Bainbridge High School fell 41-34 to the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, after giving a valiant fourth quarter effort in cold weather on Friday night at Jackets’ Nest Stadium in Thomasville.

TCC was first to score, when running back James Davis ran for a 14-yard touchdown with 7:24 left in the first. Gavin Wilson’s extra point was good.

On Bainbridge’s ensuing drive, running back Damian Bouie fumbled and TCC recovered the ball at the BHS 23. TCC running back Curtis Brooks ran from the 22 to the five-yard line. On the next play, Brooks drove in for a five-yard touchdown with 6:01 left in the first quarter.

TCC took a 21-0 lead with 5.1 seconds left in the first quarter, when Brooks ran in for a 34-yard touchdown.

On their next possession, BHS running back Terry Lewis ran the ball 47 yards to the TCC 43-yard line. Two pass completions from quarterback Steven Bench to Cameron McDowell and Shawn Samuels, respectively, helped move the ball deep into TCC territory.

The Bearcats successfully converted on two fourth downs. Bench, who had two good runs on the drive, did a quarterback sneak for a touchdown from one yard out with 5:23 left in the 2nd. Daniel Provence’s extra point was good, to make the score 21-7.

On the next drive, the Yellow Jackets were forced to punt on fourth down from their own 28. TCC’s Dodson, who does double duty as the Yellow Jacket’s quarterback, got his punt attempt blocked by BHS’ Lewis, who picked up the ball at the five-yard line and ran in for a touchdown. However, Provence’s extra point try was no good, leaving the score at 21-13.

TCC added on to their lead just before halftime when Dodson dove in from one yard out to score with 17.5 seconds left in the first half. A good extra-point try made the score 28-13 in TCC’s favor, a score which held at halftime. Two pass completions and a facemask penalty against the Bearcats helped TCC move the ball, after starting the drive at their own 21. Dodson ran from the BHS 39 to the BHS 5 with just under a minute left.

The second half was dominated by TCC’s quarterback, Eric Dodson. He ran in for a nine-yard touchdown with 7:56 left in the third quarter. The extra point was no good, making the score TCC 34, BHS 13.

BHS was forced to punt late in the third quarter, but TCC’s returner fumbled the ball and BHS recovered at the TCC 29. BHS’ Hall rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 9:50 left in the game. Provence’s extra point made the score TCC 34, BHS 20.

TCC started the next drive on their own 35-yard line after the BHS kickoff was out of bounds. On the very next play, Dodson raced 65 yards down the field for a Yellow Jacket touchdown with 9:40 left in the game. A good extra point kick made the score TCC 41, BHS 20.

A TCC fumble gave the Bearcats the ball back at their own 29 with 3:40 left. Bench completed a pass from the BHS 40 to Quincy Fortson, who ran to the TCC 15. Two plays later, Hall ran 14 yards for a touchdown. Provence’s kick made the score 41-27.

TCC fumbled at midfield with 50.4 seconds left, with the Bearcats recovering. Bench completed a pass to Samuels, who ran to the TCC 28 with 32.6 seconds left. Bench completed a pass to Terry Lewis, who ran in for a touchdown with 22.2 seconds left. Provence’s kick made the score 41-34.

BHS attempted an onside kick, but the ball failed to go the required 10 yards forward. TCC took over the ball and ran out the clock to end the game.