The Thomas County Central Middle School eighth-grade Yellow Jackets grabbed a 12-0 first-quarter lead Thursday at Centennial Field and went on to down the eighth-grade Bearcats 40-8 in Bainbridge Middle School’s first homecoming game.

The Yellow Jackets went ahead 6-0 when quarterback Adam Choice ran an option around the right side for 21 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Williams attempted extra point kick was short.

Deandra Cooksey ran 65 yards for a Yellow Jackets touchdown with just 27.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter, increasing the Yellow Jackets lead to 12-0. The Bearcats defense came through to block Williams extra point attempt.

It was the Yellow Jackets defense that recorded their third touchdown. Linebacker Jarrell Jones picked up a fumble and ran 20 yards for a touchdown with 5:52 showing on the second quarter clock. Williams extra point kick was good increasing the lead to 19-0.

Jacoby Sanders took a pitch and ran 26 yards for a touchdown with 3:47 left in the second quarter, and Williams kicked the extra point putting the Yellow Jackets up 26-0.

The Yellow Jackets’ final touchdown of the first half came on a 22-yard Cooksey run with 2:01 showing on the clock. Williams kicked the extra point giving them a 33-0 halftime lead.

The Yellow Jackets only second-half touchdown, which put them up 39-0, came on a 49-yard touchdown run by Choice with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter. Williams extra point kick increased the lead to 40-0.

Quarterback Preston Norris ran 33 yards for the Bearcats touchdown with 3:22 left in the game. Brent Noble ran in for the two-point conversion.

Norris’ scoring run was set up by his 27-yard pass to wide receiver Craig Cooper from the Bearcats 40-yard line to the Yellow Jackets’ 33.

Bainbridge Middle School eighth-grade football program coordinator Scott Starr said he thought Bearcats center and defensive tackle Reid Willis had his best game of the year, and defensive end and tight end Corey Dunbar also played well.

The Bearcats, who are 1-4 on the season, will travel to Dothan, Ala., Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. game with Providence Christian School then close their season Thursday, Oct. 15, with a 5 p.m. game against the McIntyre Park Middle School eighth-grade Bulldogs at Thomasville High School’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.