The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets traveled approximately two hours in 45 degree weather to take on the Dodge County Indians in the final four matchup of th4e GHSA Division One State Flag Football Championship Playoffs. The Jackets defeated the Indians 27 to 0.
To kick the game off the Jackets started with the ball and junior wide receiver Kayla Adams put the Jackets on the board first with a quick five-yard touchdown reception from sophomore quarterback Emma Cate Barron, giving the team a 7-0 lead with about one minute left in the first quarter. With 1:40 remaining in the first half, Natalia Odom made a huge interception, coming right after the Indians had gained a critical first down with a risky cross route over the middle.
The Jackets capitalized on the turnover, as a cross route to Adams set up another touchdown, extending their lead. Laina Erickson was wide open to convert the extra point. Paige "The Spark Plug" Nelson then came up with an interception at the 1:19 mark, after the ball had passed through the hands of three other players. Nelson's big play was followed by a touchdown of her own as the clock wound down in the first half. With 24 seconds left, Odom completed the scoring with an extra point, giving the Jackets a strong 21-0 lead heading into halftime.
Southeast Bulloch drained the Indians out on both sides of the ball from the start and the second half was no exception. The experience of the postseason has proven to be a determining factor for how the Jackets performed. Kayla Adams scored another cross route touchdown to put the Jackets up 27-0 with :55 left to play in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter with a running clock, the Yellow Jackets drained out the time and as soon as that two minute mark hit the mercy rule was in effect. The Jackets sealed the Indians fate, and secured their spot in the GHSA Division One State Flag Football Championship game against the Columbus Blue Devils, who are (22-6,10-1) on the season.
Head coach Marci Cochran was uber proud of her young team for how they performed in this game and throughout the entire playoff season so far to get to this point.
"We have a younger team this year and for our girls to show up like they have in the state tournament is awesome," Cochran stated. "I’m just super excited that the seniors get to play for a fourth straight championship."
Defensee has been the determining factor for the Yellow Jackets most of the season and postseason. Tonight that wasn't the case because the offense came in with great execution to help foreshadow into the state championship.
"Our offense finally showed up tonight," coach stated. "We hit people in stride and everybody did their part."
She hopes they enjoy this win because not everyone gets to be in this position, then refocus in because the job is not done.
"I told them to enjoy the experience tonight because not many teams get to go play for a fourth straight championship so let’s take advantage of it," she mentioned.
The Yellow Jackets will be back in action one last time in this season to take on the Columbus Blue Devils for the State Championship on Monday, December 12, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 12 pm.
