Pirates lose in first round of state playoffs!!
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The Appling County Pirates ended their regular season with nine wins against only one loss. With doing so they found themselves on top of Region 2AA along with Charlton County and McIntosh County Academy. All three were named co-champions and a coin flip would determine seeding for the GHSA state football playoffs. Appling County won that toss and earned the right to host the Cook County Hornets who came in at 5-5, the four seed from Region 1AA.
The Pirates would open the playoff contest by kicking off to the Hornets who returned the opening kick to the Pirates 14-yard line. After the Pirate defense bowed its neck, the Hornets were forced to settle for a field goal with 10:17 remaining on the clock. The Pirates began their opening drive at the 29-yard line. Wendell Williams hooked up on a long pass play with Javon James that took the ball inside the Hornets 10-yard line. Willie Wright would take two carries to the Hornet 2. At that point, the Pirates had a delay of game penalty that forced them back near the original line of scrimmage. From there, the Pirates too had to settle for a field goal by Ryne Powers. With 7:36 remaining in the opening quarter the score was knotted at three. During the next Cook drive, they punted the ball away only to have the Pirates rough the kicker and give the ball back to Cook. Later in the drive, Cook converted on several third down and short plays to eventually score and lead the Pirates 10-3. Appling County began its next possession at its own 26. A big run and a late hit out of bounds later, the Pirates were first and ten from the Cook 43 to end the first quarter. After a ten-yard gain, Wendell Williams scored on a 33-yard TD run which was called back for holding. A motion penalty set the Pirates back to first and 25 back near midfield. The Pirates ran a half back pass to Tate Carter and held possession at the 12, first and ten inside the red zone. The Pirates drove to the Hornet six, however came up short on fourth and four to turn the ball over on downs with just under nine minutes until halftime. The Appling County defense held and Cook was forced to punt from deep in their own territory. The Pirates next possession would begin at the Cook County 30. With 7:03 remaining until halftime, a Pirate runner gained good yardage but lost the football, which was recovered by the Hornets at there 15. Cook County ran some clock, however the Pirates regained possession after forcing the Hornets to punt. With 2:51 remaining, Appling County took possession but failed to drive before the half ended. Going into halftime the Hornets held a 10-3 lead over the Pirates of Appling County.
During halftime, both the visiting band of Cook County and the Pirate Brigade treated the fans in attendance to an outstanding show.
The Pirates seemed fired up and ready for the Hornets to start the second half, however after receiving the opening kickoff and making a good return, the Pirate return man fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Hornets deep inside Appling County territory. After a short drive, Cook County added another field goal to lead 13-3 with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. The next Pirate drive began at the 25-yard line. A few plays later, the Pirates were at midfield. With 7:25 remaining in the third quarter, down by ten, Willie Wright would bounce off defenders and end up at the four-yard line of Cook County. A few plays later, Wendell Williams would sneak it in for the Appling County TD. Powers would add the PAT, Pirates trailed by only three with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter. In a hurried fashion, Cook quickly answered the call and scored with five minutes left in the third. The PAT was blocked, however Cook led 19-10. After exchanging punts into the fourth quarter, the big play came with 10:09 remaining. Appling County set themselves up with a good punt return only to have they’re second roughing the kicking penalty of the game. Allowing the Hornets to maintain possession of the ball. The Pirate defense held. The offense took the field with 7:07 on the clock. After another great run by Willie Wright, a fumble recovery by Chris Paulk and a long pass completion from Wendell Williams to Arthur Williams the Pirates were at the Cook 33. Wendell Williams completed a pass to Javon James that took the Pirates to the Hornets 15. With 5:08 on the clock, the Pirates ran a third down play and failed to convert. The apparent third down was apparently fourth down and the Pirates came up empty, no field goal, no TD and no points. The turnover on downs gave the Hornets the ball with only 5:04 remaining and a two score lead. Suddenly the Pirate defense found itself facing a first and goal. On third down with under a minute to go, Cook County punched it into the end zone the final time, added the PAT and walked away with a 26-10 victory.
The Appling County Pirates ended the season with nine wins and only two losses. Congratulations to the players, coaches and supporters of Pirate football. Again The Baxley News-Banner would like to extend a big thanks to statistician Brooks Johnson for providing game stats to the Banner this season.
The Pirates would open the playoff contest by kicking off to the Hornets who returned the opening kick to the Pirates 14-yard line. After the Pirate defense bowed its neck, the Hornets were forced to settle for a field goal with 10:17 remaining on the clock. The Pirates began their opening drive at the 29-yard line. Wendell Williams hooked up on a long pass play with Javon James that took the ball inside the Hornets 10-yard line. Willie Wright would take two carries to the Hornet 2. At that point, the Pirates had a delay of game penalty that forced them back near the original line of scrimmage. From there, the Pirates too had to settle for a field goal by Ryne Powers. With 7:36 remaining in the opening quarter the score was knotted at three. During the next Cook drive, they punted the ball away only to have the Pirates rough the kicker and give the ball back to Cook. Later in the drive, Cook converted on several third down and short plays to eventually score and lead the Pirates 10-3. Appling County began its next possession at its own 26. A big run and a late hit out of bounds later, the Pirates were first and ten from the Cook 43 to end the first quarter. After a ten-yard gain, Wendell Williams scored on a 33-yard TD run which was called back for holding. A motion penalty set the Pirates back to first and 25 back near midfield. The Pirates ran a half back pass to Tate Carter and held possession at the 12, first and ten inside the red zone. The Pirates drove to the Hornet six, however came up short on fourth and four to turn the ball over on downs with just under nine minutes until halftime. The Appling County defense held and Cook was forced to punt from deep in their own territory. The Pirates next possession would begin at the Cook County 30. With 7:03 remaining until halftime, a Pirate runner gained good yardage but lost the football, which was recovered by the Hornets at there 15. Cook County ran some clock, however the Pirates regained possession after forcing the Hornets to punt. With 2:51 remaining, Appling County took possession but failed to drive before the half ended. Going into halftime the Hornets held a 10-3 lead over the Pirates of Appling County.
During halftime, both the visiting band of Cook County and the Pirate Brigade treated the fans in attendance to an outstanding show.
The Pirates seemed fired up and ready for the Hornets to start the second half, however after receiving the opening kickoff and making a good return, the Pirate return man fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Hornets deep inside Appling County territory. After a short drive, Cook County added another field goal to lead 13-3 with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. The next Pirate drive began at the 25-yard line. A few plays later, the Pirates were at midfield. With 7:25 remaining in the third quarter, down by ten, Willie Wright would bounce off defenders and end up at the four-yard line of Cook County. A few plays later, Wendell Williams would sneak it in for the Appling County TD. Powers would add the PAT, Pirates trailed by only three with just over six minutes to go in the third quarter. In a hurried fashion, Cook quickly answered the call and scored with five minutes left in the third. The PAT was blocked, however Cook led 19-10. After exchanging punts into the fourth quarter, the big play came with 10:09 remaining. Appling County set themselves up with a good punt return only to have they’re second roughing the kicking penalty of the game. Allowing the Hornets to maintain possession of the ball. The Pirate defense held. The offense took the field with 7:07 on the clock. After another great run by Willie Wright, a fumble recovery by Chris Paulk and a long pass completion from Wendell Williams to Arthur Williams the Pirates were at the Cook 33. Wendell Williams completed a pass to Javon James that took the Pirates to the Hornets 15. With 5:08 on the clock, the Pirates ran a third down play and failed to convert. The apparent third down was apparently fourth down and the Pirates came up empty, no field goal, no TD and no points. The turnover on downs gave the Hornets the ball with only 5:04 remaining and a two score lead. Suddenly the Pirate defense found itself facing a first and goal. On third down with under a minute to go, Cook County punched it into the end zone the final time, added the PAT and walked away with a 26-10 victory.
The Appling County Pirates ended the season with nine wins and only two losses. Congratulations to the players, coaches and supporters of Pirate football. Again The Baxley News-Banner would like to extend a big thanks to statistician Brooks Johnson for providing game stats to the Banner this season.