By Randy Young

Special to the Times-Enterprise

BAINBRIDGE — Again led by their defense, the Region 1-AAAA champion Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets finished a remarkable run through their region schedule by defeating the Ed Pilcher-coached Bainbridge Bearcats 13-3 at Centennial Field.

The win gave Central a perfect 8-0 region record and extended its overall winning streak to nine games.

“I’m just as proud as I can be of this football team and these coaches,” Yellow Jackets head football coach Bill Shaver said after the game, his second straight victory over his former mentor. “When you look at how far they’ve come since the beginning of the season, it’s just really something to see. But I am glad this game is over.”

With leading rusher Curtis Brooks in street clothes on the sidelines due to a nagging deep thigh bruise, Central’s offense could only muster six points in the first half. The points came off of two booming Griffin Bell field goals from 34 and 37 yards.

“We weren’t exactly playing with a pile of emotion,” Shaver added. “That’s one of the things we were worried about coming into this game. And, you know, it’s hard to play someone who knows what you’re doing as well as (former Central) coach Pilcher knows us.”

But as much as the Yellow Jacket offense struggled, the blue-and-gold stop troops were as impressive. After a good return of the opening kickoff into Central territory, the Jackets defense forced a field goal attempt that sailed wide left.

The half would end with the Central defense shutting the Bearcats veer out while forcing two key turnovers.

Early in the third quarter, it was the Bearcats defense forcing a fumble as Central quarterback Eric Dodson was separated from the ball at his own 47. Five plays later, Bainbridge’s Keenan Adams nailed a 44-yard field goal to cut the lead to 6-3.

However, Central’s offense closed the night’s scoring in the fourth quarter when Lavoyd Reddick took a Dodson pitch in from 13 yards out for the night’s only touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets defense clamped down on the Bearcats as ends Ray Drew and Caleb Heard repeatedly showed their speed in chasing down rushers from behind and hounding quarterback Rohan Gaines.

“What can you say about this defense? They seem to come up with the big plays at the right times, and tonight was no different,” Shaver said.

Dodson ended the night with 67 yards on the ground to lead the offense. He passed for 61 additional yards, 35 of which went to Julius Reese.