Hill, Bulloch take comeback win over Tiftarea

Published 3:00 pm Saturday, September 19, 2020

STATESBORO — Tiftarea Academy head coach Erik Soliday predicted his team would have to be successful through the air to defeat Bulloch Academy Friday night. The Panthers had the yardage, but a series of goal line stands led to a second half comeback and a 38-32 Bulloch win.

Dylan Harbort and Cubbie Crosson combined for 291 yards through the air, but Tiftarea was picked off deep in Gator territory three times and was stopped another time on downs. Bulloch’s Rodney Hill terrorized the Panthers’ defense with three second half touchdowns.

Kam Brown scored in the fourth to cut a 38-26 Bulloch lead in half, but with barely a minute on the clock, the Panthers had to try an onside kick. It did not go the required yards and Bulloch ran out the clock.

The first half belonged to Tiftarea.

After Hill burst for a 48-yard Bulloch touchdown on a Tyler Willoughby throw, Harbort hit his first three passes and the Panthers were on their way. Harbort ran for 18 yards to the Gators’ 24. Four plays later, Harbort connected with Jayk Sailer for an 11-yard score. Bulloch blocked the kick attempt to hold a 7-6 advantage.

Bulloch missed a field goal on its next drive and the Panthers were on the move again. Harbort threw a quick pass to Sailer that turned into a 64-yard gain. At the 16, Harbort ran to the 1. He called his own number on the next snap and leaned into the end zone.

Soliday went for a two-point conversion and Brown darted over the goal line on a short pass from Harbort.

Willoughby tied the contest at 14-14 on a touchdown run at the beginning of the period, but a short Tiftarea drive meant the tie was short-lived. Sailer caught passes for six and 40 yards, the latter for a touchdown at 7:14. A conversion pass failed. A few minutes later, it didn’t look like it would matter.

The Panthers held Bulloch on downs, forcing a punt attempt. The snap went high and the kicker booted it out of the back of the end zone. They were called for illegal batting, setting up Tiftarea at the Gators 7.

Harbort ran for a two-yard score at 2:05. The two-point try again failed and the Panthers’ lead was at its apex at 26-14.

A discombobulated Bulloch fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but instead of a collapse, it became a turnaround point. They held the Panthers for three downs, then picked off a fourth down attempt at the 1. Harbort’s shoestring tackle prevented a touchdown.

Olen Anderson kicked a field goal with a second remaining in the half, slicing Tiftarea’s lead to 26-17.

The Panthers almost closed the door on Bulloch again at the start of the second half, but the hosts’ defense refused to break. Malone Cason ended a long drive with an interception inside the 20.

Two plays later, Willoughby found Hill and the powerful back showed his speed on an 87-yard score. The lead was down to 26-24 and the momentum had switched. Cason ended the next drive on another pick. Willoughby threw again to Hill. Bulloch was now in the lead, 31-26. Worse for the Panthers, Harbort exited the game.

Hill ran a touchdown at the start of the fourth before Tiftarea re-found a rhythm.

Crosson hit Cason Peavy on a pair of 15-yard gains and Sailer caught his only pass of the second half to get to Bulloch’s 16. The Gators stiffened here, forcing a turnover on downs. Though time was running out, it was not the end of Tiftarea.

A dropped punt snap led to a kick of (-9) yards. From the 12, Bulloch was called for pass interference. John Austin Lee ran for four yards and Brown carried it the rest of the way for a touchdown at 1:25.

The short onside kick prevented any further comeback and Bulloch knelt to end the game.

Harbort completed 14 of 23 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, both to Sailer. Crosson had 27 yards, completing 3 of 9 throws. Brown was Tiftarea’s leading rusher with 58 yards and a touchdown, Harbort close behind at 55 yards and two scores..

Sailer caught six passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Tiftarea is scheduled to host Frederica Academy this Friday in a homecoming contest. Frederica (1-1) dropped a 27-7 decision to Calvary Day in its last outing.