The Bowling Green Buccaneers made the three-hour ride to Carrollton, Mississippi to face Carroll Academy in first round playoff action last Friday. The Bucs were looking for their fifth win of the season against the home standing Rebels.
Bowling Green's defense forced a turnover on the Rebels second possession of the game and took over at the CA 46 yard line. The Bucs drove 54 yards in six plays to get on the scoreboard with Josiah Miller cashing in from 30 yards out. Alex Brock converted the PAT and the Bucs led 7-0 with 4:30 left in the first quarter.
Carroll Academy received the ensuing kickoff and quickly marched downfield. The Rebels quarterback scored on a run around right end and the extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 2:04 remaining in the first.
Miller returned the Carroll Academy kickoff to the 26 yard line where the Bucs took over on offense. Bowling Green again found success on offense and drove 74 yards in six plays. Kyron Cowart took a handoff from quarterback Maddox Magee, weaved his way to the sideline, and raced 40 yards for another Buccaneers touchdown. Alex Brock was true on the PAT and the Bucs regained the lead at 14-7 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.
With the Rebels on offense following the BGS kickoff, Cowart shot the gap and jarred the football loose from the CA ballcarrier. Dray Killingsworth recovered the fumble at the BGS 42 with 9:33 left in the quarter. The Bucs were unable to turn the turnover into points and punted the ball back to CA.
Carroll Academy drove 50 yards and scored on a quarterback keeper with 28 seconds before the half. The extra point tied the game 14-14 and the two teams were knotted at the half.
Bowling Green received the opening kickoff of the second half. The Buccaneers offense moved into Rebels territory before a fumble stopped a promising drive.
Behind a mixture of runs and passes, Carroll Academy marched down the field and eventually scored from 2 yards out. The PAT put the Rebels ahead 21-14 with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Bowling Green responded with a drive that reached the CA 5 yard line. With the Bucs in position to tie the game, the Rebels punched the ball from a Bowling Green ballcarrier. A CA defender picked it up in stride and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. The PAT put the Rebels ahead 28-14 with 8:45 remaining in the fourth.
Neither team would score again and the Rebels claimed a 28-14 win over the Buccaneers.
"We made too many mistakes tonight," said coach Phill Junkins. "Five turnovers in a ballgame is not going to turn out very well for you, especially when one of them is returned 95 yards for a touchdown. I thought the kids gave great effort. We just ran out of gas and Carroll was the tougher team Friday night.”
He added, “My hat’s off to the senior class. They played their hearts out and they gave great effort and I'm extremely proud of the way they hung in all year. We would like to thank our fans for hanging in there with us this year as well. Also our support groups were just the best. We thank our cheer and dance and our student body for all their support."
Kyron Cowart had 132 yards on 12 carries, Josiah Miller rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries, Morgan Verret added 38 yards on five carries and Deviun Bickham added 15 yards on one carry.
Zeke Burford and Christian Williams each had five tackles, Verret, Camrin Seal and Russell Wilson had four tackles, Cowart, Dray Killingsworth and Brody Estave had three each, and LJ Jenkins, Trey Champagne and Jude Rawls all had two tackles.
