HAZLEHURST, GA — After six weeks away from the Pinelands, the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets returned home Thursday night to a packed stadium, familiar faces, and generations of alumni celebrating Homecoming 2026.
By night's end, the Jackets had given the hometown crowd another reason to celebrate, defeating longtime rival Bacon County 37–0 to remain undefeated at 6–0 overall and 2–0 in Region 1A play.
Ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, their highest standing in more than six decades, the Yellow Jackets continue to build on a season that has captured attention well beyond Jeff Davis County.
A Familiar Rivalry, A Different Chapter
Thursday's matchup marked the 68th meeting between Jeff Davis and Bacon County, the most-played football series in Yellow Jacket history.
It is a rivalry that has seen plenty of momentum swings. Bacon County once won eight consecutive meetings before Jeff Davis reversed the trend, winning the last five entering Thursday's contest.
The game also held a special connection for alumni celebrating their 35th reunion. In 1991, Jeff Davis defeated Bacon County 43–0. Thirty-five years later, members of that graduating class returned to the stands to cheer on another generation of Yellow Jackets.
But history and rankings offered little comfort heading into a rivalry game. Bacon County arrived with a 2–4 record, looking to turn its season around and hand Jeff Davis its first loss of the year.
The Jackets made sure that would not happen.
Jackets Take Control Early...Very early!
Jeff Davis set the tone before its offense ever touched the football.
On the opening kickoff, Josh Worthington (#47) brought down the Bacon County returner at the 11-yard line. A high snap and an illegal procedure penalty pushed the Raiders even deeper into their own territory before quarterback Scotland Hennessy was brought down in the end zone for a safety.
The Jackets led 2–0 just minutes into the game.
Taking possession at the Bacon County 38-yard line following the free kick, Jeff Davis went to work against a defensive front determined to stop its running game.
The Raiders crowded the line of scrimmage, stacking defenders against the Jackets' rushing attack. Kobe Hill (#34) broke through for a substantial gain, but a facemask penalty brought the ball back to the Bacon County 22-yard line.
That setback did little to slow the Jackets.
Quarterback Mark Durden (#16) found Jacob Laney (#22) wide open on a route out of the backfield for a 20-yard touchdown. Peyton Jones (#6) helped clear the way with a key downfield block as Laney slipped behind the defense and into the end zone.
The five-play, 38-yard drive gave Jeff Davis a 9–0 lead with 7:36 remaining in the opening quarter.
Bacon County answered with a drive built around running back Jaman Ellis, who managed to break several tackles and pick up first downs. But the Jackets tightened up defensively, and Zan Coney (#12) came off the edge for a six-yard sack on third down, forcing the Raiders to punt.
Jeff Davis continued moving the football behind the speed of Durden and the strength of its running backs. The Jackets carried a 9–0 lead into the second quarter, with another scoring opportunity already developing.
Early in the second period, Hill powered across the goal line from one yard out, pushing the lead to 16–0.
While the Jackets had established themselves as a powerful rushing team, Bacon County's determination to stop the run opened opportunities through the air.
Late in the second quarter, Durden rolled out of the pocket and delivered a pass to Braylon Varnadore (#35), who adjusted to the ball, backpedaled, and secured the catch while falling into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown.
The completion capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive and extended the Yellow Jackets' lead to 23–0 with 1:24 remaining before halftime.
It was Durden's second touchdown pass of the night. Both completions had gone for 20-yard scores, one to Laney and the other to Varnadore.
Bacon County threatened to answer before the half after Ellis returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Jeff Davis territory. But Worthington intercepted a pass, ending the Raiders' opportunity to put points on the board.
The Jackets headed into the locker room leading 23–0, having produced 194 yards of offense while limiting Bacon County to just 41 in the first half.
Ground Game Keeps Rolling
Jeff Davis opened the second half with the football and continued to move the chains behind its offensive line and backfield.
Durden, whose speed and ability to escape defenders drew repeated praise even from Bacon County's broadcasters, added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to extend the lead to 30–0.
He finished the game with 101 yards on 16 carries, along with his two touchdown passes. Hill contributed another 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on just six carries.
Altogether, Jeff Davis rushed for 272 yards against a defense that spent much of the night crowding the line of scrimmage.
Much of that success began with the offensive line. Jamari Wilcox (#54), Brice Bohannon (#60), Delbert Sumner (#77), Tye Rea (#52), and Kenneth Kidd (#57) helped create the running lanes and provide protection that allowed the Jackets to control the pace of the game.
Their work was complemented by receivers, tight ends, and backs who continued blocking downfield, giving ball carriers opportunities to turn short gains into bigger plays.
It is a style of football that has become familiar under Head Coach Lance Helton: physical, deliberate, and dependent on players carrying out their responsibilities for one another.
And while the offense continued moving the chains, the Yellow Jacket defense made certain Bacon County could not close the gap.
Defense Delivers Another Shutout
The Raiders found few answers against a Jeff Davis defense that has been among the stingiest in Class 2A this season.
The Jackets limited Bacon County to 108 total yards, including just 28 through the air, and kept the Red Raiders out of the end zone for all four quarters.
Along the defensive front, Jeremiah Davis (#0), Amare Burney (#1), Tye Rea (#52), and Jamari Wilcox (#54) helped disrupt the Raiders' blocking and put pressure on the quarterback.
Linebackers Hill, Worthington, and Coney provided another level of pursuit, while the secondary, including Laney, Durden, Jai-den West (#10), and Kei'lyn Biggins (#21), helped prevent Bacon County from finding success downfield.
The Jackets also benefited from several key individual defensive plays, including Coney's first-quarter sack and Worthington's interception before halftime.
Jaiden King (#20) added another interception in the fourth quarter, returning the ball approximately 80 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown before a penalty erased the score. The turnover stood.
Bacon County's Ellis proved difficult to contain at times, particularly when he found space along the sidelines, an identifiable pattern, but the Raiders were unable to turn those gains into points.
The shutout reflected a defensive effort built on pressure, pursuit, and players working together across every level of the field.
A Glimpse of What's Ahead
With the victory well in hand, Jeff Davis began working more of its younger players into the game.
Freshman Cam Vann (#4) gave the Homecoming crowd one final highlight in the fourth quarter when he took a pitch, cut back toward the middle of the field, and raced 23 yards for a touchdown.
The score extended the lead to 37–0 and offered a glimpse of the young talent continuing to develop within the program.
Kicker David Calderon (#92) converted all five extra-point attempts to complete the scoring.
For Jeff Davis, the evening was another demonstration of the depth and balance that have helped carry the team through its first six games.
The Jackets finished with more than 300 yards of offense, two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and a defense that never surrendered a point.
From Rebuilding to Believing
For those who have followed Jeff Davis football over the years, the significance of this season goes beyond another mark in the win column.
In 2022, the Yellow Jackets opened their season with four consecutive losses. Building a program capable of competing among the state's best would require time, patience, and continued development.
Four seasons later, many of the players who grew up together in youth football have become the foundation of an undefeated varsity team.
Under Helton's leadership, the Jackets have developed an identity built around a disciplined rushing attack, a physical defense, and the willingness of players to put the team's success ahead of individual recognition.
The progress has not come without difficult lessons. But those experiences have helped shape a team that appears increasingly comfortable with the expectations that come with winning.
At 6–0, Jeff Davis has now won six consecutive meetings against Bacon County and continues to hold its place among the top-ranked teams in Georgia's Class 2A.
Next Friday, Jeff Davis travels to face Thomasville, a 6–1 Bulldogs team carrying a 3–0 region record and a place among Class 2A's top-ranked programs, the most demanding portion of their region schedule.
After Thomasville, the Jackets still have Cook, Berrien, and Brooks County remaining on the schedule. The race for the region title is far from decided.
For Helton and his players, the challenge will be to continue building on what has brought them this far while remaining grounded in the discipline and humility that have helped define their season.
Thursday's Homecoming victory gave generations of Yellow Jackets plenty to celebrate, from alumni remembering past seasons to younger players beginning to write their own stories.
The work continues.
--Sophia Allen | GameFace Media