Jackets improve to 4-0 with win; 4-0 Fitzgerald is up next

Jeff Davis High’s football team tuned up for the 2026 region schedule with a 4-game slate of non-region games which ended last week with a 36-7 win over McIntosh County Academy in Darien.
It was the Yellow Jackets’ fourth straight victory leading up to this Friday night’s region opener against Fitzgerald in Fitzgerald. Both the Yellow Jackets and the Purple Hurricane are 4-0 and both are ranked in the state’s Class AA Top 10.
The teams have played one mutual opponent. Fitzgerald opened their season with a 22-13 win over Clinch County in Homerville and the next week the Yellow Jackets downed Clinch 42-7, also in Homerville. In other games, Jeff Davis defeated Vidalia 37-0, Metter 40-0 and McIntosh County Academy 36-7; and Fitzgerald topped Irwin County 28-0, Dodge County 28-14 and defending AA State Champion Worth County 25-20 last week in Sylvester.
Last Friday in Darien the Yellow Jackets took the opening kickoff and marched 48 yards in just four plays to take a quick, 6-0 lead. Fullback Kobe Hill had a 23-yd. run in the drive and scored on a 12-yd. run, carrying a crowd of would-be tacklers with him over the final 3 yards. David Calderon kicked the extra point and the visitors led 7-0.
McIntosh came right back as they rolled 74 yards in 13 plays to tie the game 7-7.
The Buccaneers’ drive marked the first time this season any opponent had scored on a sustained drive against the Yellow Jackets as the only other score against JD came when a low snap on a punt play resulted in the punter scrambling for a 38-yd. TD run.
The Yellow Jackets answered in a hurry, streaking 62 yards in just 5 plays. Braylon Varnadore covered the final 39 yards on a hard-nosed 27-yd. run and then getting wide open for a 12-yd. scoring pass from Mark Durden.
After a trio of penalties on the extra point attempt, the Jackets went for 2 from the 1 yard line with Varnadore taking the ball around the right side to make the score 15-7.
JD’s next possession started at their own 14 yard line. A 13-yd. Jacob Laney run and a 49-yd., tackle-breaking scamper by Mark Durden were both nullified by penalties and three plays later Calderon had to punt the ball away.
Jeff Davis soon got the ball back as Jaiden West intercepted a Buccaneer pass at the Yellow Jacket 20.
Laney got things started with a weaving 30-yd. run to midfield helped along by a downfield block by tackle Jamari Wilcox. On the next play, Wilcox picked up a fumbled snap and bulled his way for a 10-yd. gain to the McIntosh 40.
Then Durden pitched the ball to Kei’Lyn Biggins around the right side for another 10 yards and a penalty flag advanced the ball to the McIntosh 15. After an incomplete pass, Durden kept for 5 and 7 and Hill took the ball in for a 21-7 Jacket lead.
Calderon made it 22-7 at halftime.
The Jackets’ first possession of the 2nd half began at their own 40. Five plays later, Hill took the ball off the right side, broke a couple of tackles and dashed into the end zone for a 32-yd. score. Calderon again kicked the P.A.T. and Jeff Davis led 29-7.
McIntosh almost broke loose on the ensuing kickoff for a TD but Laney ran down the returner from behind at the Jeff Davis 40.
The Bucs could get no closer than the 37 where, on 3rd-and-7, Amare Burney blew into the McIntosh backfield to tackle the runner for a loss and McIntosh had to punt the ball away.
On McIntosh’s next possession, they kept the ball for 11 plays but fumbled the ball for losses on the final two plays and the Jackets took over on downs at their own 30.
Six plays later, Durden threw a strike to West who had gotten behind the secondary for a 30-yd. touchdown. Calderon’s kick was true and Jeff Davis led 36-7 with time left for only the kickoff and 2 plays.
Statistics
JD MCA
1st Downs 19 9
Rushing Yds. 289 134
Pass Yds. 44 0
Total Yds. 333 134
Fumbles Lost 2 0
Intc. 0 1
Score by quarters:
JDHS 7 15 7 7 -36
MCA 7 0 0 0 – 7
Scoring:
JD – Kobe Hill, 12-yd. run. David Calderon kick.
MCA – Run. Kick good.
JD – Braylon Varnedore, 12-yd. Pass from Mark Durden. Varnedore run.
JD – Hill, 5-yd. run. Calderon kick.
JD – Hill, 32-yd. run. Calderon kick.
JD – Jaiden West, 30-yd. pass from Durden. Calderon kick.