The Thomas County Central Middle School seventh-grade Yellow Jackets scored on a 35-yard touchdown run with 3:25 left in the game Thursday to pull out an 8-0 victory over the Bainbridge Middle School seventh-grade Bearcats.

The game, played at Central’s Jackets Nest Stadium, was a defensive struggle throughout.

Bearcats seventh-grade football coordinator David Kirkland said his team stuffed the Yellow Jackets scoring play initially.

“On the touchdown play, our defense came up and stopped Central’s running back at the line of scrimmage, but he spun off the pile, broke open and ran in for the touchdown,” Kirkland said.

They used the same play to run in for the two-point conversion.

“Cornerback Elijah Tyler had a big game defensively for us. He saved a touchdown by running down a Central player and tackling him from behind,” Kirkland said.

“Offensively, I thought our quarterback Tyrone Crump played well. We moved the ball up and down the field well. We just couldn’t get it in the end zone,” Kirkland said.

The seventh-grade Bearcats, who are coached by Kirkland, Chip Ariail, Heith Maxwell and Scott Miller, will return to action next Wednesday, Sept. 8, when they meet the McIntyre Park Middle School seventh-grade Bulldogs at 5 p.m. at Thomasville’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.