Brentwood keeps GMC at arm's length

Gil Pound, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga.
·4 min read

Sep. 3—The GMC Prep football team fought until the very end but still fell to the visiting Brentwood War Eagles 27-16 Friday night.

The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 0-3 for the first time in head coach Lee Coleman's four-year tenure. The last time the program began a season with three consecutive losses was 2009.

GMC lost the turnover battle 4-1 Friday, and that has been a recurring theme throughout this still young season. Perhaps just as frustrating, though, is the fact that an offense that returned 10 starters and averaged 32.3 points per game last year is putting up just 15 per contest in '22.

"We can't run the football," Coleman said. "When you can't run the football, you're going to have problems. They give us a five-man box and we still can't run the football. Then every time we do get a drive going, something happens and we get a negative play. We've just got to get better offensively. It's that simple."

The view from the opposing sideline was pretty sweet. Brentwood, a Class AA Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA, formerly GISA) member, dodged its first 0-3 start in five years by beating the GHSA school GMC Prep on its home field. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 1987, and the win brings the War Eagles to within one of tying the all-time series.

The cross-league matchup sat scoreless through much of the first until senior GMC kicker Levi Ward booted a 47-yard field goal to make it 3-0 'Dogs at the 2:19 mark. The three-pointer was just five yards shy of the GMC program record held by Ward's soccer coach Bobby Jaworski.

The next kick Ward connected on produced points too, but for the opposing team as Brentwood senior Wells Muller brought the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to give the War Eagles the lead. The game looked to be turning into a scoring fest because GMC's Johnathan Roach did the exact same thing immediately after. The only thing that stopped the rapidly developing track meet was a flag as the Bulldogs were whistled for holding.

The home team took the lead back early in the second on a nice 26-yard catch-and-run by senior playmaker Caleb Bush. Brentwood again had the answer, though. Some tough running by junior Drew Carter ended with a dive into the south end zone, putting the visitors up 13-9.

What Coleman felt was a game-changing moment occurred late in the half. The War Eagles started with the football on their own 19 with 3:07 to go. The GMC defense did a good job of stopping a Brentwood ballcarrier cold and eventually ripped the football out. After the ball was fumbled, the referee blew the play dead ruling that the runner's forward progress had stopped. The Bulldogs could have scooped and scored, but at the very least could have had the football deep in enemy territory.

"It changed the game," Coleman said of the call.

Brentwood happily carried its 13-9 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter was mostly a punt fest. Brentwood, running its patented wing T misdirection offense, got the breathing room it needed just over midway through the fourth. The War Eagles capped a 41-yard clock-eating drive with a 1-yard TD plunge by junior QB Bryce Williford on third and goal.

Down 20-9 with 5:27 left, the Bulldogs were still alive, but all hopes were dashed when senior quarterback Tyler Saunders tried to get rid of the football while in a defender's grasp. The attempt was picked off, and Brentwood turned that gift into points to go up 27-9.

GMC Prep's Isaiah Womble provided the late fireworks when he picked up the ensuing kickoff and took it to the house, but there was no time left to finish off the hopeful comeback attempt.

The Bulldogs next week will go back on the road for the first time since week one as they are set to travel to Washington-Wilkes. Brentwood, meanwhile, will be on the road again facing Thomas Jefferson Academy.