Swainsboro Hands Jackets 32-0 Loss

Jeff Davis High took its second straight loss and second straight shutout as the Yellow Jackets fell 32-0 to visiting Swainsboro last Friday night.
The Jackets fell to 1-2 while the Tigers, ranked No. 2 in Class A, Division 1, improved to 3-0.
Penalties and miscues plagued Jeff Davis and the Tigers’ fleet footed, elusive quarterback Bryson Tarver was almost unstoppable as he ran the ball only six times but scored on three of those carries for a 100-yd. rushing night.
And the Tiger defense stymied JD as much as holding calls that often came at crucial times.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 61 yards in eight plays to go up 6-0. A fumbled snap thwarted the extra point attempt.
On the ensuing kickoff, part of Swainsboro’s game plan became quickly apparent as the Tigers kicked away from sophomore La’Trell Sellers and kicked near the sidelines where the returner could not get back to the middle of the field where the Jackets had set up a blocking wall. As a result, the first kick return was only to the 13 yard line. On 4th-and-9 from the 14, Konnor Munsayac retreated to punt but, instead, threw the ball to a wide-open Sellers. But the pass was underthrown and the play didn’t pick up a first down.
Swainsboro took over at the 18 and scored in five plays. The kick was good, and the visitors led 13-0.
The next kickoff was returned to only the 16. Quarterback Colby Beach picked up four and eight for a first down at the 28, but that was as far as they would get. Munsayac kicked the ball away but for only 23 yards and Swainsboro was in business at their 47.
The Tigers scored in six plays, scoring on a 26-yd. run to make it 19-0 early in the second quarter. The kick failed.
The ensuing kickoff was returned only to the 18. After three plays failed to move the chains, Munsayac punted the ball away but for 28 yards.
On the second play after the punt, Tarver got loose for a 45-yd. TD and the kick made it 26-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, the ball went to Sellers near the center of the field. Sellers was able to get to the blocking wall and the Jackets cleared the way as Sellers returned the ball 50 yards to the Swainsboro 40 before he was caught from behind.
Elijah Benjamin got three and Beach 11 for a first down at the Tiger 26. After Beach was sacked and a 5-yd. penalty against Swainsboro, Beach hit Sellers for a 15-yd. completion and a 1st-and-goal at the 10. But on 4th-and-9, Beach overthrew Jude Worthington in the end zone and the threat came to an end.
The Jackets returned the second half kickoff to their 29 but couldn’t get a first down. This time Munsayac got off a 49-yd. punt to the Swainsboro 31. The JD defense stepped up and, on 4th-and-1, Haydon King nailed the runner for a loss and Jeff Davis took over at the Swainsboro 39.
A holding penalty kept the Jackets from getting a first down and, on 4th-and-16, Munsayac retreated to punt. This time, the snap sailed over Munsayac’s head and the Tigers took over at the Yellow Jacket 26.
On the second play, the Tigers scored on a 25-yd. run to make it 32-0. Kade Carver broke through to block the P.A.T. attempt.
Benjamin had a good return of the kickoff, getting the ball to the JD 40.
A facemask penalty and a 23-yd. Benjamin run got a first down at the Swainsboro 28. Two plays later, Benjamin picked up nine for another first down at the 19.
Jeff Davis ran the ball all the way to the Tiger one but a holding penalty nullified the run. On 4th-and-12 from the 21, Fernando Vega, subbing for an injured Fabian Valdelamar, tried a 38-yd. field goal that was long enough but trailed off to the left of the goal posts.
After a 35-yd. run, a Tiger back fumbled the ball into the hands of Karter Galbreath who returned the ball five yards to the JD 40. On 4th-and-1, Benjamin ran for 16 yards as the final seconds clicked off the clock.