The Dodge County Indians traveled to Swainsboro this past Friday night to play the Swainsboro High School Tigers. The Indians (1-2) were seeking their second win of the season against the 2010 defending region champs. Swainsboro (0-3) has not won a game this year.
Swainsboro won the opening coin toss. The Tigers opted to defer to the second half of the game. Dodge received the opening kickoff and began play on the 19-yard line of Swainsboro. D’Eric McNair (#11) would lead the Indians with a combination of hand-offs and passes for two consecutive first downs. The Indians moved the ball to the 42-yard line but were forced to punt on fourth down.
The Tigers began their first drive in the first quarter and moved the ball consistently downfield and quickly scored the first points of the game with a touchdown run into the end zone. The extra point attempt failed and Swainsboro led the ballgame 6 to 0.
After the kickoff, Dodge would begin a drive up field from their own 15-yard line. McNair showed impressive abilities, as he would throw a complete pass to move the Indians to the 48-yard line. Swainsboro held the Indians
Indians defeat Tigers in Swainsboro, 13-9from advancing any further and forced the Indians into a fourth down situation. The Indians faked the punt and rushed for the first down into Swainsboro territory. The Indians had great field position on the 21-yard line of Swainsboro. On the second play of the drive, McNair attempted a pass and the pass was intercepted. Swainsboro took possession on Dodge’s 34-yard line.
Swainsboro looked to advance the ball downfield but was met by Marvin Butler (#34) and the defensive line of Dodge. Swainsboro punted the ball on fourth and seven on the 43-yard line.
Dodge returned the ball to the 27-yard line. After two consecutive first downs, Dodge moved the ball to the 47-yard line. Dodge continued pushing forward for another first down into Swainsboro territory to the 31-yard line. On first and ten, McNair completed a run and scored a touchdown. The extra point attempt by Walt Turner (# 86) was good and Dodge gained the lead 7 to 6 with less than eight minutes of play in the first half.
Swainsboro began a drive after the kickoff on their 25-yard line. Dodge’s defense held the Tigers and took over on their 48-yard line after a fourth down punt.
Dodge did not find any momentum and was forced to punt on fourth-down on their 48-yard line with two minutes left in the first half.
Swainsboro took possession of the football on their 2-yard line. Dodge’s defense led by Butler held the Tigers on the 2-yard line forcing a
fourth down punt to the Indians.
The Indians took possession of the football on the Swainsboro 32-yard line. The Indians faced a first and ten on the 32-yard line of Swainsboro. The Indians sent Turner onto the field on first down for a 3-point field goal attempt. The field goal attempt failed and Swainsboro regained possession of the football with fourteen seconds of play left in the first half. Swainsboro attempted a pass and the ball was intercepted by Dodge’s Dana Northcutt (#2). The clock ran out of time and the score at halftime was Dodge 7 and Swainsboro 6.
Swainsboro took first possession of the third quarter on their 48-yard line. The Tigers quickly advanced into Indian territory with three consecutive first downs. The Tigers advanced to the 5-yard line of Dodge with nine minutes of play left in the third quarter. Dodge’s defense, led by Leonard Floyd (#83), Butler and Kerry Gordon (#64), forced Swainsboro to a fourth and four. A penalty against Swainsboro moved the ball back to the 15-yard line. Swainsboro attempted a field goal but failed.
Dodge took possession on their 15-yard line with five minutes of play left in the third quarter. The Indians moved the ball to the 31-yard line with two consecutive first downs but was stopped by the Tiger defense. Dodge was forced to punt on fourth down to Swainsboro.
Swainsboro had great field position on first and ten on their 49-yard line. The Tigers quickly moved the ball into Dodge territory with two consecutive first downs. The Tigers were on the 20-yard line of Dodge with first and ten. Swainsboro advanced the ball to the 15-yard line of Dodge where they attempted a field goal on fourth down and five. The field goal attempt was good and Swainsboro took over the lead with a score of 9 to 7 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter began and Dodge dominated much of the fourth quarter. McNair advanced the football with five consecutive first downs. The Indians faced a third down on the Swainsboro 10-yard line with one minute left in the ballgame. Dodge scored a touchdown on third down and regained the lead. The score was Dodge 13 and Swainsboro 9. The Indians decided to go for two points. The two-point conversion failed and Swainsboro took possession of the ball on Dodge’s 35-yard line with thirty-one seconds of play left in the game after the ensuing kickoff.
Dodge’s defensive line held the Tigers and forced them to lose 5-yards. The time clock ran out on the Tigers third down play and the Indians won the ballgame. Final score of the game was Dodge 13 and Swainsboro 9.
The Indians have an ‘open’ week and will not play this Friday, September 23. Dodge County will play Jefferson County on Friday, September 30 at Memorial Stadium in Eastman.
