Southeast Bulloch

Dublin blasts SEB, clinches playoff bid

Dublin at Southeast Bulloch

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            BROOKLET – It was a good night to be a part of the Fighting Irish, and luck had nothing to do with it.

            Sophomore running back Riley Holmes rushed for 107 and five different Irish players found the end zone as Dublin rolled to a 55-8 victory over Southeast Bulloch Friday night at Fred Shaver Field.

            The Dublin offense was the key to the game, racking up 451 total yards on the night. Not only did the Irish attack put up points, but they did it at breakneck pace. Rarely huddling for more than a few seconds, Dublin shifted through multiple sets, including spread, Wing-T, and Flexbone looks and was often ready to roll before the ball had even been whistled into play.

            The fast-paced play of the Irish had SEB off guard. On some plays, the Jacket defense was still getting set at the snap, and Dublin was able to capitalize, turning in five scoring plays of 23 or more yards.

            “They ran a ton of different formations at us,” said SEB coach John Kenny. “They had a lot of speed and caught us on our heels a few times. I thought that we adjusted well, but Dublin has a lot of talent and speed and all it takes is one slip and they bust off a big play.”

            The Yellow Jacket offense showed some promise, but turnovers proved to be their undoing.

            On the first offensive play after falling behind 7-0 lead on a 17 yard pass from Rob East to Cedric O’Neal, SEB fumbled its first play from scrimmage, giving the ball right back to the Irish.

           Dublin capitalized, needing just three plays before Maurice Martin raced eight yards to build the lead to 14-0.

            An interception on the Jackets’ next drive yielded the same results. The SEB defense tried to dig in, forcing a third-and-long, but a perfectly executed reverse allowed Irish running back Richard Collins to go untouched around the left end for 37 yards and a 20-0 first quarter lead.

            “Obviously, those turnovers really hurt us,” said Kenny. “Early in the game, we had some long, sustained drives. We just couldn’t finish it off. Overall we’re improving. We just have to move on and learn from it when we watch the film.”

            Second quarter scoring runs from Joshua Jordan – 23 yards – and Holmes – 30 yards – brought the halftime score to 34-0 and set the running clock in motion for the remainder of the game.

            In the second half, the Irish continued the onslaught. SEB’s defense was able to dig in on several occasions, but every time Dublin’s back was put to the wall, it responded with another big play.

            O’Neal, Jordan and Collins all recorded their second touchdowns of the half in the final two quarters as any Irish player fortunate enough to find the ball in his hands seemed to find success.

            Yellow Jacket junior Dee Odum – who saw time on both sides of the ball including special teams – was finally able to get SEB on the board. Late in the fourth quarter, Odum fielded a kickoff at his own 12 yard line and raced through a perfectly blocked wedge. With one man left to beat, Odum sidestepped the defender and raced 88 yards to the end zone to put a finish to the night’s scoring.

Friday marked the final time that four Yellow Jackets would ever play under the lights of Fred Shaver Field. Though a rough season may have made things bittersweet, Brandon Sullivan, Josh Joiner, Saliek Murphey and Marcus Mikell still embraced one last chance to play in front of the home crowd.

            “It’s a little sad being out here for the last time,” said Sullivan, a starting lineman on both sides of the ball. “All of us have given 100 percent. We wish things would have gone a little better, but we did our best. I know that myself and the rest of the seniors appreciate all the support from our teammates and fans. Hopefully, next year’s class can build on this year and get better.”

“I’m very proud of our seniors,” said Kenny. “They’re a small class, but they’ve contributed greatly for us. They’ve worked hard and done everything that we’ve asked of them. We just wish that we could have done more for them tonight.”

            With the win, Dublin locked up one of the top four spots in Region 3-AA, thus assuring the Irish of a spot in the GHSA state playoffs. To enter the postseason on a high note, Dublin will have its work cut out. Undefeated and fourth-ranked Jefferson County is coming to town, but an upset minded Irish team could earn a home game in the first round of the playoffs if they can pull out a win.

SEB will get one final crack at breaking into the win column this season. Next Friday, the Yellow Jackets travel to Augusta to take on Laney in their final game of the season.

            Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.