Our Seminole County Indian football team took to the road this past week to
take on the first of seven region opponents. Up first were the Lanier County Bulldogs of Lakeland, GA. The Lanier
County Marching Band took the field and performed 'Georgia on my Mind' and 'Star Spangled Banner' before a trumpet soloist
played a stirring rendition of 'Taps' in honor of all those who paid the ultimate price during the events of September 11,
2001. After the moving tribute, the team captains then moved to midfield for the coin toss. Team captains for
the Indians were Owen Parks, Patrick Johnson, Tamichael Fedd and Chris Brown. Set to kick off to the Bulldogs in this
region opener was Antwan Buggs and the rest of his Indian teammates. The Bulldogs took the opening kick to their own
29 yard line to start off the action. The Indian defense allowed the Dawgs to move downfield with relative ease and
the Dawgs took an early 6-0 with just over the 9 minute mark of the 1st quarter. The PAT fell short and the Indians
readied themselves for their first turn on offense. Taking over at their own 30 yard line, the Indians marched down
the field with a score of their own. Barren Rambo carried the ball the final 4 yards to paydirt. Jeffery Croom
then came on and added the PAT to give the Seminole squad their first lead of the game, 7-6. Lanier's next drive was
a short one resulting in a punt after moving the ball 50 yards. Six plays later, it was Rambo on the move again, this
time from the Bulldog 46 yard line, he ran straight through a gaping hole in the Dawg defense and scooted in for his second
score of the contest. Croom booted through another PAT to raise the Indian lead to 14-6. It turned out to just
not be Lanier County's night as their next possession in punt formation deep in their own end. The punter received a
low snap and inadvertantly dropped to one knee in their end zone, giving up a safety and adding 2 points to the Indian lead.
With the Indians receiving the free kick following the safety, time ran out in the first period with the score 16-6 in favor
of Seminole County. It only got worse for the homestanding Bulldogs as the Indians with Owen Parks, sharing time at
quarterback with Antwan Buggs, strolling into the end zone for a 7 yard rushing TD. The PAT failed and the Indian lead
rose to 20-6 early in the 2nd period. The next two possessions saw both the Dawgs and Indians offenses stall resulting
in a 'three and out' series. Lanier punted on their next drive and with around 4 minutes remaining in the first
half the Indians put together a 10 play, 76 yard drive with Owen Parks again scoring, this time from the 3 yard line.
Another missed PAT left the score going into halftime at 26-6 for our Indians.
Intermission began with the pride of Seminole County, the Green Machine Marching
Band, taking the field and putting on their normal spectacular show. There were gasps amongst the Lanier County faithful
when the twirlers brought out their flaming batons and fearlessly performed their routines, thouroughly entertaining the crowd.
The Green Machine gave way to the Lanier County Marching Band who put on a nifty show of their own. Once the halftime
festivities were concluded, it was back to business for the Indians and Bulldogs. The Indians received the ball and
swapped possessions with the home team before completing a successful scoring drive at just over the 2:00 mark of the third
quarter. Penalties had forced the Indians into a 4th down and 38 to go, but the call from the Indian sideline was a
fake punt attempt. Dee Virgin, the up man in punt formation, took the direct snap and tossed the ball into the waiting
hands of Nate George. George then scooted his way to the Dawg 15 yard line before powering his way to a first down to
the 5 yard line. With a fresh set of down, Buggs cruised into the end zone from 5 yards out, adding to the
Seminole lead. Croom got back on track, knocking through the extra point attempt and the lead jumped to 33-6.
Substitute players were trickling in from the Indian sideline at this point with a mixture of varsity and JV players on the
attack. Early in the 4th quarter, Buggs crossed the goal line again, this time scampering 14 yards for the score.
A missed kick and the Indians led 39-6 with exactly 11:00 left in the game. From this point on, the JV squad took over
the game on offense and mostly defense with a few varsity players in the mix for on-field leadership. The JVers stood
tall and kept the Bulldog team from scoring and when they took over the ball, moved steadily down the field. Jakhari
Martin stepped in at quarterback, leading his young team down the field. Tyrone Cunningham, who wound up with 37 yards
on 6 carries, was the workhorse for the JV Indians moving the ball smoothly down the field. Martin capped off the drive
with a 6 yard run. Moments later, P. J. Moore took his only rushing attempt of the game in for a TD from 11 yards out.
Croom tacked on both extra points and the Indians held a commanding 55-6 lead with time running out. The final ticks
of the clock wound down as the Bulldog JV squad, led by freshman Shane Sirmans, completed a 20 yard pass thus ending the game.
Coach Ingram was very pleased by another total team effort by all who participated.
The Indians gained 381 yards on the ground and another 64 through the air.
The Seminole QB's combined to go 2 for 3 with no interceptions. They retained possession on both of their fumbles and
were penalized for 101 yards on 13 flags. Lanier County was held to under 100 yards total offense, 62 rushing and 36
passing. They went a dismal 2 for 13 passing with no interceptions and were penalized 7 times for 60 yards. Barren
Rambo led all rushers with 159 yards on 12 carries giving him a 13.2 yard average per rushing attempt and scored two TD's.
Buggs provided 71 rushing yards on 8 carries with 2 TD's as well. Owen Parks accounted for 2 scores as well. Jeffery
Croom was 5 for 8 on kick attempts for the contest. This victory brings the Indian record to 2-1 while the Bulldogs
fall to 0-3. In other region 1 action, Miller County downed Pelham 35-8, Clinch County got past Randolph-Clay 27-15,
Terrell County won in what was told to be a thriller over Bacon County 14-8, and Calhoun County's Cougars grabbed their first
win of the young season by defeating the Indians next opponent, the Atkinson County Rebels by a score of 16-12. The
Rebels come to Seminole Stadium this week bringing a record of 0-3, but steadily improving with each game they play.
The Indians will then travel to Alma the following week to take on the Bacon County Red Raider. Robert Ingram's Riverwood
Raiders were idle this week and SCHS alumni and class AAA Elbert County head coach Brent Miller has his Blue Devil team at
a perfect 3-0 by downing class AAAA Butler 35-6.
