FPD can’t secure second straight championship, loses to Bulloch in 14-10 thriller in Statesboro

Down 14-10 in the state title game with less than two minutes to play, coach Brett Collier and the FPD Vikings just wanted to do one thing.

As Bulloch Academy players sprayed water bottles into the night air and fans ignored the PA announcer’s pleas to stay off the field, Collier described that plan — a plan that failed, despite his and quarterback Major Simmons’ best efforts, to bring FPD its second straight state championship.

“The goal was to get the ball to (wide receiver Benjamin) Mcelreath,” Collier said simply. “We tried to hit him on a double move, we tried to hit him over the middle. Some of those things we couldn’t protect, but on that last series, we were just trying to get him the ball. He’s our playmaker.”

As hard as quarterback Major Simmons tried, he couldn’t find his star wideout while scrambling away from Bulloch defenders. The last-gasp drive stalled, and the Vikings lost to the Gators 14-10 in a thriller for the GIAA 4A State Championship at Georgia Southern’s Paulson Stadium in Statesboro Saturday night.

Second straight title game appearance or not, the Vikings and their faithful were left shell-shocked. Pom-poms were slammed, popcorn buckets were kicked. But Collier stayed calm and collected.

“I don’t have anything that’s gonna make you feel better right now… It’s okay to be upset, but it’s not okay to hang your head. You have done so much,” the head coach told his team in the huddle after handshakes. “I’m proud of you, and I love you.”

The close loss — which was a scoreless tie at halftime, surprisingly — ended the Vikings’ season with an 11-2 mark. Simmons could not push his team to the same offensive heights it reached in other games this year, but put forth a valiant effort from an oft-collapsing pocket.

“Well, Bulloch’s got a great defense, that was one reason behind that. But he is one of the best competitors I’ve ever had a chance to coach, he really is,” Collier said. “He’s got no quit in him, he’s gritty, tough, all the things. So proud of the way he led this team.”

As gutsy as Simmons’ scrambling was, the FPD defense stole the show, coming up huge against a type of offense it had not yet seen this season.

“It would have helped a lot if we would have played them before, but I thought that we had a good plan,” Collier said. “I messed some stuff up there at the end that I might have changed, but listen — football is a simple game. It’s blocking, tackling and doing the right things. Tonight, Bulloch did that better than us.

“I thought our defense did great. (Bulloch) has a very diverse run game, they’re good at what they do. But you give up 14 points, you expect to win.”

The Gators used that varied rushing attack to go 13-0 for the state title. It was almost a home game for Bulloch in Statesboro, but FPD had a nice crowd themselves to pair with their “home field advantage” as the No. 1 seed.

The Gators defense played a key role as well. Simmons made things happen with sheer will, sometimes leaping in the air as he passed to make sure the ball cleared defenders. The rush game with Brady Mchugh struggled at times.

“I’m just so thankful for these seniors, they do all the great things, they’re a great group. I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Collier said on his biggest takeaway this season.

From a scoreless tie to a back-and-forth finish

Despite the scoreless tie at halftime, the first half featured its fair share of zany plays. Just when it seemed that one side might build a little momentum to work with, another swing would occur.

Bulloch started out driving to open the contest, mixing up its tricky option run game to fool FPD and get inside the Vikings’ 20-yardline. FPD got a much-needed stop, though, stuffing the Gators on a fourth-and-8 from the 13-yardline to get the ball back.

While it looked like the Vikings failed to do anything with that possession after the turnover on downs, Bulloch muffed the ensuing punt when the return man tried to field it on a hop. Brett Roper fell on the loose ball to give the Vikings a fresh set of downs further up the field.

Although FPD squandered the opportunity, the recovery helped the defense find its footing. For much of the rest of the first half two teams traded empty drives. There were occasional sparks for both squads — a 20-yard run for the Gators here, an impressive off-balance throw from Simmons for FPD there — but no sustained success.

The most impressive play of the first half was a wild scramble by Simmons. The quarterback avoided a sack for a safety in the endzone by running across the entire width of the field, then heaved a 30-yard rainbow ball that Mchugh reeled in for a toe-tap catch.

Even that drive stalled, however, and both coaches went to the locker room searching for answers on offense.

Collier and the Vikings, thanks to getting the ball to start the third quarter, broke through first. FPD inched its way down the field and finished of the drive with a short Simmons rushing score to go up 7-0 with about 6:30 left in the third quarter.

Bulloch answered easily, as running back Shamar Jenkins exploded for two lengthy runs to even the score and bring the Gator fans to their feet.

FPD’s next drive took the game into the fourth quarter and ended up inside the red zone, but the Vikings had to settle for a Dominic Economopoulos field goal to make it 10-7. Bulloch took the lead after a long drive with another Jenkins touchdown made it 14-10.

The Vikings’ next drive did little, with Simmons throwing a pick to end it on a fourth-and-long desperation play. FPD stuffed the Gators on their ensuing drive, though, and got the ball back with one last shot.

That was when the Vikings found themselves hunting for a completion to Mcelreath, but it wasn’t to be, and FPD fell 14-10 after another Simmons interception to Bulloch’s Ike Hubbard.