Brookwood spoils Tiftarea's homecoming, 50-48

Tiftarea Academy is majoring in heartbreak in 2023. Friday, Oct. 20 was the latest chapter, Brookwood edging the Panthers 50-48 on homecoming.

A eight-yard Rodge Waldrop touchdown pass turned Tiftrea's late lead into a deficit. The Warriors tried to add two points on a conversion but the pass failed.

Runs by Kaiden Richardson and J.R. Walker moved Tiftarea to midfield on the ensuing possession, but a pair of false starts butthem badly behind the sticks. After three incompletions, Sam Yokley intercepted a pass. Waldrop had a long completion to put the contest on ice.

For those who like track meets with their football, Friday provided five-star viewing. One play into the 2nd quarter, the score was tied at 22-22. Brookwood let by a point, 36-35, at intermission.

The Warriors were already up 7-0 when Walker connected with John Jackson for a 17-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone. Tiftarea tried to get ahead early, but could not land a conversion pass.

Then their deficit got much larger in a hurry. Brookwood returned the kickoff for a touchdown, then faked an extra point kick, instead completing a pass to go ahead 15-6.

Defenses had no luck in the 1st period and the Panthers needed only six plays to score again, this time a 12-yard run by Lane Cole. Temond Marcus caught a two-pass pass from Walker and they were back in business, down now only 15-14.

Brookwood went with an extra point kick when Waldrop's 25-yard touchdown pass came later in the 1st quarter.

Tiftarea was already deep in Brookwood territory at the end of the quarter. They needed only one snap of the 2nd to be in position to tie. Marcus rumbled in from 28 yards out. The Panthers then got that 22-22 tie when Walker rolled right and completed a pass to Jackson while falling down.

T.J. Thomas broke the tie briefly on a 31-yard touchdown run, but the Warriors only got those points on the drive as the kick try missed.

That opened up a door for Tiftarea.

Cole had a 24-yard run on the drive to get to the 27. He and Walker made their way into the red zone with more running, then Jackson made a 14-yard scoring grab while being held in the end zone.

This time, the Panthers with for a kick. Jackson made it and they were ahead 29-28.

Brookwood had its longest drive at 14 plays, shaking off two false starts and completing a fourth down pass to keep moving.

Waldrop got into the end zone on a pass and Brookwood got another two-point conversion to get back up 36-29.

It was late in the half, but not too late for more excitement.

Jackson had a 25-yard kickoff return to the Brookwood 40. Marcus, proving his value more and more with each game, reeled in a 40-yarder from Walker to cloe to 36-35. Tiftarea, too, made a two-point try but missed on a run.

Cole picked off Waldrop in Tiftarea territory. Two Walker runs ended the half.

Scoring slowed down after the break, which saw Isabel Fernandez crowned Tiftarea's homecoming queen.

Waldrop conversion run following a passing touchdown expanded Brookwood's advantage to 44-35.

After the end of the 3rd, Walker ran for a six-yard touchdown to get a little closer at 44-41. The kick try was blocked.

Jackson Parrish made it two interceptions for the locals when his pick set up the Panthers at the opposing 40.

Richardson and Walker took turns gashing the defense on the ground. Walker even got 13 scrambling on an intended pass.

Walker got the final yard himself. Jackson's kick put the Panthers back in front at 48-44.

But it was not to be. Waldrop had one more touchdown pass in him and Brookwood rose up for a defensive stop.

Tiftarea goes to Southland Academy Oct. 27, their last road game of the regular season. The Raiders, 2-6, were blitzed by Valwood Friday, 49-0.