The Dodge County Indian football team traveled to Baxley on Friday night for their season opener against the Appling County Pirates in a non-region regular season game.
The Indians were looking to settle last year’s loss with a victory as the Pirates defeated the Indians in a dramatic come from behind victory 18-17.
Appling won the opening coin toss and the Pirates deferred to the second quarter. Dodge would have first possession with the opening kickoff for first quarter play. Dodge fumbled their first possession on first and ten on their 11-yard line. Appling began a drive down field but Dodge’s defense stopped them. Appling turned the ball over on fourth and eighth with 4:07 left in the first quarter.
Dodge took their second possession of the first quarter on the 12-yard line and fumbled giving the Pirates great field position in Dodge territory. Appling moved the ball to the two-yard line with third and goal. Appling’s quarterback passed to #85 (Wilkinson) for a touchdown giving the Pirates a 6-0 lead. After a penalty on Appling, the extra point was good and the end of the first quarter score was Appling, 7, Dodge ,0.
The second quarter began with the Indians having possession on their 30-yard line. Quarterback McNair passed on two possessions but was not enough for a first down. The Indians punted on fourth and three and the Pirates took possession on their 8-yard line.
Appling began an aggressive drive with three consecutive first downs moving the ball into Indian Territory on the 42-yard line. The Pirates moved the ball to Dodge’s 34-yard line where the Indian defense caught the Pirate’s quarterback in the backfield making it fourth and fifteen.
The Pirates were forced to punt and Dodge took over on their own 12-yard line with 4:54 to go until halftime. On first and ten, Dodge fumbled the ball and the Pirates recovered on the three-yard line. A penalty of unsportsmanlike-like conduct cost the Pirates a 15-yard penalty and the Pirates started a new drive on the Indian 18-yard line.
The Pirates drove to the goal line and on third and goal, the Indian defense held the Pirates from scoring a touchdown. On fourth and goal, the Pirates attempted a field goal but failed. But, a flag on the play against Dodge gave the Pirates a second opportunity to kick a field goal.
The Pirates scored three giving the Pirates a 10 – 0 lead with 3:22 left in the second quarter.
The Indians took possession on kickoff on their 43-yard line. The Indians fumbled on third and 10 but Indian Kerry Gordon recovered the ball for the Indians. A holding penalty against Dodge drove them backwards and forced a punt on fourth and nineteen. Appling took over and after three incomplete passes were forced to punt. Dodge took over on their seven-yard line with 1:34 remaining in the second half. The Indians began their final drive of the quarter as time runs out on the clock. Halftime score: Pirates, 10 Dodge, 0.
The Dodge County Indian Marching Chiefs performed their halftime show followed by the Appling County High School Band.
Third quarter football began with Dodge kicking off to Appling. The pirates first drive in the third quarter forced them to punt and Dodge took over on their 30-yard line. Dodge attempted to run the ball and gained four yards and was forced to punt on fourth down.
The Pirates took over on first down on the Dodge 47-yard line. The Pirates moved the ball down the field to the 15-yard line and a pass to the end zone found the Pirates with a 16-0 lead. The extra point was good and with 5:13 left in third quarter play, the Pirates led Dodge 17-0.
Dodge took possession of the ball on kickoff and moved the ball giving them their very first, first-down in the game. Dodge quarterback McNair settled in and with a combination pass and run game, advanced the Indians up field.
Fourth quarter play found the Indians and Pirates in little field advancement with both teams displaying good defense. The Pirates moved the ball down field for a final score of the game with a 3-point field goal. Final Score was Pirates, 20 and Dodge, 0.
The Dodge County Indians will host the Toombs County Bulldogs in Eastman at Memorial Stadium on Friday, September 2. The Bulldogs are coming off their season opener loss to the Dublin Fighting Irish. Game time play begins at 7:30 p.m.
