Braves batter Greenwave in Columbus
(Columbus, GA) — The Heard County Braves scored a much-needed 34-8 road win over Spencer in the first Region 5-AA game of the season Thursday night.
The Braves led for the entire contest with the lone points from the Greenwave coming in the closing moments of the game with many reserves on defense for the Braves.
The night got off to a spectacular start when Brave starting quarterback Leroy Marsh connected with Ashton Bonner on a 61-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage.
The Brave defense would respond with a three-and-out on the ensuing Greenwave drive, the start of an excellent night defensively for a squad that limited Greenwave scoring opportunities despite one driving even starting inside the Braves 15-yard line.
Leading the way for the Brave defense were some of the usual suspects. Kesean Johnson and Micaiah Austin were the leading tacklers with nine apiece followed by Jai Wright with eight and Tray Owens with seven.
Qua Thornton had a nice night as well up front with five tackles and he also smothered the Greenwave punter to force a turnover on downs.
Other tackling leaders included Marsh, Boyd, Key Whitlow, Isiah O’Neal and Bonner with four each while Anthony Graley, Andrew Rogers, Jake Harrod, Will Finch, and Cordell Sweet each notched three tackles.
The Greenwave defense stopped the Brave offense’s second drive on downs to keep the score at 7-0 after a quarter. Junior Alex Boyd would break way on a 77-yard TD rush to extend the lead to 14-0 with 4:59 to play in the first half.
Junior Alex Boyd (Photo: Jeff Napier)