TOUGH MATCHUP: Bulldog Dakarri Meeks had to be tough to stop the Bainbridge run game. He finished with three total tackles.

THOMASVILLE — The Thomasville High School Bulldogs have not won a game since their 42-20 victory over Brooks County in week one. As they faced off against Bainbridge, the Bulldogs needed a bounce back win and, despite the loss, this was a bounce back game for Thomasville.

With Bainbridge’s number one QB in Cam Sanders on the sideline, the Bearcats started sophomore Brooks Hines and Thomasville competed well in the first half. They inarguably played their best football in the first three quarters of this game.

“You know, we played better than we have in the last two weeks,” said Bulldogs head coach Jonathan DeLay. “We came out offense, defense, everybody clicking for three quarters.”

The Bulldogs were certainly clicking as, after giving up a touchdown, they responded well. A big 34 yard return on the kickoff gave the Bulldogs solid field position and soon after quarterback Cam Hill hit Cole Shaw for a ten yard touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone. The Bulldogs took the lead as they tacked on another touchdown on a big run from running back Lavonte Cole.

While the Bulldogs controlled the air attack, Bainbridge found success on the ground with running back Keenan Phillips, who rushed for 202 yards and four touchdowns. Phillips continued to carve up the Thomasville defense with another touchdown in the first half.

The Bulldogs came into the second half with a 14-13 lead and scored right out of the gate with a direct snap to Jay Randall who took it into the end zone to make it 21-13.

However, the Bulldogs fortune quickly changed. With the Bearcats facing a tough challenge, QB one Cam Sanders came off the bench and showed Thomasville just how dangerous he is. Sanders brought new life to the Bearcats offense and had immediate success in the passing game. He led Bainbridge on a quick drive with several completions and capped it off with a 15 yard run into the end zone.

Thomasville returned fire with a solid rushing attack that put them on the 35 yard line where Cam Hill faked a screen and hit wide open receiver Nigel Pittman for the score, making it 28-19. That would be Thomasville’s last score of the game as Sanders and Bainbridge began to take over.

Sanders proved that he was just a different kind of player as he led the Bearcats on a drive that saw him run over a Bulldogs defender on a rush. Bainbridge finished the drive off with a short rushing touchdown.

They tacked on another on a drive led this time by Phillips, who slid into the end zone to give the Bearcats the lead, 32-28.

The Bulldogs saw an opportunity form as Bainbridge muffed a punt, giving Thomasville the ball on the 40 yard line. However, Hill immediately threw into double coverage and the pass was intercepted. Sanders then connected with Phillips in the air and made it 39-28.

After the interception, the Thomasville offense looked disoriented and they turned it over on downs with 5:20 left in the game. Phillips would punch in the final score of the game and the Bearcats would cruise to a 46-28 victory.

Despite the loss, this was in fact a bounce back game for the Bulldogs. In week two and three combined they scored just 10 points. To put up 28 on a good Bainbridge team is an accomplishment. Hill looked very good in the first three quarters of the game, as did the rushing attack. The Bulldogs were able to respond when scored on and battled hard for three quarters. All they have to do now is put it together for an entire game, something that DeLay and his team are fully aware of.

“I had a kid, right when I walked up, he said to the whole team ‘guys, we got to finish’ and that’s what you want. You have leaders who know this is what has to happen to get it done and that’s what I’m going to work on this week. I didn’t have them ready to finish, but we’re going to move in that direction,” Delay said. “Here’s the thing. We’re 1-3. We were in the same spot last year after this game, but we didn’t play as good in this game last year. Most of these kids played on that team last year and they understand we’re moving in that direction and it’s about doing all the little things right.”

Thomasville will have the chance to put it together this week as they travel to Tift County for what is sure to be a tough challenge.