From the opening kickoff, it was clear that the Bulloch Academy Gators came out of the gate with one objective: absolute domination. In a defensive stout, the Gators defeated the Claxton Tigers in a 34-0 in a shutout.
First Quarter
From the very first snap, the Bulloch Academy offense showed they meant business. Junior running back Rocco Reiss, a force to be reckoned with, plowed into the end zone at the 10-minute mark to put the first points on the board. The crowd hadn't even settled into their seats before senior running back Danye Garvin, looking completely unstoppable, scored his first touchdown just four minutes later. The Claxton Tigers' offense tried to find an opening, to make something shake, but the Bulloch Academy defense was a brick wall. They forced three turnovers in a row, suffocating every single Claxton drive. A few penalties from both sides added to the tension, but the quarter ended with the Gators firmly in control, leading 14-0. The Claxton sideline looked stunned.
Second Quarter
The second quarter was a testament to the Gators' relentless attack. It felt like Garvin was in a league of his own, scoring his second touchdown just over a minute into the quarter to push the lead to 21-0. The play of the half, however, came from the Bulloch Academy defense. A booming kickoff was followed by a massive hit from sophomore linebacker Tate Williamson, who forced a fumble that the Gators recovered on their own 20-yard line.
Claxton finally caught a break when they picked off a pass, and for a moment, hope flickered. Freshman running back Kori Murcherson of the Tigers broke free for what looked like their first touchdown, but a blindside block penalty wiped it off the board. The frustration was palpable, and soon after, a personal foul against Mutcherson showed how emotionally charged the game had become. With the clock ticking down, junior quarterback Sam Hubbard took matters into his own hands, calling his own number for another Bulloch Academy touchdown. Just before the half ended, the Tigers' senior wide receiver Kordai Small broke loose for a 50-yard energy play, a huge gasp of hope for the Tiger fans. But like every other drive for Claxton, it stalled and they couldn't convert it into points. The half ended with Bulloch Academy in complete control, 27-0.
Third Quarter
The third quarter was more of the same, a relentless defensive performance from the Gators. Claxton opened the half on offense, but the Bulloch Academy defensive line was so dominant they forced yet another punt. The physicality of the game was clear, with a chop block penalty called against Claxton. The Gators' offense was efficient, with junior running back BJ Smart getting a couple of hard-fought carries. The nail in the coffin came when Hubbard executed a perfect play in motion, leading to junior wide receiver Billy Crider's first touchdown of the night. The Tigers held the ball for most of the quarter, but they simply couldn't get anything going against Bulloch Academy's impenetrable defense. The score at the end of the third was 34-0, and the outcome felt sealed.
Fourth Quarter
With the game well in hand, Bulloch Academy's backup quarterback, junior JB Roach, took the helm. He used a series of quarterback keeps to chew up the clock, a move that showed the Gators were simply trying to close out the game while still putting pressure on Claxton. The Bulloch Academy defense, not content with their lead, forced one final turnover on downs with eight minutes left, ensuring there would be no last-minute heroics from the opposing team. The final whistle blew, sealing a decisive 34-0 victory for the Gators, a game that will be remembered for their complete and total defensive shutdown.
Who’s Next?
After a bye week, the Gators will be back on the field on Thursday, September 4, when they travel to Lyons to take on Robert Toombs Christian Academy. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The matchup is a rematch of last season’s meeting in Statesboro, where Bulloch Academy dominated in a 42–7 victory to improve to 4–0.
In that game last season, quarterback Sam Hubbard got the offense rolling with a touchdown run on the opening drive, while Shemar Jenkins and Danye Garvin carried the ground attack. The defense was just as impressive, with Braylon Cone and William Polk controlling the line of scrimmage and Parker Chance contributing a key interception return to set up another score. Despite wet conditions, the Gators pulled away with two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Afterwards, head coach Aaron Phillips credited his team’s effort but emphasized the importance of protecting the football and finishing drives more efficiently in the red zone.
Live Score Updates
Once again this football season, Grice Connect Sports will offer live scoring powered by ScoreStream. To get live score during the game or anytime you want local sports scores go to the Sports link on the Grice Connect website.
We are always love to hear from parents (or other super fans!) who would like to send us photos and live game updates from home and away games for each school this season.
If you're interested, please contact Sports@griceconnect.com or Blake Williams at Blake@griceconnect.com for more information.
This coverage is made possible thanks to local supporters.
Grice Connect Sports is proudly supported by Optim Health System, the Press Forward Foundation, and other generous community partners who help make this local sports coverage possible. We are grateful for all financial support, which will allow us to bring Statesboro and Bulloch county even more sports and local news coverage!
Please support us now by clicking here and help us tell the remarkable stories of our youth making a difference for their team, their school, and our community.
If your business would like to support our work, please contact Fred David at sponsor@griceconnect.com.