Pirates run over Yellow Jackets

By Cole Gardner | August 29, 2025 |

On Friday, August 29, the Appling County High School Pirates traveled to Wayne County to take on their rivals, the Yellow Jackets. The Pirates were victorious over the Yellow Jackets with a score of 38-26. The Pirates’ run game was the key to their victory as they racked up 276 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

The Pirates received the opening kickoff for a touchback and starting at their own 20-yard line. They drove down the field to the Jackets’ 4 yard-line, where they were stopped on fourth down. Pirates kicker Alan Ramirez came on to the field to get the first points of the night with a 21-yard field goal, making the score 3-0 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.

The Pirates would get their next score in the middle of the second quarter. Javechez Johnson would take the ball into the end zone on a 37-yard run. Alan Ramirez comes back onto the field to make the PAT for the Pirates, making the score 10-0 with 8:40 left in the second quarter.

The Pirates didn’t wait long to go get the ball after that last touchdown. Ramirez pooch kicks the ball to the Jackets’ 31-yard line, where Pirate defender Jack Lee Courson recovered the ball on kickoff for the second time of the night. The Pirates drive down to the Jackets’ five-yard line, where running Back Dareon Hood takes the ball into the end zone. Ramirez makes his second PAT of the night, making the score 17-0 with 6:58 left in the first half.

After a bad snap on Wayne during a punt, the Pirates receive the ball on downs on the Yellow Jacket 21-yard line. After being hit by multiple Jackets defenders, Dareon Hood breaks free and runs into the end zone for a 7 yard touchdown. Titus Wallace takes the ball and runs it into the end zone to make the two-point conversion, making the score 25-0 with 3:15 left in the second quarter. This would be the score going into halftime.

During halftime, the Pirate Brigade Marching Band performed their halftime show for the year for everyone in attendance at the game in Wayne County. The band did a spectacular job as always with their performance, and showed all the hard work they have put in to getting this show right. Great job, Pirate Brigade!

The Pirate defense came out strong on the opening drive of the second half, holding the Jackets from making a 32-yard field goal and forcing them to turn it over on downs. The Jackets, however, would get their first points of the night on the next play after forcing a Pirate wide receiver to fumble the ball and a defender would pick the ball up at the Pirate 24-yard line and run it back to the end zone. A bad snap would cause the Yellow Jackets from making the PAT, keeping the score at 25-6 with 8:18 left in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets would receive a onside kick after their score and receive the ball at the Pirates’ own 48-yard line. From there, the Jackets would drive down to the Pirate 26-yard line where the Jacket quarterback would make a 26-yard pass into the end zone for a touchdown. The Jackets attempted a two-point conversion and failed to make it, keeping the score 25-12 with 4:33 left in the third quarter.

The Jackets would get the ball back quickly again after the Pirates fumble the ball at their own 10-yard line. From there, the Jackets would run the ball into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. The Yellow Jacket kicker would make the PAT, making the score 25-19 with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Pirates would force the Yellow Jackets to turn the ball over on downs at the Pirates 15-yard line. From there, the Pirates would work their way down the field again to the Jacket 41-yard line, where Pirate running back Jaiden Knight would take a direct snap and would run the ball all the way into the end zone. The Pirates attempted a two-point conversion, but would not convert it, making the score 31-19 with 5:09 left in the game.

The Pirate defense wanted to put this game away early, with Pirate defender Cameron George forcing a fumble while sacking the Jackets quarterback, and defender Devonte Poole would pick up the ball and run it into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Alan Ramirez would make the last PAT for the Pirates, making the score 38-19 with 4:46 left in the game.

The Yellow Jackets would get the last score of the game with a six-yard into the end zone for a touchdown. The Jackets’ PAT would make the final PAT, making the score 38-26 with 0:25 left in the game. The Jackets would recover a onside kick and try to get another score before the clock runs out, but will not get the ball into the end zone, making the final score 38-26.

The Pirates will be at home for the first time this season with the Swainsboro High School Tigers traveling to Jimmy Swain Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30. Come out and watch the football team, cheerleaders, and band for the first time at home this season, and help cheer on the Pirates to their second win of the season. GO PIRATES!

Statistics
First Downs: ACHS 16, WCHS 10
Rushing: ACHS 276/39/4, WCHS 51/30/2
Passing: ACHS 5/9/44, WCHS 9/20/154/1
Total Yards: ACHS 320, WCHS 205
Penalties: ACHS 8/60, WCHS 9/66

Individual Statistics
Passing- Harrison Hickox completed five of nine passes for 44 yards and one interception.

Rushing: Jaiden Knight rushed 15 times for 107 yards and one touchdown, Dareon Hood rushed 12 times for 71 yards and one touchdown, Javechez Johnson rushed one time for 37 yards and one touchdown, Titus Wallace rushed six times for 37 yards, Devonte Poole rushed three times for 20 yards, and Jack Lee Courson rushed one time for eight yards.

Receiving: Brayden Miles caught two of three passes thrown to him for 20 yards, Devonte Poole caught both passes thrown to him for 18 yards, and Jaylin Lee caught one of three passes thrown to him for six yards. Defensive statistics- Jack Lee Courson lead the Pirates with eight total tackles, Jaiden Knight, Javechez Johnson, and Jaiden Solomon all had seven tackles each, Cameron George had five tackles and one sack, Edwin Burt had five tackles, Dareon Hood had three tackles, Rhett Thomas and Titus Wallace both had two tackles, and Devonte Poole, Demetrius Smith, Karson Johnson, and Deondre Mims all had one tackle each.

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