Two dominant backs in Serjoe Jones and Justin Powell are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. After each having a week off, the Temple Tigers and the Toombs County Bulldogs will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Temple blew Model out of the water the last time the pair played, but last Friday Model got their revenge. The Tigers fell just short of the Blue Devils by a score of 38-36. While the Tigers had to settle for second, they closed the game well in the third quarter, where they outscored the Blue Devils 8-3.
Nehemiah Dorsey put forth a good effort for the losing side as he rushed for 70 yards and one score.
Meanwhile, Toombs County came tearing into last Friday's game with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 35.2 points), and they left with even more momentum. They breezed past the Raiders to the tune of 52-24. The contest was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point the Bulldogs had established a 21-point advantage.
Toombs County's win came from a few key players Temple will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Joseph Owens, who threw for 56 yards and a pair of TDs.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for Toombs County, racking up 16 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Slade McDonald, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
One reason for the win was Toombs County's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Hayden Roy and Powell, who racked up all four sacks between them. Roy is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made five or more in each of the last eight games he's played.
Toombs County's record now sits at 9-1. As for Temple, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost five of their last six matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-5 record this season.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Temple has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 275.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Toombs County struggles in that department as they've been averaging 188.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
