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the #1 ranked Rams clawed their way back, turning the game into a defensive slugfest that came down to the final minute.

The Bulldogs’ offense came out firing in the first quarter. Quarterback Joseph Owens wasted little time testing the Rams' secondary, connecting with senior receiver Nick Carroll on a 42-yard touchdown strike to give Toombs a quick 7-0 advantage. The momentum remained firmly with the Bulldogs, as the defense forced a punt and the offense drove back into scoring range. Kicker Alex Otero extended the lead to 10-0 with a 26yard field goal, and it appeared the Bulldogs were poised to run away with the game.

However, Worth County responded with a methodical drive late in the opening period. Running back Tre Jones capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to cut the deficit to 10-7. The second quarter evolved into a battle for field position, with both defenses refusing to break. The Rams tied the game at 10-10 on a 35yard field goal by Brodey Hancock, but the Bulldogs had the final say of the half. Toombs drove the ball down the field and set up Otero for a 19yard field goal with just 6 seconds remaining. Toombs headed to the locker room clinging to a 13-10 lead.

The turning point came late in the third quarter. With the Bulldogs’ defense looking to hold the line, Worth County quarterback Lyndon Worthy found Jayden Farley for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The strike gave the Rams their first lead of the night at 17-13 and shifted the pressure squarely onto the Toombs offense.

Despite the deficit, Toombs County moved the ball effectively, leaning heavily on the ground game. Running back Justin Powell was nothing short of a workhorse, punishing the Worth County front seven all night. Powell finished as the game’s leading rusher, racking up 150 yards on a staggering 35 carries. Owens had a solid game, rushing for 27 yards and completing 12 of 21 passes for 144 yards. Carroll remained his favorite target, hauling in 4 catches for 81 yards and the Bulldogs lone touchdown.

Yet, for all the yardage, the Bulldogs were haunted by what might have been. Two separate Toombs County touchdowns were nullified by penalties, stripping crucial points off the board in a game decided by 4.

The drama reached its peak in the final 2 minutes. Trailing by 4, the Bulldogs marched into Worth County territory with 1 last chance to save their season. Facing a pivotal fourth- and- 1, Toombs looked ready to power for the first down, but a false start penalty backed them up 5 yards. Now facing a passing situation with 1:13 on the clock, Owens dropped back to throw. Worth County’s Dashaun Rockwell read the play, stepping in front of the pass for a game-sealing interception that ended the Bulldogs' repeat bid.

Following the emotional loss, Toombs County Head Coach Buddy Martin spoke about the character of his squad and the pain of coming so close, 'Your heart hurts for those guys,' Martin said. 'This is an unbelievable group, they have a lot of grit, a lot of toughness, they love each other, and they love to compete. I am so proud of them, and what an incredible opportunity to be here doing it again. We have a talented group of seniors that have done a lot for our program, and we are going to miss them.'

The 17-13 loss may end the season, but it cannot diminish the accomplishments of a squad that battled its way back to the Championship Game. With a 13-2 final record and a reputation for toughness that defined every Friday night, the Bulldogs have once again proven that Toombs County belongs among the state's elite.

Justin Powell was the workhorse for Toombs in the finals as he totalled 150 yards on 35 carries in the game.