Coastal GA News

The Brunswick Pirates football team cruised through the regular season and had its sights set on a perfect season entering the state tournament, but the Dacula Falcons (8-4) had something to say about that with a 29-21 victory in a game they never trailed.

After a pair of touchdowns by Dacula to start the game, Brunswick got on the scoreboard with a highlight-reel 63-yard touchdown scamper by Chuckobe Hill. McClain Fineran nailed the extra point to bring Brunswick to within a touchdown to make it 14-7.

With three minutes left in the half, Hill struck again with a 14-yard touchdown run, which was followed by a Fineran extra point to tie up the game 14-14 at halftime.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth defensive battle with few scoring chances. With five minutes left, Brunswick missed a field goal that would have given them the lead. The Pirates weren’t giving up, though, as they picked off a pass that gave them the ball on the Falcons' 7-yard line. Brunswick ended up turning the ball over on downs and the score remained tied going into the final frame.

With 11 minutes left in the game, Brunswick recovered a Dacula fumble near the end zone, but it had the Pirates backed up at their own 1-yard line. Dacula’s defense capitalized and recorded a safety to make it a 16-14 game.

With 10 minutes to go, Brunswick recovered another Dacula fumble and had the ball at midfield, but the Pirates’ offense sputtered and turned the ball over on downs.

With three minutes left, Dacula scored a rushing touchdown and hit the extra point to make it a 23-14 game, but Brunswick responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass by Sutton Ellis to senior Na’verious Williams with a minute on the clock to get the Pirates within two points.

However, Dacula sealed the win with a minute to go on a pick-six to make it a 29-21 and end the Pirates’ chances at a perfect season, in dramatic fashion.

Hill was the star for the Pirates with his two touchdowns. The senior running back averaged 6.5 yards per carry in a strong day in which he ran for 144 yards on 22 carries. He also had a pair of receptions for 42 yards, including one going for 35 yards.

Fellow senior Leon Charlton was also a force on the ground rushing for 54 yards on nine carries, including one for 24 yards. Ellis led the passing attack going 7 for 14 for 113 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Senior Jeffrey Waye also had 50 yards in the air for the Pirates. Junior Kevin Thomas had four catches for 46 yards to lead the receivers. Senior J’maun Weldon had two catches for 25 yards and Williams caught two passes for 35 yards.

The Pirates had their opportunities but couldn’t capitalize, and it spelled the end of an otherwise dream season that ended with an 11-1 record.