Varnadore rushes for 135 yards as Jeff Davis mounts fourth-quarter comeback against the Bulldogs
The Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets showed plenty of fight Friday night, October 16, battling back in the fourth quarter before falling just short against the Thomasville Bulldogs, 28-25.
In a game that featured big plays, momentum swings, and a determined late comeback, the Jackets refused to back down. Jeff Davis scored 15 points in the final quarter and put together an impressive 95-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes, but Thomasville held on for the three-point victory.
The loss was the first of the season for Jeff Davis, which entered the contest undefeated at 6-0.
Jackets Strike First Jeff Davis wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. The Jackets opened the game with a five-play, 35-yard scoring drive, capped by a four-yard touchdown run from Kobe Hill. The extra point gave Jeff Davis an early 7-0 lead with 9:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Thomasville answered late in the period when quarterback Christian Hayes connected with Makri Williams on a 33-yard touchdown pass. The extra point tied the game at 7-7.
Jeff Davis regained the lead early in the second quarter with an impressive 46-yard field goal, moving ahead 10-7. The Bulldogs responded when Hayes broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run, giving Thomasville a 14-10 advantage heading into halftime.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the third quarter when Williams connected with Michael Watts on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The score pushed Thomasville’s advantage to 21-10, leaving Jeff Davis facing an 11-point deficit entering the final quarter.
But the Jackets were far from finished. Jeff Davis put together a seven-play, 79-yard scoring drive that carried into the fourth quarter.
A 50-yard run by Braylon Varnadore helped set up his own six-yard touchdown run with 11:10 remaining.
Quarterback Mark Durden followed with a successful two-point conversion, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 21-18.
Thomasville answered quickly, however, with Hayes connecting with Kensley Reddick for a 33-yard touchdown pass. The extra point extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 28-18 with 9:52 remaining.
Still, Jeff Davis continued to battle. After the Jackets’ defense prevented Thomasville from adding to its lead on two fourth-quarter possessions, including a stop following a turnover deep in Jeff Davis territory, the offense took over at its own five-yard line.
What followed was one of the Jackets’ most impressive drives of the night. Jeff Davis marched 95 yards in just six plays, with Varnadore and Jacob Laney delivering several key gains. Varnadore opened the drive with a 17-yard run. Laney followed with a 15-yard gain before Varnadore broke loose for another 24 yards. Laney added a 19-yard run, then caught a 17-yard pass from Durden to move the Jackets to the Thomasville four-yard line. Laney finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown run, and the extra point brought Jeff Davis within three points, 28-25, with 1:24 remaining.
The Jackets’ defense forced a Thomasville punt on the ensuing possession, but Jeff Davis was unable to complete the comeback before time expired.
Jeff Davis finished the night with 323 yards of total offense, including an impressive 306 rushing yards on 43 carries.
Varnadore led the ground attack with a standout performance, rushing for 135 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries, averaging 13.5 yards per attempt.
Several other Jackets contributed to the rushing effort:
- Kobe Hill: 7 carries, 48 yards, 1 touchdown
- Garrison Coleman: 6 carries, 46 yards
- Jacob Laney: 6 carries, 42 yards, 1 touchdown
- Mark Durden: 14 carries, 35 yards
Laney also recorded the Jackets’ lone reception, a 17-yard completion from Durden during the final touchdown drive.
Jeff Davis recorded 15 first downs compared with Thomasville’s 12 and finished with more total offensive yards, 323 to 315.
For Thomasville, Hayes led the Bulldogs with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He also completed six of eight passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the final score did not favor Jeff Davis, Friday night’s performance demonstrated the team’s ability to respond under pressure.
Trailing by 11 points entering the fourth quarter, the Jackets continued to compete, putting together two touchdown drives and giving themselves an opportunity to win in the closing moments.
The loss brings Jeff Davis’ record to 6-1, but the Jackets have plenty to build on as they continue their season.
The determination shown in the final quarter, particularly the 95-yard touchdown drive, reflected a team that continued fighting until the final whistle.
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