By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON – Two weeks ago, Eighth Street’s eighth grade football team dominated Coffee by a 42-13 score.
On Thursday, Coffee got its revenge.
Behind a Keegan McGovern 10-yard touchdown run, and a McGovern to C.J. Johnson two-point conversion, Coffee Middle defeated ESMS 8-7 to win the South Georgia Athletic Conference championship at Brodie Field.
Tadric Jackson, the Blue Devil starting quarterback, was hurt with four minutes left on the clock in the third quarter. Following the possession, Coffee marched 63 yards on eight plays with McGovern scoring the touchdown for the Trojans.
The drive was extended by a 31-yard strike from McGovern to Brandon Roe on a third down and 24.
Eighth Street had one more opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter, after the Trojans lost a fumble near midfield that was recovered by Steven Waters.
Needing four yards for a first down at the 10, a pass from Will Reinhardt to Ladarrius Stewart gained three yards, and the Trojans ran out the clock to win the championship.
The Blue Devils overcame two first quarter turnovers inside their own 40 yardline as the defense stepped up and ended two Coffee drives – one by a turnover and one by a turnover-on-downs.
Late in the second quarter, Jackson found Devarious Butler down the home sideline for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Jackson’s PAT gave the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead with 1:04 left in the half.
But after the Jackson injury after a seven-yard run, the Blue Devils could not keep the momentum going.
The Blue Devils finish their middle school career with two runner-up finishes. Last season, ESMS was forced to play without starting quarterback Alex Abbott in a loss to Hahira – a team the Blue Devils had defeated earlier in the season.
ESMS finishes the season with a 6-1 record.
