Jackets roll to 63-21 win over Tattnall

Mark Durden throws a pass

Ian Griffin runs the football

McKenzie Flooyd oerforms at halftime

Gia Griffin gets a bird’s eye view

Callie White cheers

After Tattnall County defeated Vidalia 22-18 the week before, Jeff Davis High expected a stern test against Tattnall last Friday night in Reidsville/Glennville.
But the Yellow Jackets raced to a 21-0 lead in just 5 offensive plays before many fans arrived at the stadium and the rout was on with Jeff Davis winning 63-21.
The Yellow Jackets wasted no time starting the rout. On their first play from scrimmage, fullback Kobe Hill darted through a big hole up the middle of the field, sidestepped a tackle attempt by the Warrior safety — leaving him grabbing thin air — cut to his right and raced down the far sidelines for the 69-yd. score. Fabian Valdelamar kicked the extra point and Jeff Davis was on top 7-0.
On the first play after the kickoff, Tattnall fumbled and the Jackets Jaylen Wilson-Gamble recovered. That put the Jackets in business at the Tattnall 27.
A 13-yd. Ian Griffin run, a 5-yd. penalty and a 5-yd. Mark Durden keeper put the ball at the five and Jacob Laney raced around the left side for the score. Valdelamar’s kick made it 14-0 after JD had run only 4 plays.
The Jackets’ next possession started at midfield and, on the 1st play, Griffin took a pitch from Durden and raced 50 yards untouched for a 20-0 lead. Valdelamar made it 21-0.
Following the kickoff, the Warriors finally got their offense on track and the hosts marched 78 yards in 11 plays to get on the scoreboard. The P.A.T. kick made it 21-7.
The first quarter came to an end one play after the kickoff. On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Durden kept the ball around the right side, spun out of a tackle, broke two more tackles and raced down the Jacket sideline for a 27-yd. pickup to the Tattnall 48.
Durden threw to Messiah Swinson for 7 yards and then big R.J. Sims took Hill’s place at fullback and picked up 32 yards up the middle of the field to the 8. Then Hill returned to ramble up the middle for the 8-yd. TD. Valdelamar kicked the extra point to make it 28-7.
On the 3rd play after the kickoff, Durden leaped high to snag an interception and Jeff Davis had the ball at their own 41.
Messiah Swinson picked up a 1st down on runs of 3 and 9 yards, Sims got 6 twice for another 1st down, J.J. Benjamin got 5, Sims 9 and the Durden kept around the right side, slipped a tackle at the sidelines thanks to a block by Swinson at the 16 and then raced into the end zone for a 21-yd. TD run. Valdelamar kicked the P.A.T. and it was 35-7.
The Jackets got the ball again at the 50 and Durden went right to work, hitting J.T. Bryant beyond the secondary for a 43-yd. pass play to the 7. Durden then threw to La’Trell Sellers in the back corner of the end zone for the score. Valdelamar made it 42-7
But the Jackets weren’t through. Sellers jumped on a Tattnall fumble to put the offense in business at the Jacket 43.
Six plays later, Griffin took a pitch around the right side and followed his downfield blocking for a 24-yd. Score. With Valdelamar’s kick, JD was on top 49-7 at halftime.
Playing with a running clock in the 2nd half, Benjamin returned the kickoff from the goal line to the Jacket 40.
On the 2nd play after the kickoff, Hill took the ball up the middle, cut to his left and raced 55 yards for another score. Valdelamar made it 56-7.
Tattnall scored on their first play of the 2nd half on a 56-yd. run, making it 56-14.
With Aiden Dent taking over at quarterback, Sims went up the middle from the 20, bowled over a would-be tackler at the 28, broke into the open and raced up the right side of the field before he was finally dragged down from behind at the Tattnall 14, for a 66-yd. run. Three plays later, Sims scored from the 3, Valdelamar kicked his 7th extra point of the game, and the Jackets led 63-14.
On the 1st play of the final quarter, a Warrior back darted 52 yards before Swinson made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Jacket 21. Tattnall scored on the next play to cut the score to 63-21.
Score by quarters:
JDGS 21 28 14 0 -63
TCHS 7 0 7 7 -21