By Aaron Smith
In a close game, the Augusta Christian Lions escaped with a 26-18 victory over the Bulloch Academy Gators.
The Lions (2-0) trailed at the half 12-9 but made the plays necessary to pull out the victory.
With the score 19-18 in favor of the Lions, the Gators had a chance to take the lead with a two-point conversion with 2:30 left. However, Augusta Christian’s Luke Wilson would then come up big with a game-saving tackle in the backfield on a two-point conversion attempt.
The Lions recovered the onside kick and would then go to score a touchdown on an 18-yard run by Amari Rhines. Gavin Hammond kicked the extra point, making the score 26-18 in favor of the Lions.
The Gators had a chance in the final two minutes to bring the score closer, but a key fumble from Bryson Scott of Bulloch Academy that was recovered by Wes Michaelson of Augusta Christian sealed the game for the Lions.
In the first half, Bulloch Academy (1-1) built that 12-9 lead behind the running of Isaiah Smart and Scott, a 251-pound fullback, scored the game’s first touchdown on a 12-yard run.
The Gators missed the extra point.
Augusta Christian tied the game with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Grayson Booker to Aaron Gregory. The Lions also missed their extra point.
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The Gators scored next on a Reid Clifton 7-yard run, but the two-point conversion failed.
The Lions closed out the first half scoring on a 40-yard field goal by Wilson Donnelly.
Smart had 113 yards on six carries in the first half for Bulloch. Scott had 90 on 12 carries.
Bulloch had two other chances to score in the first half, and both times fumbled the ball back to the Lions.
Scott finished the game with 176 yards on 20 carries. The Gators as a team ran for 358 yards on 39 carries but fumbled six times and lost two of those.
Augusta Christian finished with ten penalties for 99 yards, and that slowed down the Lions’ offense. Augusta Christian’s quarterbacks threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
The next game for Augusta Christian will be Sept. 2 at Hephzibah. Bulloch Academy will next play Trinity Christian on Sept. 9.
