toombs County when the Raiders missed the subsequent PAT, leaving them trailing by four.
Sensing the game was on the line, the Bulldogs turned to their ground game to seal the victory. With four minutes remaining, Powell crossed the goal line for a second time on a 6-yard run, and Otero’s extra point pushed the lead to 17-6. The Bulldogs’ defense forced a quick stop, giving the ball back to the offense to ice the game. Powell capped off his stellar night with a 23-yard touchdown run in the final minute. Powell finished the night as the offensive catalyst, racking up three rushing touchdowns.
The victory marks the ninth straight win for Toombs County, improving their record to 12-1. The Bulldogs will now turn their attention to the Final Four. Heard County, the #3 ranked team in the state, squeaked by the Purple Hurricanes of Fitzgerald on a last second field goal to win the game, 39-38. That means the Bulldogs will be on the road this week as they take the 3 ½ hour trip to Franklin, GA, to play the Braves of Heard. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Nick Carroll weaves his way through several Northeast defenders during the GHSA State Elite 8 at The Pit.Photo by Mike Branch
