By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers found themselves in the Georgia Dome playing for a state championship against the Macon County Bulldogs.

The team from the little town of Darien started out, same as every other high school team in America, believing that they were destined to end their season as state champions.

Unlike most other schools, the Buccaneers were presented with that very opportunity; having laid their foundation in the summer of ’16 by sweating it out at camps against powerhouse schools like Glynn Academy, Brookwood, Valdosta, and Ware. Following a strong scrimmage against that same Glynn Academy team, it seemed to give the team a boost to get the season started. Coach Robby Robinson would see his team progress and improve virtually each and every week, and here they were sixty minutes away from the title.

This would be the Buccaneers first opportunity to bring home a state championship. In fact, McIntosh looked more than up to the task and was able to put the high octane Macon County offense on their heels for over three quarters.

Entering the final quarter, the Bulldogs were up only 7-0. It was a picture perfect game plan, harassing and pressuring quarterback K’hari Lane, who just so happened to enter the game on the verge of breaking the all-time Georgia high school passing touchdowns record in a season of 54.

No one expected to see a game such as this; the Bulldogs entered the game averaging just a shade under 44 points per game. However, the Buccaneers defense would shut Lane and his high flying offense down by sacking the quarterback six times, three of those coming from defensive end Barry Jackson. The defense did their job on this day, but just could not get the support needed from their offense.

While the offense was able to move the ball on Macon County, the issues would arise in the red zone, and especially even closer than that with two fumbles inside the five. It would be those turnovers that would ultimately be the downfall for the Buccaneers.

Instead of the Bucs being able to build a lead, the only thing that would build was frustration, as the Macon County defense would bail their struggling offense out time after time.

Young quarterback, Major Robinson, and senior receiver, Dustin Anderson, would lead the passing attack on the day. As well, running back JP Palmer would lead the team rushing, albeit with only sixty-one yards. While the MCA offense was limited in yardage, the team was still within just a couple of yards from carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. It was the fumbles that would be too much to overcome for Robinson’s squad.

After the game, Coach Robinson gave his take on the game and where his team has come in a short period of time, “I think the big stage got to us a little bit,” McIntosh County Academy head coach Robby Robinson said, walking to the locker room. “But all credit goes to Macon County. They played on the same big stage as we did. But I’m proud of this group of kids. They were 0-10 two years ago. Right now, I’m praying on what I’m going to say to them now.”

While the final outcome isn’t what the Buccaneer players wanted to see, they must use this defeat a couple of ways.

First of all, remember this feeling during the blazing south Georgia heat of summer as 7 on 7’s roll around. When training camp kicks off, use this bitter taste to push that much harder to make sure they never have to feel this ever again.

The other way is to remember this feeling of being the toast of Darien, making that drive up to Atlanta, and the feeling of walking out in to the Georgia Dome. These will be memories that will last them a lifetime.