Fumbles frustrate East Laurens efforts at Southeast Bulloch as first win escapes in OT

Turnovers gave and took away, but were far more costly than they were beneficial for East Laurens Friday on a self-destructive night in Brooklet that ended with another frustrating loss. 

The Falcons, who hit the road in hopes of a rebound after dropping their opener with Johnson County the week before, had a much more winnable game get away as Southeast Bulloch erased a late lead, and capitalized on the last of their four giveaways in overtime to pull it out by the final of 26-20. 

Jordan Dawson spilled outside to the left on a run of eight yards for the winning touchdown, just two plays after East surrendered possession on a first and goal. 

Just four and a half yards from re-taking the lead, the Falcons’ Jabryan Bigham got the football from the up position in an I-formation, but absorbed about three hits just behind the line of scrimmage that sent the ball spewing ahead, and the Yellow Jackets’ Jayden Mabry fell on top of it. 

Three other fumbles haunted East Laurens earlier in the game, and two of them also led to points as SEB converted a bad snap into its first touchdown late in the first quarter, and a sack fumble helped it chip away at an earlier lead in the third. 

But the Falcons would chalk up a recovery and defensive touchdown on their side of the ledger during the first half as well when Jamari Harvey scooped and returned one to the house to atone for a fumble of their own only a few plays before. 

Penalties were just as recurring a theme for both teams in the sloppy contest, getting each behind the chains a lot early, and wiping out several big plays late that might have led to a decision in regulation. 

Amid the struggles with mistakes, there were some encouraging developments for East Laurens on offense as several of its big-time playmakers shined with some key plays. 

The return of Bryson Hazley to the lineup was noticeable, as the junior wideout caught three passes – including an early bomb – for a total of 39 yards. He had a fourth quarter catch-and-run to top them all that might’ve led to a different outcome, if not for a penalty that brought it all back.  

Major Floyd pulled in another five balls for 56, with Skyler Snead batting 13-for-22 with 139 yards behind center. The senior QB rushed for 32 and two of the Falcons’ three touchdowns. 

Aveone Wicker, who starred with some lengthy kickoff returns in the JoCo opener, got to light the afterburners on a 28-yard touchdown run that gave the Falcons their first lead in the second half. 

He spun out of a backfield tackle, and cut the run back to the right on his way to paydirt just a play after Snead dialed up Hazley on a long completion down the right sideline to open the third quarter with a bang. 

The confident start, as the theme of penalties took a brief pause for both sides, had East Laurens up 14-7 only two minutes in. 

Southeast Bulloch responded to tie just as quickly, breaking off a long Dawson run to set up a 16-yard touchdown by quarterback Jakalian Small, who got everybody stepping the wrong way on a misdirection fake, and sliced his way right up the middle on an untouched keeper. 

Brant Horst made the strip sack, and the Jackets another recovery in plus territory, before Turner’s 32-yard field goal put them back in front 17-14. 

The Falcons once again summoned a mistake-free stretch of football to drive 81 for the lead. 

A long completion to the far side got things going, then Snead finished the third quarter on two solid carries to reach the red zone. 

Just shy of 60 seconds into the fourth, he took a left-side keeper over the goal line to put East Laurens on top 20-17. 

If the Falcons could have done the ensuing try over, they’d likely have kicked another extra point knowing a four-point lead would have prevented Turner’s kick to tie later in the game. 

But from a swinging gate alignment, they opted to go for two with a sweep handoff to Floyd, who was swarmed in the backfield to leave it a three-point game. 

That equalizing field goal came in between some false breakthroughs by both teams. 

Penalties invalidated Aaden Peterson’s long runback of the next East Laurens kickoff, which was backed up 15 yards by a post-touchdown penalty. 

The sides traded punts, and this time a short one had the Jackets officially in business at the Falcon 30. 

Dawson nearly scored on the first play, but a touchdown-saving trip up by Hazley at the East Laurens 2 stopped him shy. 

The Falcons rallied and stood their ground with two group TFLs and a pressure by Amaree Daniels to force an incompletion, and the chip shot of Turner that tied it up.  

East took back over with 4:49 left, and went nowhere on its initial possession. 

But SEB reciprocated its punt, and this time, Floyd made some magic on a 35-yard return to midfield that was similarly called back on a flag. Same story as Hazley caught one on the left side and took off to the house moments later. 

The Falcons again had to punt, and it didn’t go far, giving the Jackets a small chance at reaching range for some game-winning points at the plus-23. 

But they’d concede the remainder of the final 30 seconds after Antonio Hargrove slung down Small for a loss, and OT commenced. 

Most of East Laurens’ first-half drives were sabotaged by penalties or turnovers.  

The first two were three plays and out, and a third was headed that direction from inside the East Laurens 9, where a low snap trickled off to the right after hitting off the ankles of both Falcons in the backfield. 

Southeast Bulloch recovered for the touchdown, and Parker Turner added the point-after to give the home team a 7-0 lead with a minute or two remaining in the first quarter. 

East Laurens’ next possession overcame some key third downs to reach the red zone, but Snead took a sack on fourth down, and the threat came up empty. 

The Jackets took their turn making some progress, but ultimately punted. 

Once again, the Falcons were poised to get something going as a solid Floyd punt return sparked a good opening series, which finished on a Gary Stockton third-down conversion. 

But disaster struck on the next play as Dianco Murray took off running after a catch in the flat, but lost a handle and fumbled the ball right to a defender. 

Fortunately for East, SEB would give it back in similar fashion just two plays later as Jeremiah Rozier delivered a hit on Dawson to dislodge it for Harvey to return 46 yards to the end zone. 

John Thang added the point to tie, and a 7-7 score went to the half.