Hornets sting Tuskegee to capture Region Championship

By Darius L. Cates

On Friday, October 23, the Hornets traveled Highway 29 to Tuskegee to face their biggest rival, the Golden Eagles of Booker T. Washington.

Bullock County had a solid start in the first half. Brayden Youngblood helped the Hornets jump to an early lead with a 55-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Hornets’ defense surrounded the Eagles, covering all levels from backfield to the secondary. They were able to force BTW’s quarterback to make tough decisions with the ball. The Golden Eagles had some sparks on offense, but the Hornets’ defense kept them scoreless in the first half. They also forced two turnovers (1 interception, 1 fumble). Thanks to the second-quarter field goal by Mike Garcia, the Hornets had a 10-0 lead by halftime.

In the second half, B.C. kept swinging hard with the running game. In the fourth quarter, Jaquez Pearson added to the touchdown total with a nice rush to the end zone. The Hornets had a 17-0 lead, but momentum quickly shifted after a Golden Eagles kickoff return (17-6; 2-pt conversion was no good). The Hornets’ secondary was getting beaten down the field. The Golden Eagles made the game intense with another score on a touchdown pass. The Hornets did not increase their lead on offense and gave BTW a chance to tie or take the lead. Bullock County, though seeming exhausted, found a way to come up with key stops to keep their opponent from scoring or converting to the first down in their territory. With 2:32 to go in regulation, the Eagles decided to go for a field goal on fourth down. The kick was up, and everyone at the stadium held their breath. The BTW fans cheered, not knowing that the kicker missed wide left. With no more timeouts for BTW, the Hornets ran out the clock and got the 17-14 win.

The Hornets were awarded the Myron Penn Trophy. Not only did Bullock County win the trophy, but they made history by becoming the 3A Region 2 Champions.   

“The biggest thing is just staying positive. I told the kids, let’s not find a way to self-destruct. We found a way to stick together, and we were able to get the victory. It’s always great to be the first to do something. We’re the first to be region champions. It’s one of those things that is very sentimental. I’m glad I was able to come down here. It’s basically home. Both of my parents are from here. Going to school here and graduating here. My mom came back and taught. My dad goes to church here. It’s big for the community. It’s big for my family. Again, I’m glad we were able to get the victory,” said Coach CJ Harris.