Catching up on game reports.
By Becky Holland
COCHRAN, Ga. — The Bleckley County Middle School Barons entered their game against Dublin knowing exactly what was at stake: win and advance to the playoffs.
They came within one play of doing it.
With starting quarterback Ross Herrington sidelined with a concussion, seventh-grader DJ Durham stepped into the starting role for the first time.
Dublin built an 18-0 advantage, and the Barons entered the third quarter facing an uphill battle. But Bleckley County wasn’t finished.
Ashton Ross sparked the comeback with back-to-back rushing touchdowns, pulling the Barons within four at 18-14.
Ross, who also led the team in tackles, came through again on defense. With less than three minutes remaining, he intercepted a Dublin pass and gave the Barons an opportunity to complete the comeback.
Bleckley County drove down the field with its season hanging in the balance.
Time expired, but the Barons were awarded one untimed down from the Dublin 20-yard line — one final play for the win and a spot in the playoffs.
Durham put the ball in the air. The pass came close to becoming the game-winning catch, but a Dublin defender got a hand on it and tipped it away.
Game over.
Dublin escaped with the 18-14 victory, ending a determined comeback by a Barons team that battled from an 18-point deficit and took its playoff hopes all the way to the final play.
For Durham, the game marked his first start at quarterback as a seventh-grader under difficult circumstances. For Ross, it was a standout performance on both sides of the football, with two rushing touchdowns, a crucial late interception and a team-high number of tackles.
The scoreboard will show an 18-14 loss.
But it won’t show just how close the Barons came to turning an 18-0 deficit into one unforgettable win.
Photos by Mandy Rogers (Baron 8th graders)
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