GP TV presents the 2003 GHC Football semifinals.

Funding for this program is provided in part by Georgia's electric membership corporations.

IBEW Local 613 South Trust Bank Kroger Beer Dodge Dealers of Georgia, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and by State Farm.

Good evening, everybody.

Welcome to the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

And if you're a high school football fan, this is game number nine of a two day extravaganza.

A great one set up the four semifinals.

Myself and Bo Bok get ready for Tucker to try to go up against the state's Proteinas go I going for him as well.

But the state's pro team really has a lot going for them.

They run an old timey wishbone.

You're going to think of Buzz Busby.

You're seeing Barry Switzer out here.

They pick them up, put him down.

They just try to pound you.

Tucker's got a defense that will come after you, though.

Yeah, Tucker, very impressive club as well.

They have two consecutive shut outs in the playoffs when they blew people away.

And also, don't forget, they've got some athletes going to some big time schools.

We'll get into that.

And a side story that may be the biggest in the entire playoffs.

That's coming up in a second.

As Tucker and Statesboro have a great opportunity to move on and take on Marist, you saw them get the monkey off their back last night in the 48 semis and we'll see who is going to be moving forward.

Let's take a look at tough states, Brian, John Cooper, Bo.

But John Cooper, he's going to wear number 90.

He's got 117 tackles and one interception.

They're really active, maybe not as active as Tucker on defense, but they are really something and they rely so much on their offense just to pound people, move the sticks and control the clock.

Let's talk more about Tucker Ball.

And Tucker has got some athletes of, frankly, the entire state are talking about impact players.

And kids are going in Division one schools.

And that's one of the things everyone is concerned about in the States.

For us, that is d t McDowell.

Well, Team McDowell is their quarterback.

He really throws a nice ball.

He was committed to Nebraska or at least he wanted to commit to Nebraska.

And now with the coaching, change is also looking at Auburn and LSU and he's in total over 3900 yards for this Tucker squad.

He's really something to go enjoy watching him tonight.

Two way player Brandon Wang, 58, tackles, 15 of them, four losses, seven sacks.

He is one of the dominant players in the state.

Really?

This kid, impressive.

He's looking at Georgia, he's looking at Florida State.

He'll play on both sides of the football.

If you want to see some big time athletes, this is going to be the game four.

It's a four day semifinal game and a lot of stories, including number 20, Thomas Brown, one of the top tailbacks in America, committed to Georgia.

He's been down with a broken fibula.

He is dressed, he is warmed up.

And if he plays tonight, it's the story of the playoffs.

Only 1772 yards shy of a thousand yards when he went down in game number seven.

But they've been able to pick up the slack.

It's going to be interesting.

Dr. John Heisman from the resurgence.

The orthopedic group is on the field tonight to give him the okay or say you can't go after that broken fibula.

Everybody in the Georgia Dome will be watching to see if number 20 Thomas Brown takes the field again.

This is one of the premier tailbacks, not only in the state of Georgia, but in America.

He's set to go to Georgia.

His injury was thought to potentially to hurt a dream season for Tucker.

It hasn't happened.

Lisa Weise has more on this game down on the sideline.

All right.

Thanks.

Take now Buzz Buzbee and Bill Ballard have a history of coaching against each other.

They first met in 91 when Buzz Buzbee was the head coach at Kendrick.

Ballard was an assistant at Lakeside.

It was for the state championship game and it ended in a tie.

Then they met again in 2000 when Tucker faced Statesboro in the third round of the state playoffs.

Now, at the time, Ballard was the defensive coordinator.

That game also went into overtime.

The Blue Devils would go on to win it in penetration.

A year later, they met again at a coaches clinic.

Buzbee noticed that Ballard ran the same five two defense, so he gave us some ideas on how to make the defense better.

Ballard implemented those ideas and.

Well, you know what, guys?

The rest is history and state.

You got to wonder.

Well, does Buzbee be a little upset depending on the outcome of tonight's game, for giving away some priceless tips?

And we're live at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, live at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Steak SHAPIRO and go back to for a semifinal game between Tucker and Statesboro.

And it should be a good one.

Mr.. And it should.

Be.

And there's Coach Bill Ballard from Tucker, and he's really looking forward to this contest.

There's no surprise to what Statesboro is going to try to do to them.

They've got to stop that stop vote states.

Well, at the point of attack, stay five blockers at the point of attack for Statesboro they really tried to pound it well.

Tucker is going to get the football first.

So it's going to be an opportunity to see if Thomas Brown comes out.

Brandon Yano the turn and again after 25 yard line and.

Now Tucker's a ball control offense themselves even though McDowell can control throw it.

I watched him warming up today.

I've seen him one time during the year and he's a very efficient quarterback, can run it, can throw it on the ball.

He's the real deal.

I mean, this kid is a he again is recruited to go to Nebraska, it looks like talking to his coach before the game, Bill Badger.

He's still the go there despite the fact that Frank.

So we'll talk more about that throughout the night.

First 10 to 25 yard line Tucker with the football and down a little sweet pass out of the flat He.

Gets it away zone Alexander cut down after a gain of a couple of yards There's the starters for Tucker Roush, McCain, Stewart, Muirhead and Stephens.

Meanwhile, the skill positions you see Young and Sweat and Coleman and Alexander and Legg at tight end of big time.

And of course we'll talk about Swinton as well.

He is one of the premier players in the state.

James Swinton set to go to.

Harvard and play the wide receiver position second and seven yards to go to.

McDowell under center again is outside across the 33 to the 34 yard line.

Brandon Young with the.

Carry very good blocking at the line of scrimmage, their state Spurs defensive lineup Houston, Mincey, Foye and Dekel because they've got rushing Cooper Etheridge and Watkins in the backfield and then Young and Brazil at the quarterbacks at the cornerbacks excuse don't.

Forget Jay Blackman number 39 as well.

That safety.

Leading tackler of course Jack Cooper 157.

On the year to give us a first out straight ahead.

He does not look like he got it.

Let's go.

They're going to give him a doomsday.

They stack him up pretty good ball.

Looked like he got hit right at the line of scrimmage and they giving him his forward motion.

The ball is over the line at that.

Point and then he gets pushed back and pushes him back on the play.

A couple of names you'll hear a lot of today.

Alex Deco, of course, Leeroy Etheridge as well.

First and ten.

35 yard line for Tucker opening possession of the four a semifinals out of the shotgun formation deep McDowell down back to pass looks downfield and a pass a little bit behind.

Grayson Alexander and falls incomplete the senior wide.

Receiver Well that was an incompletion I think everybody at home can see what type of talent Steve McDowell is because he's got a very efficient throwing motion.

There's a lot of zip on that ball.

Too much for Alexander.

Well, no question.

And this is a kid that can throw it 70 yards.

But I mean, there's a reason why you see his number 28 passing touchdowns on the year 29, rushing touchdowns, 3900 passing yards, 1400.

On the ground.

That's his career, by the way, Tucker.

Phenomenal, phenomenal football player.

The game is straight ahead up the middle and he's got Brandon Young with a touchdown.

He puts up a left tackle 65 yards.

And Brandon Young is giving Tucker the lead.

And that's the last thing that Statesboro wanted to see happen early on, that a simple draw and caught them early, caught them napping a little bit, trying to get their there ahead in the game with Statesboro.

And they hit him with the draw.

And the thing about Brandon Young, watch him here off the left side.

Excellent blocking there.

He picked up 800 yards since Thomas Brown went down in Game seven.

And I was saying to myself, how could the kid have that money?

You just saw what he just did.

Yeah, Thomas Brown did obviously.

Play that first series and may not kick this up and good by Blake Carr.

And when you have a kid like Brandon Young Bo he really has been the key to Tucker.

The kid has been phenomenal.

He's a junior.

He's potentially a big time player at.

The next level.

Well, that drive was pretty efficient for plays 75 yards a minute and a half off the clock, draw fake the pass, spread them out.

The offense was spread out.

And look at this second gear.

What a great stride.

What a good looking athlete Brandon Young is proper for.

But Busby Ball, and that's the last thing you want to see.

You know, Tucker comes in, coming off a couple of shutouts back to back.

They have a lot of confidence.

Many people here around the dome feel like it's inevitable that Tucker and Madison get together next Friday night.

And that would be a mistake to in any way count Statesboro.

They beat where county couple of weeks ago and considered a huge upset.

They were unranked coming into the playoffs.

Statesboro was.

They beat where county 2726 on a missed extra point at the end and they.

Were considered an underdog but must be asked about it.

He said, Look, when you play for Statesboro, you're never an underdog.

I don't care what anybody says.

He has that kind of attitude.

That's where his team plays.

But they're down seven, I think early and it kick us off.

Charles Rock, the return of five tailback across the 15 to 17 and he's cut down there where.

Statesboro will take over and they're fine.

Sophomore quarterback David Cone, 600 yards in the air, seven touchdowns, just one interception.

But he makes this wishbone type offense run with really being smart about who he gives the football to.

He won't run it a bunch.

This is an old fashioned kind of a throwback.

Offense is going to be fun to watch.

Yeah, but he really wants to beat you up upfront, grind it away.

And use some of the.

Fine tailbacks he has in Tampa.

17.

Give it straight ahead to the fullback, Charles Weaver.

He's a58 £225 senior and he is going to be there all night here.

Stays for up front Bo Jackson alone in Palmer Rushing and Roberts.

And here's your backfield.

Roberts Weaver look for Charles Rock Fuller.

Snap second down and eight states draw with the football the blue devils trailing early in this one in the four eight semifinal.

The handoff is outside Brown 1819 yard line Charles Rock gets a down nicely there.

Tackle made by number 29 Mike Compton he's only a sophomore starting at the strong safety position.

BO They just strung this and strung this thing out and headed the pursuit.

Well, that's not the blocking that they want at the point of attack.

That's Statesboro Spurs used to.

And you see the pursuit from Tucker a very quick team a lot of athletes on this Tucker Tucker.

Defense Lang Coleman, Solomon McCain.

And there's Bruce Kerney.

Young and Compton out back a third and seven.

Tough position to be in early.

On for the Statesboro Blue Devils to give it to the outside, it's Robertson.

He gets about two yards and that is all.

And Statesboro will be forced to punt the Tucker defense, which picks a couple of shutouts Bo in the playoffs before getting to the dome.

Certainly looked tough there.

And I notice a couple of in a couple of games that really the defense at the high school level takes a couple of series to get into it.

Tucker came out ready.

Yeah, great start certainly for Bill Ballard and the Tucker Tigers who want that rematch embarrassing Johnny Brown with a punt on the side of his foot a little bit gets a.

Chance for a bounce.

Did he touch it?

Is the question and it is going to be state for football a key mistake there.

I think that was great news.

It might have been James Swinton.

Here it is.

Now.

Swinton was out of the side of him.

It was indeed Trey Bruce who touched the football.

You saw Swinton very upset afterwards, standing next to him.

A huge, huge turnover early on in this football game.

Tucker wants a timeout.

And Mr. Bok, how many times and how many football games does turnovers and special teams play a crucial role?

Right out of the gate.

You have it matter.

Looking for the dagger in your heart.

And you know, when that kid brings that game to the what's happening sideline Tucker that the coach of Ballard will just go crazy if you're not going to catch it.

Clint, get away from the football.

Well, here's the thing.

It takes a serious Statesboro bounce and he finds himself deuce kind of back and into it.

Doesn't get a clean piece of it.

The flex off of Swinton isn't around to help pick it up.

And just like that, no ball.

And now trying to get his kids calmed down.

Huge break for states from early on after going three and out and after Tucker's first possession, marching down the field with a huge touchdown run to start things off.

And Coach Ballard has six kids who go both ways.

First and 1035 yard line by David Collins.

And it looks like there's a procedure that give us to Roberts or they may call that back a 65 yard touchdown run early on is the only score.

Brandon Young, the fine tailback who filled in for Thomas Davis, he got Tucker on the board.

Illegal procedure.

What's interesting about Tucker, so far we've seen.

False start on.

Offense.

First down, we've seen a couple of different defensive fronts from Tucker.

We saw a four man front on the last series.

Now they're showing a three man front.

First and 15th in Statesboro, take advantage of a huge opportunity that they have been given here in the 35 yard line.

Give it to Roberts and Roberts grinds his way down again about four yards on the play.

And that's a lot of what you'll see tonight, that kind of an effort just pounding forward Jimmy Coleman, the senior linebacker who also goes both ways.

He makes the tackle.

Two great blocking at the line of scrimmage and that could have gone from big yards and surprised him because Tucker.

So many people in the bottom second and nine throwing the football the gimmick straight ahead to Charles Rock.

Appropriate name as he bangs his way forward there the sophomore gain about two on the play that'll bring up a third and six for the Statesboro Blue Devils.

Another third and long situation.

Not where you want to be when you have this type of offense.

No, but once in a blue moon, they'll throw it.

And if he's got a chance to throw it, it probably is now, because they're really inching up toward the line of scrimmage.

Charles Rock's numbers for.

The year 137 carries.

You see it, nine almost a thousand yards for that fine look at sophomore Collins going to throw it He's got a man downfield in the other throws him David Cole a little play action roll out.

He's looking for Xavier Jordan to the 5 to £172 senior and was not able to connect looks like an elbow he may have stopped.

Yeah, that's what Coach is telling him right there.

He said, Why'd you stop running?

I mean, that's a cardinal mistake for a wide receiver.

We've seen the cornerbacks do.

We saw it last night at cornerback stop.

But wide receiver, you keep running.

Look at coaches ranting and raving about that.

Just run the route.

Wow.

I would not want to be on the other side of that conversation on the wrong side.

It, I should say 43 yard attempt.

Zach Sanders, he is a junior.

Under £47.

Yeah, he's not playing on the defensive line.

Here he is with a kick coming up and there's a time out there on the play.

Referees want to find out what's going on.

Leo Again.

On offense, Coach Busby.

Mr. Brock Those who know him, he is a.

Controversial figure and one of the best high school coaches around as well.

Not so much controversial as he is.

We're going to do it my way and this is the way we're going to do and not going to deviate from it.

Some people take exception to that.

I should say this.

He's a big personality.

You're controversial and he's had great success, already won two state titles at two different high schools.

They will now punt to go.

The field goal opportunity.

Pretty good punt if it gets a good roll and it does and it's got to be marked down at the one yard line and obviously great ball coach buddy Lonnie Brown.

Great job there by that young man as he puts Statesboro in great shape as he gets the roll he needed.

Heads up coaching call from Coach Busby to take the delay of game, give his punter a little more room and they end up downing it on the one.

Lonnie Brown, a freshman.

Bo, how about that?

He'll never forget this day in the dome.

Well, you'll have four more years of that kind of three more years after this.

So Tucker survives the turnover.

Their first trip ever to the Georgia Dome so far has been a pleasant one.

Seven nothing.

The score 658 to go we are early first quarter to give is straight ahead to Brandon Young.

Last time he touched the football he just happened to go 65 yards to give the Tigers a lead.

He's got nothing there.

It'll bring up a second and eight situation.

To tight ends that time.

Your power formation for Tucker.

Deep McDowell, the fine.

Senior quarterback, has brought.

Tucker to the Georgia Dome an impressive resume.

And now looking to get them out of their own end zone right here, he'll roll out the right and the little gap there.

And then his cut down on the play.

Corey Rushing, the sophomore.

Impressive look.

It comes up, goes the gap and lays some lumber on McDowell.

And the defense that stays growth goes there the defensive line look at them they look like they're doing a warmup drill.

And before the game, just everybody working down the line and getting their feet up, keeping their feet moving, getting their shoulder pads squared.

335 TUCKER Now, in a situation where if they can't convert here thanks bro.

We'll have the ball with good field position and a chance to once again try to take this came up down low and out he's a little seen but it is closing quickly and there's a great shot there by number nine, John Cooper, he.

Is able to be a player on defense.

He comes up and makes a big time hit and look at him above a kid who's a senior and wants nothing more than.

To get something done here.

And that makes 118 for Jack.

We featured him in the open and watch JOK move to the ball big guy look at him.

Big rangy linebackers, slobber knocker type of guy.

Treveon Foye also stepping up He is a junior in a lot of juniors and sophomores playing on states.

Broke in meaningful minutes.

Tucker of course, with their skill positions, some seniors obviously Thomas Brown was a senior, but it's Brandon Young.

The junior has been such a factor.

He'll also come out.

He'll be kicking.

He is the second a.

Good call Coach Ballard because they were lining up to block it and Tucker was not sure about what they wanted to do.

So they got him out.

You got your blocking straight.

When?

About your calendar, Mr. Tobacco?

Friday night, January 30th.

It's the return of Georgia's longest running high school sports and academic program prep sports.

But you'll meet some of Georgia's most successful student athletes, athletic programs and much more prep sports.

Plus, returning Friday night, January 30th and 11:00 exclusively on G p TV.

Scary place for Brandon Young.

The gym to be backed up and it was and so and again if there is a block play that states pro athletes they have now would be the time to use it.

Returning to the state's.

Pro Leroy every kick is off the top side of his foot short and it's going to take a big time states for a bounce.

The Blue Devils will have the football in business at the 24 yard line of Tucker.

They didn't get the block, but they sure did get the punters attention.

That maybe is why he shanked that.

Yeah, it.

It certainly both worked out the decision to not go for the long field goal to punt that football away.

And again, all this has been set up by the turnover off the punter Tucker.

Here it is again.

He had plenty of time there.

But really, I mean, first charging on a kick and seeing the ball spotted.

A little bit of pressure by Grady Young, the junior.

But for the most part, that was just not a very good kick for.

For that young man.

Brandon, you first attack pitch goes outside, Tobias Roberts and he is cut down on the play.

Impressive job stepping up by Brandon Wang.

You'll hear his name quite a bit throughout the.

What a fine tackle.

This is a picture perfect tag Logan said the blocker boom tremendous plus second and.

Eight Statesboro blue devils have gotten virtually nothing against this Tucker defense and look at Brandon Lang all time sack leader in the history of Tucker and he does a lot more than sack the quarterback he is all over the field.

Anybody that's got to worry about straight ahead, run off left tackle for Gavin McCullough, who had a huge game in the first game of the.

Playoffs, rushed for over a hundred yards.

He didn't have much.

They are trying to run behind Leon alone.

And and Terrence Jackson couldn't get much there stepping up and making the play.

Jimmy Coleman, who also plays fullback and I think a lot of these Tucker kids vote two way players.

Yeah and that and that may be a factor.

This is a close game.

We sure will.

Right now, Statesboro can't get under Tucker.

They can't move them off the.

Line of scrimmage.

Third and seven again, a third and long situation to hand off to Tobias Harris.

He breaks the tackle and it looks like he's got the first down straight ahead there.

And finally, a the first first down of the night comes by virtue of counter of a Tobias Roberts carry, and they had an opportunity to not make the play there.

Tucker, great run by Roberts.

He is a big gun for them and a key factor look at this season.

He had almost 1000 yards, 15 touchdowns.

Tobias Roberts, an impressive senior.

He had a 6.1 average and that was the first time they carried.

It on this fall behind Collin, it's due to Roberts.

Roberts Cross the ten out of the six.

And again now seeing a little bit of what Brandon.

Palmer, the Center and Chris Roberts, the right guard could do.

Trade whistle makes the tackle on the play.

No, don't forget, with six guys with Tucker playing both ways, maybe, you know, they've been on the field quite a bit now, so a little early to start.

Worried about that.

Now, these kids have been doing this all year long.

And again, think about this defense, both consecutive shutouts and the last two weeks of the postseason.

Yeah, that's what that's what they're.

Playing for right here right now.

Second and three, which ball formation behind David Cote gave a straight ahead to Roberts and again.

Very effective running behind his big center Brennan Palmer £230 sophomore and a sophomore.

I helped set up Tobias Roberts down to the two yard line, and this is exactly what Buzz Buzzy wanted to see.

Take advantage of the field position.

Start to assert yourself offensively.

Use that offensive line.

By the way that Simmons on the nose for Tucker is only 561 86 he high jump six eight.

Third down to the one yard line David Paul trying to help his team get in here give it to Roberts cut down there nicely Great penetration by the Tucker Tigers and they'll have to try it from second and goal Brandon Lang the guy.

That we've mentioned and we'll continue to mention comes up and cuts him down.

That Hamilton Simms right there.

You see he created a pile, got underneath the Tucker offense and got underneath the states where offensive line little bitty guy that just as.

All athlete second and goal from the one the blue devils trying to cash in here at the Georgia Dome in the first quarter looks like an audible David Cole may be changing the play wishbone formation behind him.

The handoff goes the left side in touchdown Charles Rock.

The sophomore are.

Going in off the left side and the.

Blue Devils cash in eventually on that big turnover.

Have a chance to make it seven apiece.

Great audible he just flip flop the call Tucker was strong to the left side he just flipped it over came back to the left side.

To his own left side.

Yeah.

Great move from the string.

Greatly back on the play by Charles Weaver the full back and that kick is up and good seven seven the score and whoa again that turnover didn't cost him the next possession but it changed the field possession game and eventually state it.

Yeah he got the great punt down to the one yard line.

Great call by Coach Busby to take the delay and give his punter a little room to what would they do?

And they downed it on the one.

Yeah.

And you know Beau that coached up coach Ballard at Tucker who is trying to give Tucker their opportunity, the state title, the they really needed to take advantage of what their defense did early on and unfortunately weren't able to do it.

Here it is.

Seven plays, 24 yards, three and a half minutes.

Their first appearance in the dome, they did not seem flustered initially.

But you let a team like State's Pro get an opportunity like that.

They're going to cash in and we got a seven, seven score a minute 12 to go in quarter number one you're watching TV semi final action over the for a championship round.

Winner travels to Paris next Friday night across the 21 yard line Mike Compton also plays strong safety.

And returns kicks he's knocked down there and while we have the opportunity, congratulations once again to the Marist Club Warrior Eagles.

Last night, Beau, who stepped up and really had a phenomenal game, Sean McVay and a lot of those kids been waiting for a moment like that.

Yeah.

Had a big crowd here in the in the Georgia Dome first trip to the final since 1989.

They're excited that they have.

Got a great tradition of football.

They needed to beat Thomas County Santorum.

Last night they did a graduation to an entire country tied to first and ten handoffs comes across the left side of.

Brandon Young gain of about four on the play the junior getting a little bit of daylight and then Statesboro stepping up and making them.

Like one state's woes.

Got to account for him because you saw the long speed that he has but can't give him any room, can't get him in space.

Brandon Young, when Thomas Brown goes down, really was counted on to pick up the slack.

They have averaged a winning margin since the loss of Thomas Brown of almost 34 points a game.

Both they have not.

It's defeat and that's an understatement.

And he's only a junior.

Yeah, but they love to have Thomas Brown of Westbrook provide that information in trouble and cut down deep.

McDowell sacked on the play.

Brad Mincey, the.

Senior £234 defensive.

Tackle.

Talk about a well-coached team.

It was textbook.

It looked at the line of scrimmage, the pass rush, and they were three deep there with two receivers for Tucker and there were three defenders back there and nobody was deeper than the last defender.

And how about the pass rush when he just squared up?

It was able to take on the tackle, didn't go for any jukes or anything, just they had penetration and then they had contain well there was no up the ball fake.

Did not did not faze the Blue Devils and Statesboro now looking at third and 16 for Tucker welcome back to TV coverage of the semi.

Final for a matchup seven seven back in the dunk coming up welcome.

Back to the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

My name is Steak SHAPIRO and Bobak from Atlanta's sports leader.

Sports Talk seven, nine of his own radio right here in Atlanta.

We are thrilled to be lucky enough to be working with TV and a part of what is a great tradition of high school football and a great legacy of covering the two days here at the Georgia Dome.

And thanks for the opportunity.

And hopefully if you're home on a Saturday night watching your school or getting ready to watch your school, you'll sit back with us.

Bo, grab him.

Class of Sibley, open up a cold beer, whatever it might be.

Enjoy.

Relax.

Sarsaparilla for some fun.

Whatever it might be.

Third and 60, it's Tucker State's Brooks seven seven.

After a quarter D McDowell.

Out of the shotgun formation feeling suppression goes across the middle and it is cut and then eventually cut down.

Gray zone.

Alexander Oh, I'll tell you, the more you watch these high school games, both the level of hitting the size, the speed and we're watching the replay.

Ray John got absolutely stuck right there going over the middle.

Yeah, look at that.

That's a textbook tackle right there.

And talk about the delivery of the ball D Deep McDowell again once again give themselves a little breathing room here and try to change this field position advantage which has been Statesboro.

Adam Newburn with the tackle much so good job right there Tommy Watkins D McDowell will kick.

It he gets up at one to the 48 yard line cross the 50.

Latavius I am sorry.

Jerry in Black, who also plays free safety, gets a few yards on that play.

But once again, the Blue Devils controlling field position and the key was their defense, both holding Tucker to a three and out.

They get the big sack a D McDowell and now they take over first and.

10 minutes to go in the second quarter.

Shotgun formation behind the sophomore David Cohn calling the hand up straight, middle.

Tobias Roberts bangs his way through a gain of almost seven on the play.

And that offensive line that that old time throwback pounding style of Statesboro started to become very effective.

Look, Bo looking to run straight ahead.

Yeah you notice that state's growth playing at a faster clip now in that first series, Tucker really looked as though they were quicker to the ball states where was filling out their offense and now they're quicker.

They've got a different gear.

They're real, they're supercharged.

Now that they're in this football game.

Okay, Andrew making the tackle on the play.

He also plays offensive line.

That's where he can be effective sooner or later in his game around the outside.

Great stuff.

Great job breaking tackles.

Him working his way down.

Charles Rock number 37.

Bo They had him for what looked like either a.

A loss of that was Andrew McCain of the 50 to Tucker that really had him and he was able to squirrel out of that out of his.

Grasp watch how many tackles he came on.

He had him.

Yeah.

McCain looked like he had them wrapped up.

And then a number of guys on Tucker running around trying to make a play and nobody could do it first.

Ten straight ahead.

Run by rock.

Looks like he may have a hold on the play.

But what about that, though?

You know, when you look at the Tucker defense and one of their key guys is Andrew McCain.

He's the inside linebackers, the senior vote, but he's also playing left guard on the offensive side of the football.

So talk for a second about what that you know, what kind of disadvantage is that for Tucker?

Well, he puts him in.

You know, you've got to bring in the kid that.

On the offense.

Repeat first down.

That doesn't have as much experience.

Here's the center.

See him get them wrapped up there.

That's Brennan Palmer.

But Brennan Palmer has got them all wrapped up, I believe Lewis Hamilton finished a little bit.

He got little bitty guy.

How about that?

We're going to call him tonight.

All right.

The handoff straight ahead there.

Charles Rock trying to get.

Back to the original line.

It's been two games, about five on the play ball.

You were talking about trying to go both ways.

Yeah, trying to go both ways.

And then you get involved in the action.

You you run the defense, you're running sideline to sideline.

You never get a breath.

Now, all of a sudden, you have to come back on offense and and make a play and be as fresh as you were.

And it's very difficult to do that.

And McCain doing that.

And they've done a phenomenal job.

These guys on ways.

And McCain has been one of their best linebackers.

But again.

This is a big catch he's going to face tonight.

Charles Rock again with the football.

Let's a little listen to the pads mashing each other, gain of about two or three on the play.

And once again, states for the Blue Devils find themselves in a third and long.

Mike Compton, the fine looking sophomore, is strong safety came up and made the play to go down at least a ways for a second ball.

She's down the sideline.

All right, sake.

Thank you.

Now, the one thing that Bill Ballard was concerned about, the states for his offense, he said there's nothing fancy about them.

But they beat you up physically by wearing you down.

They're very patient.

They take your time.

You know what?

That's exactly what they're doing.

This little yard, little yard, little yard stake.

Back up to you.

David Cone down the sideline.

A great kind of risky play.

He hit the football.

They was supposed to produce somebody downfield ball.

Nothing open except a sideline wide open for cone to run down watch the play Great ball fake Tucker seems to bite on it Nothing there for component He takes off.

Hides it behind his hip It looked as though it was just a tremendous ball.

Fake cone does not run that often.

He's a66 £175 sophomore and cook.

Totally fooled.

Tucker, if you watch Georgia and Georgia Tech a few weeks ago.

David GREENE had one of the all time plays very similar to that one handoff is outside.

What is looks like his first carry the night for Statesboro that's number two Nick wedlock he's a junior and he gains about two yards on the play.

Well, you can see, as Lisa was talking about what Coach Busby is trying to do, just wear you out.

Just look.

Around you and pound you and.

Pound.

And again, this defense been on the field a long time in this early going Bo and and it's starting to take effect it's been a couple now of third and longs for the Blue Devils have converted which you know are back breakers for Tucker second.

And eight ball in the 15 yard line called hands off again that four can we just mention and Nick when low.

Gets it across the seven down to about the six yard line and all of a sudden this what we're talking about a fresh body.

Trey trained twice making the tackle, but this kid making his first two carries the night.

Bo comes in, went low and he's very effective.

He sure was at Leon Lennon there.

They're number 54.

The left guard was really quick off the ball.

It almost looked as though it was a false start.

But he just he was very quick.

Tonight's game, by the way, can also be viewed live.

Guys on the GP TV internet site w w w dot GP dot org.

It looks like those people know about the excitement behind that website.

Just follow the links to connect to the game.

All the games from the Dome this weekend will be archived and available on the g tv website as well.

That's w w w that jgb dot org.

Yes indeed he did.

He so he said in the second quarter you're watching the four a semifinal matchup between Tucker and Statesboro, Steak SHAPIRO and Bobak.

Very excited to be watching two of the fan programs here in the state of Georgia.

And for the Blue Devils, a chance now first and from the.

Seven, this is.

Mano a mano, boys.

You know, for the most part, what Statesboro is going to do here, this is an opportunity for Tucker to try to cut him off at the pass wishbone formation behind J.B. Carter.

Give it straight ahead.

And Charles Rock.

And Rockets down to the four.

Is there ever been a better name?

Maybe for a fullback bowl, but for a tailback fullback?

Charles Rock.

No, except Chuck Rock.

Hey, Chuck Rock.

With Chuck on the right.

Chuck, you.

Well Chuck Charles Rock really should be more of a tail, a fullback with that name than a tailback.

But Tucker staying in that three four they also to run a43 I'm surprised the creeping closer to the line of scrimmage.

Rock having a good night they're.

40 yards on the ground.

Give it to Roberts and he is right at the one half yard line.

If that.

Tobias Roberts, Andrew McCain it was battling like crazy out there.

And Kareem James, the two senior linebackers trying to hold him off.

But not here on goal line.

But if I was Coach Ballard, I'd be tempted to shoot the gaps for more people in the line of scrimmage, kind of settle out a couple of these plays.

Third and goal, they're about a foot away from taking the lead here thrown under center again the Roberts touchdown out Statesboro and that wasn't complicated a little bit of trickery on that ball fake but for the most part ball was going to line up and ram it.

Down your throat into the.

Dip.

That's what they did.

And it's becoming too easy.

Snake remember how active Tucker was in that first series?

And now they look a little soft up front.

Zach Sanders will try convert the extra point.

The Blue Devils will be able to cash in with a.

Seven point lead and they knew.

6 minutes, 36 seconds to go, quarter number two.

And let's look at the replay.

They use that left side and a super by Roberts he's great around the goal line well let's continue to mention the kid Charles Weaver.

He's a senior full back ball.

And Weaver really has been the key and a number of their big runs, especially the goal line.

Charles Weaver, we've always talked about what a great fullback can do, and that's a great example of.

Well, you saw him right there and he got a piece of that tackler and that was enough.

That's all he needed.

Look at this.

Ten plays, 49 yards, five and a half minutes.

Now, that's controlling the clock and moving the sticks.

Very impressive performance by the Blue Devils.

As we look back now, think how many times it took the ball.

If you think about it, they've not had much offense.

Now they have it in their first possession and it turned out exactly the way they wanted.

But It took the big run to give them the lead, otherwise they have not done anything sustained.

And there is definite concern by Phil Ballard over on that Tucker sideline right now.

But a long way to go and Tucker finding themselves in position, they have not been in very often this season, 14 seven states, 636 to go quarter number two of the four eight semifinals here live from downtown Atlanta.

And Statesboro has two complete units.

They don't have anybody.

That goes both ways.

Brandon Young already had the touchdown and the 35 to 20 5 to 27 and he's knocked down there.

And that's where.

Tucker will take over.

D t McDowell will be under center.

But first, let's turn our attention to the very glamorous Lisa Weise down the sideline.

Why, thank you, Steak.

I try my hardest.

Now, you mentioned Charles Weaver, the senior fullback.

He is one of two space pros players who is playing on that 21 team that won the championship.

And, you know, he is hungry to win it again and he's going to do whatever it takes to lead his team to play again next week.

Steak, back up to you.

Thank you very much, Lisa.

Here we go.

Back to McDowell.

Swing Pass outside.

Of the flat.

A nice game.

First down.

Are you going to hold that football those loose and it's recovered.

Wow.

By James Swinton Swinton of course we talked about him in the pre game.

He is the outstanding flanker but he's headed Auburn.

Yeah, he's got a breakaway speed but watch the football here.

And look at it come out now.

He's surrounded by floor, guys.

Look where he's holding.

He's trying to make a big play.

I know.

I understand.

He's got it out there.

He's going to bounce.

Still wants to make a big play.

The play is over.

Get all you can get.

Put the ball away.

It's all about ball security.

He's holding it like a loafer for patriots.

I like it first and ten at the 41 play action fake go down and out of the 44 yard line Jimmy Coleman making the catch he didn't.

Think it here for coach Hill Brad reference.

No I was I thought we were in the Italian league for a moment.

Second and seven bo not a big gain in first half I think we're trying to do it here is let de McDow kind of stretch his athleticism.

This guy can throw it down the field.

James Swinton, one of the fastest players in the state of Georgia.

You keep your eye on him as we will tonight.

He's number two.

A lot of fans of Auburn watching him.

Tonight excited about the prospect of him playing for the Tigers and giving it to young.

Young across the 50 to 45 in a first down and a big one there, Brandon Young.

Continues to be the workhorse.

He is electric.

Talk about a kid with scintillating speed and.

Yeah, Adam Newburn with a tackle ball, by the.

Way.

Boy, I'll tell you.

Give him some space.

Watch this.

Watch him drive.

Look how quick he is.

We'll look at a rate cut there.

Yeah, look at the cut back.

Just a great job there.

Again, early on, if you just joined us, the story was that Thomas Brown was dressing and warming up.

He's the outstanding tailback, probably the premier tailback in the state.

He has not seen the field.

And it's been no reason that Brandon Young has been outstanding.

The hand down straight ahead.

Jimmy Coleman of.

Bang his way for four yards.

Nice play on first down ball as they continue to move away from the football.

Yeah, you just got to keep them honest inside, right?

I think they've got the opportunity to throw the ball with 516 remaining in this hand team McDowell's really an impressive throw to me.

D.T.

McDowell committed to Nebraska after going to Frank Soldiers Camp I believe in Lincoln had a great relationship with Coach Solis committed in Nebraska.

Since the firing of soldiers says he's still headed there.

Although LSU has some notion of trying to get in the mix as well.

He's back to pass for the flanker pass in the lane.

Granville Johns raining down across the 35 to the 32 yard line a great job there on second down and a little ways to go.

They pick up a first down.

The Roy Etheridge and Grayson Wilkerson.

We're going to play Where to Go.

Coach Ballard, you want to get this kid in space as much as you can, get him outside, run him outside, line them up outside.

Any place you can, get him in space, he's going to create the course.

I'm happy.

I've heard you say that for years about work done on the falcons use find ways you got to give him the football whatever it is, get him on a swing, pass a pitch out, whatever it takes.

And I think they feel the same way about Brandon.

Young first and ten driving on the 31 of Statesboro deep deep McDowell back to pass looking down feels good some pressure and he is hammered there wow.

Eluded one tackle but then Tommy Watkins came up and lowered the boom Watkins to 140 tackles on the year and if half of them were like that, a lot of players in the paint.

Around the state, I think they ran a little stunt on the left side.

Yeah, they did.

They ran a stunt on the left side.

No one was able to pick him up.

Wow.

Bo, Tommy Watkins saw a chance to get a look at the quarterback steering him.

He hit it right in the numbers.

Look at the year he's had an intercept.

Ten and 110 tackles.

And he said his eyes lit up when he saw McDowell out tempo second and 11 from the 32 McDowell will pass he rolls right he looks downfield he throws a cannon tot Brandon Johnson.

The senior flanker with a catch and soon Grady Young on the coverage there.

And he is down on the play and he is banged up.

No.

How about the arm of a down?

Yeah, about 30 yard.

35 yard rope.

Toughest pass to make is that deep out cut and he gets it.

Look, even in slow motion, look at the velocity and how that ball came in there.

They faked it to Brandon Young that time.

Well, great job creating space for McDowell back there.

He had all the time in the world with a little misdirection and it kind of froze them up front.

And now, Tucker, in business, I think both feeling very comfortable.

Throwing the football.

Yes, the clock is moving and obviously that's going to.

Help their running game.

First.

And 1014 yard line.

Statesboro Blue Devils leading the Tucker Tigers 14 to 7.

The handoff is to Coleman and Coleman grinds his way is a good fullback will get some positive yards gain of.

About four on the play.

Six feet 190 He's a senior.

He also Bo is one of those guys who plays on both sides of the football.

If I'm not mistaken, he plays inside linebacker next to Brandon Lang, who also.

Is a big piece of what Tucker's trying to do.

Second and six, the handoff looks like he.

Tripped at line Coleman there.

Work in the fullback and using that halfback as a decoy and basten's fake the toss sweep to the left.

36 Bo what do you.

Like here again?

I think you got to get mix out.

I like the moving pocket or the ah, the misdirection.

Play action.

Somebody create a little more time for McDowell.

Let him have the run pass option.

He's one of the great athletes in high school football.

Well, you also have the option of the slant here.

The slant always working to throw the fade.

They can get right ahead and close to a first down is Brandon Young Bo.

They just went back to the basics and he's running off his left guard, Andrew McCain and his left tackle, Stephen Root.

That's because they're going to go for it on fourth down all this time it was actually third and short snake was third and two pressures.

Time out comes in third and two, a couple of opportunities.

Bo this close to the goal line at the six yard line, certainly for Tucker to be able to run the football and they're going to measure.

Well couple of inches.

Now that will set up the fourth down.

We talked about it.

We'll see what they want to do here.

So when the referee holds up his thumb and forefinger, the index finger.

Thank you so much.

So, you know, as a coach, you know, just a little bit.

In fourth.

And under a yard, another huge play in this football game, Tucker, driving the football and looking to play with Tucker.

Tucker But Tucker, players calling for noise.

I've never seen that for their offensive line yelling for noise straight ahead.

And he's got it.

McDow State High School.

It's not about strategy.

It's all about emotion.

Yeah, they're trying to get themselves.

Jack I didn't know the line needed to be Jackson a fourth and inches but whatever works the offensive line actually turned to the Tucker fans and make noise you know normally you get quarterbacks coming out there trying to quiet the dome.

Regardless, the drive continues.

It's been an impressive one and it's up.

First and goal in the four yard line.

McDowell outside pitched and nothing doing there a massive one on the play.

Say hello to my.

Little friend Jack Cooper.

Yes, indeed.

Josh, look at him.

Come up number 90.

Boom.

That was 47.

Tommy Watkins.

Yeah.

Cooper and Watkins.

Bo, I mean, those are the two guys on defense that are the stalwarts.

I again look for McDowell on some kind of a roll out here or something to create a little more space.

They tried to run it in there.

They tried to the guy, Brandon Young, always been there.

They're a force.

And nothing doing so now second and goal from five trailing 14 seven Tucker with 46 seconds left in the first half I formation by play action rolling right looking for space touchdown and follow in the end zone and it looks like somebody has it it is waiting for a call.

Statesboro State's BO has it.

D t McDowell fumbles inside the one two Tucker players were near the ball and with 31 seconds left.

State's pro has the football.

Cooper John Cooper on that ball.

He dove in there.

He was able to wrestle it away.

Holy cow.

Bo how many times have we seen in a desperate situation trying to make extra yards, try to grind away?

Now the initial, initial he gets by that first hit, but then it was number 63.

And Foye and Tucker looked like they had a chance to fall on the football.

They rolled them out like I thought they should, created some space, the Dow.

The ball, not protecting.

You got to have ball security.

You got to put it away down there, too, Tucker.

Guys there.

One guy on stage for they'll run it straight ahead and it's David Tone.

David Cohen keeper.

And that's it.

20 seconds to go.

The clock will move and Tucker has to feel like they have let this this thing get away from a little bit to crucial turnovers.

They've had three fumbles.

They've lost two of them.

And the first Apple.

Comes to a close and the state small blue devils continue to defy the odds after one.

Half of football.

Doing what they do best, grinding it out and with a touchdown lead.

After the first 24 minutes.

The score Statesboro 14 Tucker seven.

I'll tell you the second half has anything like the first one that the planets spent some time with us 14 seven at the half live in the four eight semifinal welcome back to the Georgia Dome.

The fans are ready to rock and roll.

We'll have that for you coming up.

And we are back here at the halftime of Statesboro and Tucker.

I'm Steak SHAPIRO with Bo Bok getting ready for the band.

That's Statesboro.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's a marching load number.

That's the Marching Blue Devils.

And they are known around the state.

Very impressive group.

The bands honestly have been great for the last two days and we're going to send it down there just a little bit to the band.

Doesn't this?

They believe in music.

They come over my band is what I'm hearing from the truck now.

They're going to get something cooked here in a second.

And a great looking group and a great first half for the Blue Devils.

They lead it by a touchdown.

They are 24 minutes away from a date with Mary's for the state championship.

Let's turn things over to the Statesboro Blue Devils marching band.

You're watching t p TV.

That's the marching logos and.

Hey, hey, you all right?

Other than.

Irony, I think Lisa Weise has a conversation with the man who made that great descent happen.

That's right.

Say thank you very much.

I'm with Daniel Key, the band director for state for a high school.

Very proud band director.

I understand this was a performance you guys recently used to come in competition and you did fairly well with it.

That's correct.

We played at the Coastal Empire Classic.

We competed in quite a and we took second place, falling only behind Perry High School.

And I just have to say, guys are playing the music of Big, Bad Voodoo Daddy.

I just like saying that word.

It's fun.

That's.

That's the main reason we picked it is because it's just fun to say over and over.

Big, bad voodoo daddy.

How long have you guys been preparing to come and perform here at halftime?

Actually started back in early July.

Started started this whole thing back in early July.

And then we've been tightening it up as we got into the playoffs.

Thank you so much sake.

We'll send it back up to you.

Big, bad voodoo daddy.

It does feel good to say the.

Big, bad voodoo daddy.

Yeah.

All right.

I was contagious.

I hope the next two.

I hope the Tucker band's got something fun to say as well.

It's a 14 seven.

We'll come back.

Tucker band taking the field Tucker football team going to do that, too.

They're down seven.

We'll come back in the dome.

Yeah.

And now getting ready to turn it.

And we're back here at the Georgia Dome halftime in Statesboro.

And Tucker.

Let's take a moment here and see what the marching maroon storm, the Tucker marching band outside of the store and see what they have in store for the kids.

All ready.

Lisa Weise down on the sideline and she's going to talk to the man who helped to put that together.

Thanks, Derek.

I'm with Tucker's band director, Kevin Jones.

And I know you have been just excited and anxious to get here as a tucker Tigers have been to finally get to the dome.

Absolutely.

We've been waiting on this for a very long time and we're really excited about it.

And how did they how long did it take you guys to put together your show for this?

This one's actually been pretty amazing.

We with basketball season going on and cheerleading, we got probably like eight or nine basketball cheerleaders and 15 basketball players.

Our band is a basketball team.

It's been a challenge to kind of get things together.

But we put this show together in pretty much about four days.

Are you serious?

And I know you're also excited not only to finally get to play at the Dome, but that your band's got new uniforms this year.

Yes, man, we're really excited to get the uniforms on.

It took us a good little while to get them, but there's the craftsmanship is great.

The people that put the uniforms together have been fantastic.

Customer relations with great.

So when the uniforms came in, the kids were excited and I was more excited.

They were I think.

Now I know that you have basketball players that are also in the band.

Do you ever get nervous that if they get hurt in the basketball game, they won't be able to?

You got to smile back there.

They're not have any players or players.

Besides sit and sit at the basketball games and pray that no one gets injured.

So yeah, I worry about them quite a bit and I'm sure the coaches worry about them on a battlefield too.

So we are pretty intense, you know, so they get out there and move around a little bit and they want us to make sure that they're okay for them to see.

At least two Tucker wins today.

Y'all will get to play again at halftime.

I'm sure it matters.

We're hoping for and we want that rematch.

We want that we miss.

All right.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Steak backup to you, of course, referring to a Tucker loss to Maris earlier this year, 3119.

And Maris is home field right now.

Tucker's got some work to do.

The down 14 seven.

Let's take a look what happened in the first half.

It started out pretty nice for Tucker, but Brandon Young takes it to the house.

Yeah, he just blasted off the left side here.

We talked about his speed all evening.

Look at him.

Hit a second gear.

There is really something good looking, running.

Back seven, nothing.

And then it's time for Statesboro to grind it out up front.

One yard.

Touchdown second touchdown behind the fullback.

And that's that's been their offense watch this fumble here trying to make something happen and T McDow fumble.

Looks like two Tucker players were there but not able to recover it and a huge recovery there by number 90 Jack Cooper rushing yards oh look at total yards in the game.

Yeah, it's total yards, 153 for Statesboro and rather for Tucker.

And, you know, they've got the advantage, only 87 for Statesboro, but they made it count for the field position.

Look at the turnovers.

Two turnovers have been huge.

They they did they touch a punt.

It gets recovered.

STATESBORO They fumble in the end zone.

And basically, Statesboro has taken advantage.

They have ridden some of their big backs.

Of course, they've written the fullback, Charles leaping in front for Charles Rock and Tobias Roberts.

Both kids look good.

The senior Roberts and the sophomore Charles Rock a grind it out.

Penalties have been much a factor.

Tucker doesn't have any but total yards, almost double what Statesboro has.

But turnovers just kill the rushing yards to Tucker's running running pretty well as well.

Here's the good news, Tucker.

Get throw the football and get back in the game real quick and they'll have a chance if they can stop Monday's state's broken football back.

We come back for a semifinal action live at the Georgia Dome, Statesboro trying to go to the state title game.

And Meyers Tucker wants the same thing.

We'll come back and find out how it plays out on TV.

Back at the Georgia Dome here in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, Steak SHAPIRO and Bobak Statesboro leads Tucker 14 to 7 in what was a first half full of some big plays.

Yeah, it really was.

And devastating result for Tucker as he was just approaching it intermission, fumbling the ball into the end zone and states were able to wrest it away from them.

You you're about to score there.

You're about to tie it up.

You're in the game.

I actually thought that Statesboro had a greater margin of time of possession than they have.

It's about 14 minutes to 11 minutes, but it seems as though Tucker didn't have the ball that often because of those turnovers.

Yeah.

And for Tucker, you know, you talk about emotionally going into the locker room.

One of the keys certainly for Bill Ballard is going to be to get his troops saying, hey, look, we move the football and and we just need to stay positive.

And Lisa always has Coach Ballard.

Bill Ballard, I know you guys are driving down the field.

That's got to be a tough way to go into the half with Statesboro.

His defense coming up.

Big like that.

Yeah, that was a tough break.

We've had some breaks tonight, gone against us.

Our guys are playing real hard, though, and I think they've got a great team and I think we've got a good team.

We've just got to come out and not make as many mistakes as half and a good job controlling the ball and moving it down the field and try to get off the field when they have the ball.

We've done some things where, you know, we had the guy stopped and we let them get a big play or whatever.

So we've got to do things that are going to help us get back in this ball game.

We're just down a touchdown.

I told the guys that half.

I mean, we've moved the ball on them the whole game.

All we've got to do is come down and score a couple of times and you know, we can win this game.

So I mean, we're still in it and there's nothing to worry about.

We just got to come out and fight.

All right.

Coach Phil Ballard, thank you so much.

Good luck in the second half, Steak, back out to you.

Great job, Lisa getting Coach Ballard, obviously ball keeping his guys off.

Last night we saw Mario's score late in the first half in a game that, you know, they were trying to hang around in.

It's against Thomas County Central that tied it at 14 and they were off to the races after halftime.

Yeah you play he was talking to Lisa like you talked with his team at halftime just almost pleading with them and making sure that there's no way they could be down when they come out for the second half.

Did you have to put that behind you and you have to just carry on?

You are moving the ball against them and just now you minimize those mistakes.

Well, they're not going to have the football first.

Football will go to Statesboro to start the second half.

It'll give David Cone a chance to get his big guys involved.

Charles Rock.

And obviously Charles Weaver up front, who has done a phenomenal job blocking, and Tobias Robinson Fine, a tailback, number 30, who is a guy on the goal line.

It's been so tough and you know, this is a team that state pro many people didn't think would be going this far.

They had a huge upset.

Many people felt like it's where county was ranked.

Well ahead of them.

They were unranked coming into the postseason.

They had a couple of losses in a tie during the regular season, but they have put it all together.

They're ten two and one.

They have a lead at halftime here and.

They won a state title here a couple of years ago.

So, well, look at them here.

They're fundamentally sound.

They don't do anything.

What they put themselves in too much danger.

They run the ball, they run it hard and they play tough knows.

This is old school football the way you like it.

But this is old sloppy football right here.

This is pigskin.

I didn't say old timers notice I was careful.

I said old school.

The dean of Atlanta knows what it's about.

And that's bobbled on the kickoff there by Etheridge.

And they are going to be kept out of the 12 as a flag down the play as well.

If this goes against Statesboro, it's everything that Tucker was looking for, which is basically being able to get some field position advantage early in a.

Half, reverse that field position disadvantage that they had in the first half.

And I thought that it was kind of lackadaisical going after that football.

It was, oh, you know, there's no reason that it should be up, you know, over your head.

You got to back up on the ball and catch it in the pads.

I think he might have thought he was in the end zone.

It would be a touchback and not realizing it was just inside the five.

Now a block.

In the back on a receiving team, half the distance to the goal.

First and ten.

Well, you know that that's got to drive.

Buzz must be crazy here there with a touchdown lead and they're kicking off and all they want to do is just try to establish something.

Now they're backed up all the way to their seven yard line.

And you saw that graphic states crows won three straight titles and won a couple of years ago.

Buzz Busby has won a couple.

One of them, of course, here at Statesboro, another one he won at Kendricks.

So he knows what that.

Kind of game is.

All about.

First and ten after seven oh to start the half with him.

Straight ahead to Charles Rock and rock.

Trying to work his way out.

Four maybe a yard, not even second and ten.

Well, that's what Coach Bell was talking about before the game and get five guys at the point of attack they blocked down with the send it to the right side and then they pulled the garden tackle to the left to lead the running back.

And they get that going.

They're going to be difficult to beat.

Bill Ballard knows that defensively this is a huge series for his club in straight ahead.

Now he breaks a tackle.

Tobias Roberts out across.

The to the 17 yard line and just like that they have some breathing room.

Yeah, they do.

And they are very resourceful and tough.

That offensive line is doing a tremendous job.

Trey Boyce making the hit, but they're on second and ten ball.

That's just a huge, huge football play.

It's Kind of a plan to go back and look at films.

You look at your offensive line, you tailback and.

You say you score out high on that one.

That was huge.

Get them out of the room and zone first and ten hands on.

That's Roberts.

Roberts is across the 20 to the 22 yard line right down on the play by Andrew McCain, who is going to have to have everything, basically pull everything.

He has ball in the second half playing both ways and being one of their key guys.

That's so important.

I mean states but he's got to complete units then they don't have anybody.

That goes both ways and that's got to figure in the fourth.

Quarter, western.

15 carries 56 yards already for Tobias Roberts, second in seven, all West Coast formation behind him in the 21 yard line total.

Get to Roberts Roberts trying to worm his way outside the 20 and doesn't have much there and now then Tucker, Tigers have another third down.

Opportunity to get the football back in the hands of their star quarterback, D.T.

Max out.

Now.

It's third and long.

We haven't seen much of that that is Statesboro has been in see if they choose to throw it here I probably not.

When their first three possessions voted a couple of the third and longs and they converted.

The last two of them two out of three.

And those are two big ones that they got late to help keep drives alive.

Tucker been struggling.

145 36.

What's going down with both from inside.

Oh, he gives it ahead.

And it's his tailback, Nick Letlow Low, who is about eight.

What do we got, BEAU?

Half the yard may be shorter.

We went.

To Georgia.

Go mark it out at the 31.

He's a yard short.

It's fourth and one down punt.

When Low came in late in the second half.

Late, late in the first half.

And a couple of nice carries near the goal line, but not enough.

There he picks up five on 36.

Lonnie Brown will punt.

Trey will return and it goes out of bounds.

Boyce, of course, had the unfortunate situation the first half where his hand touched the ball after the bounce state's ball recovered and they were off to the races, getting the momentum on their side.

14 seven Statesboro leading but Tucker holds early in the second half.

Well, is second half.

It's a whole new ballgame right now for them.

Right now, they control the field position.

They've got to take advantage of it.

First and ten.

And quarterback Nick down the senior six foot £194 takes his club down seven out for their first possession of the second half He drops straight back to back wide open man is on and James.

Swinton knocked down after a gain of about five on the play Swinton Bowie yet to get it.

Cook tonight now you you know they're setting him up with those short throws the plane that horizontal.

Game no doubt.

They're going to you're going to pump and go.

Five for six tonight Beau but from modest yards and when you have D.T.

McDowell's arm and kids like Swenton and Ray Johnny Alexander, there's a chance to open it up and go down the.

Field.

SWINTON Wide left eye formation now behind McDowell takes the catch inside handoff across to Roberts Robert Hamilton Sims.

The junior getting a carry the junior fullback not a lot of size on the ball but a nice little job there and.

Then a little counter look to it too.

And Sims as we said, you know, that's the five six, 180 pounder who high jump six eight.

So you know he's got a lot of he's got some live legs.

Yeah he's got a first down so it's first and ten now for the Tucker Tigers trying to go after their first state title.

They're going to have to get something going here.

McDowell under center right formation behind him in motion.

Ray John Alexander.

The handoff is straight ahead to branded young and young is cut down with a gain of a few on the play.

POE The big story early on was whether or not Thomas Brown, the outstanding tailback, dressing for the first time in many weeks, would see action tonight.

We both talked to the coach before the it kind of felt it was more of a decoy than anything else.

Well, just a few yards short of 1000 yards into game seven was he he was really special.

Oh, he's one of the premier tailbacks, America.

He's going to the University of Georgia.

And they thought losing would be devastating.

It has not been the case.

Second and eight on the play catch to pass looking downfield a strike delivered and cut by James Swinton.

Two big time players showing off their wares.

McDowell to Swinton down to about the 22 yard line but it's only a matter of time.

Because the Spurs give it a man coverage outside and I think they have the opportunity to throw it a lot more.

Wow, look at that stick landing on his head ball.

That's why the kid is a one day player.

He's going to Auburn, he's going to play receiver there and at a shot he takes trace and Wilkerson just unloads.

But so does Black the corner.

A little swing pass on the outside.

That was a gain of about seven on the play.

Ray John Alexander with the catch though still seeming.

To say if you're not going to if you're going to not bump us at the line.

And give us five yards, we'll just take.

It.

Just take that.

But they could creep up.

You know, you'll give them that pump, that pump and go and you hope the corner bites off.

And you've got.

Him up top.

They're not even coming up all that much.

Yeah, they will eventually.

They keep leaving that wide open.

Second and three formation behind.

McDowell now give the handoff to him offensively break the tackle he's down about 11.

Yeah.

A little fireplug.

Get those thighs get those big thick.

Thighs and that little body and it keeps him churning.

Setting up a big third down and one trace and Wilkerson making the hit, but looking to break through that big, massive.

Body that the line of scrimmage low leverage he gets gets underneath everybody.

Referee wants a timeout Tucker.

From the what was it call there Mr. time timeout for measurement.

All right isn't it amazing that a young man that size can high jump six eight?

I mean that's really phenomenal.

He is an athlete and they need about a foot not even inches.

You know, that's probably a world record for a man his size.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Let's give it to him.

I think you're obsessed with him.

You've probably mentioned his high jump five times in the broadcast.

We've been on him five, six time.

Jump in, six, eight.

Your obsession with track and field events needs to be real.

Did a third and 113 inches straight ahead.

No question about him.

And now get the first down vote.

How crucial is this drive for Tucker?

They've had the the three and out stop in the first quarter followed by the punt and they fumbled.

They had the big drive which ended up being culminated with a fumble in the end zone.

Here's another situation they hold.

Statesboro Oh, they get the ball back in the drive.

Well, in most importantly, you're also giving Statesboro his offense, which now is on track off the field.

With the goal at the ten perfect goal in trouble here.

Lot of space McDowell five three touchdown.

Wow the kick Golden, Nebraska shows off his athleticism.

Mr. BOK That was big time.

That was.

And you have to look at the right defensive end for Statesboro.

He's going to have to answer the coach about why he didn't have contain.

Because the whole flow of the Tucker offense was to the right side.

There was nobody defensively left over there except for your defensive end is that he's got to contain he was able to get outside where he's right Carl.

Try to tie ball how much do you think he was thinking about that previous moment at the start ahead had to be well you know he looked to me, by the.

Way, there's eight plays, 52 yards, almost four.

Minutes.

I thought that he should have been thinking about I thought he had the ball playing around a little bit again.

Let's watch it again and again.

They roll him right in.

Little look, everybody coming in now.

The whole other side of the field kind of rolled right now.

He goes airborne.

Let's see where the football is when he goes there, man.

Well, I think he had a little bit better protection there both too.

And I think he had to be saying, look, you know, I got plenty of time to get in the end zone, even if I'm knocked out the one half yard line makes me hold on to the football.

Yeah.

Good job.

That did.

He did a good job.

Let's watch another angle.

Great work by the crew here at GH TV, giving you a couple of different looks here.

You see everybody's out on the right flat and he just goes the other way volume.

He takes it down the left sideline and watch the athleticism.

This kid, by the way, is being recruited and going to Nebraska as a quarterback and the Cornhuskers.

Bo, they fired for excellence.

They want a more wide open offense.

They want to get back to a guy that can throw the football.

Doesn't he play right into their plans.

Down the line?

Well, that's why he's also looking, though, at Auburn and LSU right now.

I got the sense talking to his coach that he's going.

To go to the press, but that ball's over.

Charles Rock's head and state's pro will take over, tied.

At 14 with 554 to go in the quarter.

You know, I know it was in the paper today that he's decided that after the playoffs he will talk to some other schools based on the decision with Frank Solis.

But I think talking to Coach Ballard before the game, he said he's still committed to Nebraska.

That's neither here nor, there what's here is a 14 all tie with 554 to go in the four a semifinal game here at the Georgia Dome with.

Two impressive programs battling it out for the chance to play Marist next.

Week for the state championship on Friday night, David Cone under center wishbone formation find it give him straight ahead and pound and.

By Charles Rock.

Now Statesboro is going to reestablish that bone again it just didn't use the clock.

It was taking this wishbone.

It's an older it's an old fashioned wishbone in the sense it's not one where David Cone will carry the football.

He is a six, six sophomore, but he doesn't really carry the football very often.

Well, he's just going to decide which one of these guys gets it and.

Very often you get inside handoff they blocked tremendous for him up front hall now the handoff to rock rock make the tackle cross the 35 and he's out of bounds at the 38 yard line and.

That's what we're talking about.

Both he's driven out of bounds by Trey Brees, but that blocking up front really came in the tailback anyway.

JOB Yeah, that.

Was a great lead block by Charles Weaver.

And then you see the red headed him doing the rest of the day to get the shrug off that tackle because he had.

BLOCK I had a piece of that tackle.

But then Blease brings them out.

And by the way, David Cone doesn't run the ball because he runs after every play over to coach coach Busby gets the play, fix it back.

Colton Rushing By the way I want to mention to him the fines.

One in £45 senior great block on the play first and 1039 yard line handoff is up the middle ball is loose and recovered there David Cone Tobias Roberts lost it.

David Cone recovered.

No, he had it.

The whole time on his hip.

He faked us out.

He faked the camera karate, faked the whole everybody up here.

And they were looking again to do another loose play.

But look at that play by number 19, Brandon Lang, the defensive play of the night before he was involved.

Well, Cohn lit the part of the ball just to nose the ball, sneak out on the right side.

He saw it and took off again.

A huge play for the defense of Tucker second and 17.

Not a good spot for Statesboro here.

Come back to Park.

Looking down on a strike and a beautiful throw and.

Catch there Xavier Jordan the 510 senior with the catch but states bro to third and five.

Police out there again it looks as though job control David can throw it a little bit yeah David.

Brody nice job for your six six quarterback.

This kid's got another couple of years to really get bigger and stronger.

He's only £175.

And Cohn takes a big shot there.

But look at that.

He's under pressure neath it to a tuck.

He's trying to soften up that Statesboro offense.

Nick Gray here third about six to go Konate chase it through to the turf back to back Huge play by the defense brand in length playing both ways and making it happen well after the fake.

The running back is going to become a blocker and he doesn't hear they're able to just break through there and bring them down.

And as a sophomore has not seen too many of these situations.

That's Brandon Lang Lang Lang.

Playing tight.

End as well.

Connors recovered a sweat and he's down to 29.

Brandon Lang Bo is a18 player.

He's looking, I believe, at Florida State, Georgia.

He's a kid with huge abilities.

He's playing on the offensive line.

He is a dominant player on defense.

And he made two plays right there both.

And frankly, if you're going go to a state championship game, you need a guy to make plays.

You need your best players to step up.

He did go above playmakers in the Big Ten level.

He showed that little into the football and that they had him drilled.

David Cohn and then controlled another ball fake and he was there again.

Outside linebacker.

308 to go first and ten in the third quarter actually first and ten Dow heads up straight ahead gain about four on the play it goes to Brandon Young.

Tucker feeling the momentum come back in their hands.

Mr. Bock I think so.

Steak, it seems though, that way seems to be a little more spark in their step.

They seem to be getting after it a little bit more.

And I think that Brandon Young, even if you're a grow pro, you have to be very careful.

Don't let him get a step.

Total yards so far Tucker continues to lead hundred and 96 to win 20.

Two states but he'd get a few yards in his half.

But he's not here today.

Information behind the down and down fakes the handoff.

He will roll right.

You look field right over the middle drops.

Oh baby to Vernice to very carry the junior nothing but daylight in front of him for the most part is about 15 yards away from the safeties.

What had more yardage to go down field?

Look at that ball.

Nobody even in the picture.

Yo McDowell You have to turn a little bit to have to get that started.

Run it.

But you have to you have to put that away before you think that's a very catch when you're a head.

Coach, if you wait all day to call the right play at the right time and you call that play and it just opened.

Up for you and you didn't convert it, that's a killer.

14 out there 36 back the pass again to the down Trevor McDowell off the football got.

It looks like Tucker has recovered and it's a fourth down fumble recovery by Clay Muirhead, the answer was Will Stewart.

Maybe he may have picked it up.

Somebody right here comes out.

Yeah, trying to do too much.

And now Will Stewart.

If he came comes outs.

Oh, just wow.

At that point he just had to get on it.

Let's do it with a recovery and Tucker one guy short in their putting formation and they'll get ready.

To punt it away so they don't take advantage of a big defensive stand.

McDowell will kick it and it is a kick recovered at the 40 there.

And that's going to Leroy Leroy Etheridge.

But I'll tell you what is going in.

That is good field position for Statesboro late in this third quarter though the Blue Devils holding their impressive.

Yeah they really did and I think that they couldn't get a return of it.

Three The kick coverage by Tucker because they had the block on a.

Block was on no question with the jailbreak you guys that was not there was seven Tucker players here and basically Etheridge out at an island, 14 oh first and ten for Statesboro, 131 to go.

You see the graphic in the numbers.

Sophomore quarterback David Cone under center which for him it was going behind him and he gives straight ahead to Charles Rock.

And that's how they love to start every series, giving it ahead to their tailback, Brock.

And he gets about two on the play.

And obviously in the run, the wishbone, everything comes off that fullback dove.

And I notice that Tucker has changed the defensive front now, or at least they did on first down to a four man front.

Second and eight getting to a minute left here and this is to no surprise, going to probably come right down to the wire.

Two great teams.

Battling it out of the Georgia Dome.

Nice and down.

Hands off there.

To Travis Roberts, who gets down to about the 48 yard line.

I'll set up another huge third down situation before this quarter ends.

In fact, Tucker, playing a 52 defense puts more men in the line of scrimmage than I think that suits them better.

They were in that last series as well and able to stop Statesboro.

Is there any reason to think, Bo, they're not going to just go straight ahead here.

The last two times they've tried to get creative.

With with Dungy, do you think they run into trouble?

I think they just give it a Roberts here or give it to General Campbell.

And they do give it to Roberts.

And he is across the 50 to the 49 tackle by Mike Compton.

He is right there.

And the marker very, very close to a first down.

Let's see what the.

Great job that one there got right.

And well.

Again, Bo, you know Coach does a good job of the ball fake but Tavis Roberts is your workhorse.

From out special measures.

His coach Ballard there there looking on and he knows he can't allow them to watch the field either.

Way I mean they don't get it here they're going to go for it on fourth down and better battle ahead.

And as we look at the spot, they are going to be about as close as you could be without getting a first start.

You cannot be any closer than that.

I hate to use the adage, Mr. Bok, when they say it is a game of inches, but if ever that were the case, a fourth down situation, an inch, well, two inches to go.

In that case, you got a six foot six inch quarterback.

That's a game of inches.

Might as well just let them battle forward.

That'll be the first play in the fourth quarter.

And what kind of drama is that going to be?

You'll have to sit through the break and come back to watch.

It's going to be a heck of a fourth quarter stakes for over 14, Tucker, 14 and a fourth and one situation midfield coming up.

You're watching TV, high school football.

We have a 1414 tie here at the Georgia Dome getting ready for the fourth quarter.

We sent it down to the very lovely Lisa Weise on the sideline.

All right.

Thanks.

Take now with me is one and only Thomas Brown at the tailback from Tucker High School.

Now, you got injured in week seven.

Has it been tough for you to be here on the sidelines?

Your team finally making it to the Georgia Dome?

It's been it's really tough for me, but I just had to support them and, you know, encourage them to give them positive words.

But it's it's really tough, though.

It's hard for them.

All right.

Is there any word for encouragement that you gave your team before today's game?

I just told them that we want one game away from going to the state championship as we were working on since last season.

So that's how I read the tone and what they have to say bye to this game.

All right.

Thank you so much and good luck to you next year at Georgia State.

Back up to you.

Wow.

You want to talk about playing a little bit conservative, 14 inches.

They are going to play the field position game.

Well, they try to draw on both sides.

Is Lonnie Brown going to punt it away for Statesboro?

And he's going to be fielded there right through his hands, take possession.

Wow, that's sweet.

Oh, it has been a very tough night for that young man, Trey Boyce.

It's the second time this has happened.

It went right through his hands.

I was just about to say I did not agree with the move.

The play by the teacher, three or ten by buzz.

Buzz, because he's only gaining about 25 yards.

Maybe he feels that this is not able to handle some of the pressure that's been thrown at him tonight.

Oh, you feel awful for him, Trey, please.

But he has really hurt his football team a couple of times tonight.

Tucker was about to get the football back, and here comes the coach.

Ballard wants to talk to his defense.

This is a huge situation right here.

Bo What what what can you say to time out?

Tucker That was the first.

Time out.

That was recovered.

The mufflers recovered by jury and black free safety for Statesboro.

But we're here.

We have to tell him, knows you set your defense and just remind them of things that you've seen on film that they might do to crush up.

Well, I mean, you know what they're going to do?

They're going to pound the football.

They're going to pound it at you.

They're going to utilize that line.

Junior Terrence Jackson at left tackle Leon, the long end, the junior at left guard, Brennan Palmer, the sophomore center Chris Robinson, right guard.

He's a senior and colt rushing the senior right tackle.

That is an impressive group and coach Ballard and those they have moved the football Bo Tucker all night long and now they're in a very tough situation here.

They score first, man.

It's a 12 yard line wishbone formation straight ahead.

Carry what they do on first down and they get some success.

Charles Rock running over to the left tackle.

Against that five man front just a great blocking at the point of attack.

They do a sensational job.

Second and we'll call it seven or a long six.

But again, that, you know, coach Coach Busby, they're deciding to play conservatively and ends up with.

A foot forward that.

Could be one of the biggest decision of this football game wishbone formation behind cone.

Get you to the little scat.

Back tailback Nick went low and went low gets a maybe again a super job by Tucker holding the Fort Hamilton same as we talked about him Bo is a fullback he also happens to be a nose guard and he made the play.

I know that's what I'm talking about.

Can hear you facing third and six.

We may see that counter that we've seen from them with him able to pick up good yardage.

35 wishbone formation.

No they're out of that now.

Nickel back behind give it to the tailback around the three outside and.

It looks like they're very close to the first down.

Nick Whitlow needed to get to the two yard line and again, they just led their offensive line to the left through the pitch, got him out in front.

And Bo, look at the job of the offensive look at.

Georgia's rallying cry for the last two years has been finished the drill how about finish the run he finishes the run.

Charles Weaver the fullback, continues to be a key lead blocker out front and doing a phenomenal job as we have first and goal at the two yard line Bo a gutsy play that they execute on 35 by just using their fullback and their two big offensive linemen.

Out there and let that speed of nick Whitlow take over there on the goal line here first and goal the two handoff is into the end zone to Nick went low yes indeed Statesboro takes advantage of the muffed punt.

And just like that early fourth quarter state throw a chance to go up by seven.

Since Statesboro was in the wishbone business you might as well as TNT Nittany that's exactly what they did.

Didn't do anything sneaky, anything tricky.

They just came right at Tucker.

You've got to think those guys going both ways.

They're starting to take its toll now.

Zach Sanders kept the extra point.

It's good.

And here's the difference, Bo.

You know, they've been pounding you all day with Charles Rock, sophomore.

And we'll watch Red Low here, by the way, on this touchdown run.

They've been pounding all day with Charles Rock, the big sophomore, and, of course, Travis Roberts.

And you got Charles Weaver, the fullback in front of you, but then they bring in a kid that has had as many carries.

And now the quickness factor, he.

Could see it.

You could see the quick respect.

It is not so much in the touchdown as the play.

Before that he was just really quick and just very explosive at the at the tackle low.

And Jimmy Coleman the linebacker for Tucker Brandon Lang Andrew Mckane Hamilton Sims Clay Muirhead.

They're all going both ways, both.

So now you bring in a guy you're going to start chasing and think it's been an impressive job utilizing that aspect.

As Buzz Busby says, I'm going to go with a little bit of a different look here.

You get a little speed involved, and it worked on that 12 yard drive.

Well, now we're going to see Tucker.

We're going to see Team McDowell, see him show up, that they have had plenty of time.

They've had to get themselves to pick themselves up.

A number of times tonight.

But some devastating plays have worked against them.

And it looked like they were getting back in or getting in control of the game.

You know, the fumble in the end zone, the two fumbled punts the defense holds, and they're going to have to pick themselves up again.

They've moved the football.

They know reasonably they can't do it here.

And they've got some outstanding players on offense.

Let's see what we got.

Short kick now it's going to be fielded at the 18 yard line by Swinton.

Swinton outside of 25 break coverage here.

Knocked out of the 25 yard and a chance for McDonald to take over.

Yeah, I'm just thinking thinking back to that muffed punt and you know obviously you've got your most reliable kid back there at a time like this in the big game and all of a sudden he's looking up in this dome and in a different background, a different situation.

And if you're just not able to judge it correctly.

Went right through.

Right through the wreckage.

Right through the wickets.

Is it the pressure of a championship type game.

You know, ten, 20, 40, the first ten, 26 yard line with McDowell looking up the middle, he's going to run the football across the 30, 35.

Oh, man, he's knocked down at the 36.

Get here.

The pads crunching but a gain of nine on the play big time hit by Tommy Watkins.

Good call.

Spread him out a little bit and then call the quarterback draw and take McDonald.

Watch Grady Young run.

A little bit.

Wow.

We saw it last night about the toughness of these kids, both at this level playing a game.

Boy, they just keep getting bigger and stronger.

Second and short, now you've got a chance to do something.

Foxy here if you want to I formation.

Two wide receivers set know go for the first down at home I get it they.

Lose a yard or two on the play.

Brandon Young met by Alex Dicko, the sophomore Bo.

How about a62 £250 sophomore that you're going to have for a couple more years making a play?

There is states where it looks as though they're going to be solid.

For a while I thought they may go play action here, try to go up top, try to hit them on short and long with them all bunched up.

I think they really wanted to be able to move the foot, move the chains and get the first down and they'll have another shot at it.

We'll call it a long 131.

They give the handoff a.

Nice job getting across by Jimmy Coleman, also a two way player.

He's a linebacker.

He's a full back who knows, maybe tapes ankles before the game, too, but he gets the first down.

Coleman A huge there ball and give credit to the left side of the offensive line Andrew McCain ball playing both ways the senior helping out big time.

Now you've got to find a way to get the ball.

Brandon Young's hands, get him in space.

Look for Swinton Beau also to get involved here he's wide right.

Alexander first and ten got back Skip the handoff That's play that went deep last time and a big time rush by Brandon Young Both similar play that went for 65 for the touchdown in front of the.

Draw as they play the draw went for 65 and the draw comes back here and is able to bang them big good vision.

Great vision.

All good backs have to have great vision.

Seems to freeze the defense when it looks like he's dropping back the past here.

Then he gives a little inside handoff and you see the pass rush.

But once again, you're getting Statesboro running up the field and Brandon Young going.

Right by him.

Pass call, great catch and tight ends over Brandon lay down the ten down of the six Brandon leg making plays the defense.

Making plays on offense and Tucker is in business inside the ten great.

Goal great throw excellent catch.

Wow you got to admire these kids on Tucker Ball playing both ways especially that young man 42 yards on the catch.

Wow.

Brandon Lang right there was dragging coming back to the huddle Nice catch Perfect throw and then an excellent run and he just want him to put it away here.

Just two hands on the ball.

Oh, that was so close.

Timothy Brazell kind of lunges at.

Not able to put him down I thought he may go for the end zone after that double tight end formation.

The hands on outside trying to get around the corner is Brandon Young and he's getting very close.

I know about the three yard line.

Tucker keeps answering bow and a chance to tie this thing up.

Corey Rushing, the sophomore, another impressive young man making the tackle.

He's a swivel, hip young man.

We've seen some good looking athletes in this game on both sides.

Hundred nine yards for him tonight at 11 RUSH That's.

Brandon Young having a big night, averaging over or close to ten yards a carry.

Second and goal at the four yard line and inside.

Gain of maybe a yard for Jimmy Coleman and a finger nail biting time for fans of both these schools.

It'll be third and goal.

The clock will be under 7 minutes by the time this play goes off.

Statesboro the blue devils leading Tucker 21 to 14 the for a semifinal matchup here at the Georgia Dome winner advances they'll be at Marist on Friday night.

That state's defensive line still pretty stout.

A huge play in this football game.

The handoff to Brandon Young.

He is not going to get there.

He is down to the one.

Decision time for Coach Ballard.

But is there a decision bowl?

Not no decision here.

The only decision you have is where do you want to run them?

And I think you have to get him outside.

The wide side of the field is to the left, the boundaries to the right.

Get him on it on a on a toss sweep to the left side.

Let him make some.

Good ten by Brandon Young.

Yeah I keep it in the quarterback hands Well I keep it in the hands of McDowell run or pass he is the athlete you're just outside the one you need about two yards here and then roll right he's got a guy wide open touchdown Brandon Lang.

And isn't it fitting that that young man.

Great job.

Rolling right they released the tight end but when they get the sixth he was blocking down and waited one count to count then to release the left side and.

Linebackers are not.

Able to account for him.

Great call by Tucker did not.

Hesitate for a second Blake Carr with a very big extra point and remember it was we're counting missing an extra point that allowed Statesboro to advance a few weeks.

Ago.

It's great to be here.

21 oh, 6 minutes to go, guys.

Maybe the game of the weekend and we've been watching.

Oh, watch the replay.

They roll, right?

They have a lot of room on that side of the field.

And Statesboro a bit both.

Guys, how many times have we seen this pass that takes so long to get there, so long in the air that the receivers locked on to it and you almost, almost lock up?

He's very similar to the Warren Haynes catch.

We talked to him.

About the.

Famous catch at Tennessee when he was wide open.

David Green floated it him.

I'm sure that the ball sitting up in the air the way it did right there, you just say, let me hold on to this.

And then Brandon Lang made the big 42 yard catch and then he makes a touchdown catch in the goal line.

But giving a lot of credit to Tucker and the head, they don't hesitate.

They knew what they knew exactly what they wanted to call on the goal line.

There's a scoring drive.

That plays 74 yards time for 20.

Let's go down at least a ways.

All right, thanks.

Take that bus.

Buzbee told me the one thing that concerned you the most about this Tucker offense was D.T.

McDowall.

He said, Not only can I get run, he can throw.

And he's done both today.

He's ran four touchdowns and he's thrown four touchdowns.

Let's take back to you.

Thank you, Lisa.

Touch back called Chris Rock at the 20 is where state's pro will take over.

Now we're going to see some old timey wishbone football.

Brandon Lang getting pounded there at the goal line on the defensive side, trying to hold Statesboro, then turns around and just makes a play.

Nine of 11, 113 yards.

Good night in the deep.

And he'll go to Nebraska potentially next year.

And let's see what it changes, man.

He looks like a starter.

Does he go?

He has that swagger about it.

First and ten.

Statesboro Oh, run a little outside there to Nick went low and nothing doing there.

Mike Compton the sophomore comes up and makes a.

Hit on that Look at him string it out Great penetration in the middle of the offensive line and then they string it out and here they come look look at him outside working and working and working the work and not letting him get outside.

And that's been what the 52 is enabled them to do.

Andrew McCain also coming up and making a play there.

He's part of the offensive line for Tucker.

These kids are going to be.

Exhausted when this thing is over.

Second and 11 handoff.

Oh, big time hit.

Tobias Roberts is.

Cut down by Christian Solomon.

What count and coming back at them which went for big yards from Statesboro earlier in fact twice early.

Waiting for ball I know that sounds like a linebacker's name.

Was it Christian, Solomon and Tucker with a huge opportunity backing Statesboro into a third nine.

But they have answered it a number of times.

Third and line.

They've been phenomenal on third down tonight both let's see what they have here.

They'll get out of the straight wishbone formation.

Look, maybe throw the football well fake the inside him up in second to play.

And who else would you expect it to be but number 19, Brandon Lay at secondary and Tucker did a great job that was nobody open play.

People watching around the state continues to watch in college and pro football every week get vote.

These are high school kids going both ways these are high school kids playing at the highest level in the for a semifinal game.

And you've got a kid doing everything in his power to this game.

Here's the part.

It's a good one and I don't think anybody's going to go after it.

Stay away from the.

Football, I'm sure.

What's the instruction?

James Swift backs pretty good fun.

It continues to roll and it's going to be down at the 42 yard line.

You know, boy, I think a lot of people are under the impression that this doesn't happen anymore.

The kids playing both ways.

Brandon Lang is.

Absolutely dominating both sides of the field.

So it happens a lot.

Statesboro doesn't have anybody, but of course, we've got those big time athletes.

You need them to go both ways.

You need to make plays.

You just don't have enough people in tough stuff.

You think about.

What kind of shape these kids have to be in, both.

To be playing at this level.

Remind me of myself the first 1023 yard line tucker shotgun formation.

There it is again, an inside handoff around the outside and break.

The tackle ball, blues state ball has it.

Oh, what a killer for Tucker.

Sean Lee recovering the football.

Jimmy Coleman with a fumble.

The big fullback, another one of these kids, another one of these kids who has played both ways and both.

What happened on that play, well, just been knocked out by number 19 by the free safety at 39 rather Jaren black and you see him come over with that right here he comes that right hand in there right there.

Just knocked it out.

And a great run straight ahead to start the possession for Tobias Robert's ball.

How many times can Tucker survive their own mistakes?

4 minutes left in this game.

There's Brandon Lang going both ways.

He's got three sacks looking for him to get another one.

I'm sure about that.

Jimmy Coleman, he just had that fumble.

He's number three.

Watch for him to want to make a play here.

Good match.

Second and three, which calls for Mason and oh, great job up there, Dane.

And maybe one on the play.

Andrew McCain making the hit, Jimmy Coleman after that run, that fumble made a great run out of it, came up limping.

He lives back out there getting after it.

What a ballgame.

255 to go and that that Tucker sideline needs another stop third and two.

I would not expect them.

To go if they don't get it here.

Tucker could get the football back.

But a lot of yards to go handoff ROBERTS And he is a cross.

The 45 by the 43 and it looks like he's got the first down and McCain making a hit first down.

STATESBORO The Blue Devils are driving.

One thing about Statesboro, they run hard.

They run to watch him hit the hole.

Watch him hit the hole quick, tough, nasty, great tackle by McCain.

225 To go in this football game, the four eight semis come.

Down to this Statesboro with the football at the 43 handoff.

To Charles Rock gets about three on the play.

Well, buzz Buzz, open things up a little bit here to try to get in field goal range.

The clock is moving 2 minutes.

I don't think so.

He's got to smash mouth face on Bo and yet he just coming right Tucker he want to give fans.

He may not want to get fancy.

But here's the kicker warming up.

That's Zach Sanders.

He may have a very big night.

Ahead of him one way or another second and seven wishbone formation.

David Corn, here's a handoff that's a major.

Pound up front.

Tobias Roberts I can't say enough about both these teams, both battling this thing out.

Now we're in a third and six situation, nine field goal range at the nine.

And Tucker having kids playing both ways, trying to hang on for their life and get the football back or get this over time.

What a shot that was a hit first by Green James.

Tough, tough football.

Both sides playing third and six there.

They end up trying to get outside.

He's got a block down the sideline and 2015 and Roberts knocked out of bounds at the 14 yard line.

Mike Compton makes the hit ball all night long.

On third down, they made plays.

They did it again.

And I'm sorry.

Charles Weaver continues to be the key.

The fullback.

Mashing people.

Yeah.

He really wants 34 here.

Boom.

And now they were pounding up the middle stakes, just wearing them out, up the middle and then just bounce it outside.

Just a break.

105 yards.

ROBERSON And there he is, right.

Buffalo fumbles on the ground.

Tucker had the football 59 seconds to go and the arm of the team, McDowell.

To various Kearney with the recovery like a gift from the heavens Tucker gets the football back I want to center the football Bo and pound it up the middle.

And Tucker has killed themselves all night by turning it over.

Kareem James knocks it loose and Tucker is in business.

And somebody else got their helmet on the football.

I couldn't tell who it was.

He was in the crowd, but that's what not to lose.

And you feel like states were went to the well once too often.

To Vertis Kearney with the recovery.

That's one ball he never wants to give up they're going to not sit back on this one in the end zone.

They're going for it all.

And it is intercepted right back at the 35 yard line.

Cherry and black coverage.

James Sweat.

And I'll tell you this much, it was a 65 yard throw.

There's only 50 seconds left.

But Bo, what about.

It?

Well, I didn't think that was necessary at that point.

I think he had plenty of time to work the middle of the field.

He was double cover and.

We didn't have plenty of time.

But your 50 seconds, I mean, you know, either you got to give you.

Plenty of time to work the sidelines and march the ball downfield.

You didn't have to go for a home run at first.

I would have run me ends.

I would have run the football is what I would have done.

We might have.

Run it through you.

Plenty of work and a couple of you got new life.

Another risky play ball is thrown.

They want a grounding call.

Say no receiver around, no penalty.

There is David Cohn.

This action is like rapid fire.

Like a pinball machine.

Bill bound going crazy on the sideline saying there was no receiver and that should be intentional grounding ball you're you just got.

The biggest gift you got the football back why would you back a quarterback into the end zone and throw.

It.

I don't know why you had to go for the home run I mean throw a throw one of those sling passes that you've been working all night long, second and 1045 seconds to go in this one.

Otherwise, we're headed over time.

The handoff is up the middle in a nice game or he almost broke it.

Nick Whitlow came very close ball as the clock continues to move, look at how.

Quick and how fast he is at this point in the game.

Winslow They really have a straight block back, right?

I mean, great blocking.

And when Low looked like he was close to actually breaking that thing all the way.

Timeout called by Statesboro.

Give us a chance to catch our breath.

If you're a high school football fan or a college or a pro or just a sports fan, you have to be loving the drama playing itself out right now.

We've got the two guys coming in for the five eight game shaking our heads behind us.

Joe Riggs, look at me.

Can't believe what's happening here.

Statesboro down there with Georgia Southern is playing in the shadow of one of the great figures in our state.

Football figures in be Erskine Russell, Coach Hurt down there.

And I'm sure Coach Kirk is watching on TV.

Hey, coach.

Hey, you doing good looking high school club?

You set up here.

And there and it's no matter what level of this vote, second guessing the coaches is what fans do.

And I think coach Ballard right now ball saying get me to overtime get me to overtime.

And look like Statesboro was going to be heated by of 30 something yarder to win it now they're at the 50 another hand up up the middle and great running by Webb low ball He's coming dangerously close to breaking this thing and I'm telling you.

The Tucker is getting worn out.

Time out.

Now.

Well, they really are six, guys.

They go in both ways and then they're bringing it back, like when love.

Watch the offensive line.

But what you're talking about, watch him just pound him downfield.

Look at that.

Look at that.

Standing.

Everybody up getting all they want when load driving fresh.

That boat you think if they get to overtime, that's the adrenaline will be enough to carry him over.

How do you look at overtime has been a huge advantage for Statesboro with all those guys going both?

I think so.

So yeah, I think definitely an advantage for Statesboro because they've got to complete units, offense and defense matching.

The defense bowl, how demoralizing it is to make that play and say, you know what, we've saved the game and one play later.

You're back on the field.

Exactly.

No break and now.

You're just trying to survive.

They're about 15 yards away from a real good shot and kicking a field.

Goal to win this thing.

Man coverage through the bottom of your screen states for one timeout left and they were going to throw the football down the field over the ball.

Oh, he had a man almost hooked up with Nick.

Whitlow again utilizing that find tailback, a bang bang play.

And I guarantee you that Tucker had their throat in their stomach on that one.

But look at it.

Boy, that was a that was a pretty good throw.

Great call it the toughest throw in the business to make is when the receiver's running directly away from you.

Down the middle is no depth perception.

So you have to just put it out there on the field.

You can't see.

What's also where you get your guys.

You know, looking at the football and get slammed over the middle because.

You got guys coming from all directions, linebackers rising, bus buzzing.

He took a shot.

He came close 24 seconds left.

Let's see if they go back to the air here and they do oh looking downfield fall to flick almost intercepted wow looking.

For Whitlow once again.

Well buzz buzzing 32nd and one in third one goes to the air realizing this is not about picking up first downs.

This is about getting enough yards to give our kicker a shot.

19 seconds to go ball and probably a trey.

Same thing over the middle of the field.

Make a catch.

Get your kicker.

On the field.

Well, they're going for it right here.

Let's see what's in the arm of David Cone.

Action!

A hand up on the outside, 35 and drag down there the 33 yard line.

Tobias Robert's clock will move.

12 seconds to go.

The chains, though, will slow it down as you get a first down to.

The play and right now it's been done 50 yards, certainly clock moving now with 9 seconds to go.

They may try a 50 yards and see if they can all go there looking downfield in trouble, incomplete.

And the question is, will they say 1/2 left or not go?

Regulation ends both.

Mike Compton breaking up the pass.

Oh, I thought maybe if you ran.

About four or five yards, you had one time outlet.

Would you give me a chance to kick a 47 yarder?

Give it a try.

Obviously, he doesn't have that much confidence in Evans in his kicker from that depth, but.

The plate took 12 seconds regardless.

Is there any other way for this thing to end?

What played in take 12 six?

By the time you start the clock after the first down, you lost the 12 seconds.

But there's no better way for this thing to end.

Then go to overtime, right?

Coach Busby obviously didn't want to go to overtime.

What we're going to do now, they've changed the overtime procedure in high school.

It's very similar to college.

Instead of starting though, on the 25 yard line, each team will start in the 15.

We'll put it up on the board here.

We're going to take a break.

Basically, what you need to know, instead of the 25, it starts the 15 in high school.

We'll update you on that.

It will get you to overtime is a hang in there with us for a semifinals going overtime at the Georgia dome.

Tied at 21 and.

Well, we played 48 minutes of football on a Saturday night in the Georgia Dome.

And we're going to play a little bit more Statesboro and Tucker in what has been a incredibly exciting football game, are now headed over time for a chance to advance to the state championship game in Marietta to be played on Friday night.

We'll review the Georgia overtime rules.

Those.

Are you familiar with the college game?

Oh, not very different.

No, not very different.

You start on the 25 and college and high school going to start on the 15 and on turnovers, of course, the ball is dead.

And what this does, this procedure eliminates the old formula of trying to decide a winner on statistics.

Yeah, and that was the old formula in high school.

Here it is right there.

One note here.

Keep in mind, one wanted to play defense like the college game.

Teams must start to take it on.

And that Derrick White wins the toss, which means that states will probably get the ball second here.

To control their own destiny, teams must go for a two point conversion, both starting with a third overtime possession.

So Don't kick extra points for the first two possessions if they choose to bowl once the third one starts up.

And a lot of high school coaches, Bo, have been known to take gambles and go for two, even when they're just by one.

And last year, matter of fact, that's how Marist was eliminated at the end of a game.

They trailed actually, they led 34, 33, and Thomas County Central went for two and beat them 3534 on base.

The last play of the game.

Was explosive, as both these teams have been.

Then, you know, you can expect them maybe to go for it.

Oh, the referees down there sorting everything out.

They're looking they're trying to sort out the situation themselves.

I don't know how many overtime games they've had under these, not to.

Mention the group.

By the way, referee is Norm Smith, the umpires Johnny Wilson linesmen, Woody Street Line judges now Williams back Judge Antonio Smith Field Judge Rank Bonus No gain there early.

Nice play by Jimmy Coleman.

Again, another one of these.

All right.

Sorry.

Trying to get free Jimmy Coleman.

And again, the question is, how much does Tucker have left?

BALL Well, that's the whole thing is stamina here, endurance.

How much can they suck it up?

And at this point, you know, you're feeling pretty good about yourself, tired, but you just sucking it up.

Well, the problem will be is if they're not able to convert something here ball, a lot of these offensive players have to go on the defensive side of the ball and would be a little bit demoralized.

They're not going.

To score in deep.

McDowell The star quarterback needs to make something happen to wide receiver.

Sanogo Take the handoff.

He's going to roll right and look for something deep.

He takes off.

He's at the 52 great tackle there.

Superb job by Brad Mincey, an offensive tackle.

He's a senior in £234 and he just brought down one of the best athletes in the state.

Just a great close on his court phenomenon.

Think of D.T.

had taken an instant earlier he might not have been able to come back inside.

A huge defensive play by Brad.

It's just huge.

You hate to put your kicker in a situation to kick a field goal right here, but you're 30, ten and your first two plays.

Have not gone for anything.

I would keep it in the hands of D.T.

McDowall.

He still is a playmaker.

Can you get James Swinton involved as well?

Hey, go left.

He'll look downfield for the strike.

And that's the man, James Swinton.

And they gobbled it.

No catch.

Wow.

A laser from MacDowell to Swinton waiting for Swinton to get his name called in the overtime bow.

It was right there.

It was a excellently delivered ball and nice play.

It looked like Swinton from here had it.

And maybe we've got a replay.

We can see that from the.

Naked eye on the other side of the Georgia Dome.

At the press box, it looked like he made the catch.

Let's look at the review.

Really tough to not give the kid.

Oh, I thought he had that put away.

Did he know guys in the booth are saying he didn't juggle it?

The biggest kick of this young man's life.

Timeout offered.

By Tucker.

32 yard quick for Blake.

Ha Bo the last thing you want to do is come down on the referees in the high school game.

They've done a phenomenal job tonight, but man, oh, man, you know, we don't have the great replay angle, but I'd hate to take away a first down in that situation, unless you're absolutely sure that kid was Bob on the for him.

Which is amazing because we've had great replay angles whole time.

Let's get to Lisa where she's down on the sideline.

All right.

Thanks, Dave.

Now, both teams have played in in overtime this year.

Tucker did during the regular season in Statesboro, didn't second round of the state playoffs.

They beat where county in overtime with Shannon Fleming Mick's missed the extra point that was a tough game they went on to win it in overtime 27 to 26.

It's a mix extra point.

And you know what?

That was a tough crowd to beat down in Waycross, Georgia, beating where county ranked number two in the state back up Tuesday.

Well, very true.

I mean, when you win game in that scenario, I guess the gods are shining on you.

We'll see what happens here for Statesboro with Tucker trying to.

Go up three in overtime, this would be a big kick.

If they can get it 32 yards, it is up and it is good.

So much pressure on these young men right now, Bo.

I mean, just, you know, it's moments that if it's a great moment you'll have fond memories for the rest of your life.

If you don't have something positive happen, it can be devastating.

And that's what that's what you hate to see.

You don't want to see somebody.

Just a crushing thing like that, you know, we don't.

Want to miss.

Yeah, exactly.

You remember.

You think about the kid Fleming who missed four.

We're counting, but we missed the extra point.

Their season ended.

You hate to see an end like that.

You want to see somebody make a play and a great job there converting on that kick.

But here comes Statesboro.

What do you think?

Is he going to run the wishbone?

Yeah, yeah.

They're going to go for wide receiver spread ball, 24, 21 Tucker a touchdown.

Would win it for the Statesboro Blue Devils eight advance they gave to their tailback.

Charles Rock and he runs straight ahead for five yards.

The danger here, Bo as if they decided run one of those play actions or one of those little Bruschi plays, we hide the football.

It could be all over for Tucker because he got to play the run and you got to just guys up front here because they have that huge offensive line.

They're in the wishbone and they're so good at him.

Second and six inside handoff Great hitting up front Tobias Roberts gets it.

Looks like about two yards on the play third and four Tobias.

Roberts is only six feet £180.

For some reason, he looks like a truck coming at you.

He runs.

He points.

It all.

He really does.

He looks wide he's got big shoulders.

Jimmy Coleman, great job in penetration and pursuit there.

Also Tristan Solomon making a hit third and four.

If they do.

Not get the first down, look for a field goal in one more overtime session.

We shall see.

Again, the handoff inside it is.

Short of the first down.

Tobias Roberts Tucker holds big decision.

For coach Busby.

Wants the timeout coach Busby to this simply but you're so good at running the football you need one yard and if you get that yard, you got a first down and goal about the five, four, whatever it is, yard line.

You know they came up with the great upset kids are not supposed to be here.

Suppose you challenged the guys.

This is it.

I think they go for it.

I do, too.

Tucker.

Let's see what they decide.

Otherwise it's going to come down to their kicker.

I also think, like, you know, very hard to hold the way they did last possession and they may be fake in a week.

Give them the football back.

Are we tempting fate that they're not going to get in the endzone at some point.

They're going for it?

Well, the season for Tucker.

And Statesboro may very well come down to this play.

Fourth down and one.

Do you do anything but run it?

Bow.

You buckle on your chinstrap and you run it.

If Tucker holds him, they have one.

They don't.

And it's down to the two.

Almost to the one.

Let's talk about that.

Left side of the offensive line.

Bell pounded them that running Brennan Palmer at center Terrance Jackson.

They've done it all night when they really needed big jobs.

They've gone.

Left side.

Charles Weaver the lead block and states burrow two yards away from going to the state final great by.

Andrew McCain.

And McCain.

And Tobias Roberts second and goal at the one Tucker has been on the field doesn't matter if it's with how long their defense is and I got a lot of these guys are playing offense too and they're.

Into overtime McCain has been the number on defense in.

On offense is another gift waiting for the Tucker Tigers.

Are the blue devils headed embarrassed we shall find out coming right at second and goal down the knee was down again stepping up and cutting down Charles Rock was Andrew McCabe and man Oh man.

Great penetration by Tucker and Andrew and he plays offensive line folks he's been playing on offensive line all night and look at him come up and help make the play their.

Third and goal 13 inches inside.

The one Statesboro a half a yard away from the win ballgame.

Statesboro is headed embarrassed on Friday night.

The Tucker defense shot in that Tucker.

Defense is still on the field, is still in the positions they were in.

It devastated the heartbroken.

I have never seen a group of kids work as hard as that group, but give Statesboro a credit and give them credit for going to it.

But the kids on the Tucker sideline are still lying on the field in the end zone.

Statesboro going over to pick them up.

What a phenomenal game here in the four race semifinals.

Straight ahead, Travis Roberts doing what he does best.

He's great inside the goal line.

He had a little bit of a hole and he's in for the touchdown.

His power is coming right at you.

They weren't going to do anything different, anything, anything to try to.

Fool you.

What a great football game.

Two great programs and you can't say enough about the kids on Tucker going both ways all night still in the same spot where the game ended.

That's Tristan Solomon, who's made some plays as they shake hands after this game.

I'm glad it ended the way it did both.

It was Statesboro doing what they do best, just pounding the football.

Nobody fumbled, nobody threw interception, nobody missed a kick.

You know, Tucker, frankly, you know, they were going to run out of gas and they did.

Well, they'll be kicking themselves for the lost opportunities.

Take that.

We'll get Lisa Weise in a second.

She's going to have buzz, buzz before us.

They survived the the late drive.

They got a give fumble late and they got to overtime, Tucker, but they just did not have enough.

And let's see what Lisa Weise has with the game winning coach.

Coach, best coach, vice versa.

I don't know what's going through your mind right now, but what a way to win this ballgame.

Well, you said.

You love football.

That was football in Georgia.

It doesn't get any better than that.

I've gone against ball on the ball three times with two overtimes and one time he's a heck of a football coach and I got a good football team.

But I am very, very proud of my kids.

I play their hearts out.

They did.

And I know you and Bill go way back.

And another game that you guys played.

Statesboro and Tucker at seven you guys won in penetration.

That was one of the best ballgames I've ever seen.

But I believe this when he clear that when not I mean, our kids this component boy they've got some talent, but our kids have got heart.

We go back to that comment about people saying that you were an underdog, you shouldn't have wear county and look at where you are now.

Well, you know, what can I say?

These kids and my coaching staff does an outstanding job, too.

And now what we've gone through as as a group has been special.

And I'll always remember this year.

Coach congratulations and we will see you next week in Marist and this for a state championship game state back up to you.

Phenomenal job by coach Busby.

He runs an offense that is as traditional as there is in high school football.

And these kids just their butts off tonight bow and when it came down to make a call on fourth down they made the call and they got it done.

It was nothing fancy.

Blow them off the ball.

Going to be running behind you.

What a great win for Statesboro coming off a controversial week that coach had down then maybe thinking he might not be with them.

Statesboro beats Tucker 27, 24 in the for a semifinal thanks to the whole crew from TV for helping us out.

What's next?

How about another game?

Five, eight semis coming up on TV.

This broadcast of the 2003 GHC football semifinals has been provided in part by Georgia's electric membership corporations.

IBEW Local 613 South Trust Bank Kroger Pure Dodge Dealers of Georgia, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and by State.