Jeff Davis Pulls Away From McIntosh County Academy, 36-7, to Stay Unbeaten
DARIEN, Ga. — Jeff Davis faced its most sustained challenge of the season Friday night, but the Yellow Jackets responded by pulling away from McIntosh County Academy for a 36-7 road win and a 4-0 start.
Immediately, you could feel an intense, slightly ominous vibe on the Buccaneer field. The night was still, the air muggy, and a battle was about to unfold.
The game looked different early from Jeff Davis’ first three outings. McIntosh entered the night 3-1 (with one of their wins being by forfeiture) and answered the Jackets’ opening touchdown with a long scoring drive of its own, tying the game at 7-7. The Buccaneers’ touchdown was the first offensive touchdown allowed by the Jeff Davis defense this season.
Jeff Davis opened the scoring after beginning its first possession in McIntosh territory. Kobe Hill and the offensive line controlled the drive, with Hill eventually powering his way into the end zone from 12 yards out. David Calderon added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
McIntosh responded with a 13-play, 59-yard drive, using its run-heavy offense to work down the field before Earnest McIntosh scored from a yard out. The extra point tied the game late in the first quarter.
From there, Jeff Davis clawed their way into control.
Quarterback Mark Durden connected with Braylon Varnadore for a 14-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. After a series of McIntosh offsides penalties moved the conversion attempt closer to the goal line, the Jackets elected to go for two. Durden pitched to Varnadore, who walked into the end zone to give Jeff Davis a 15-7 lead.
Penalties slowed the Jackets at times during the first half, including back-to-back holding calls that erased two sizable runs. Jeff Davis recovered before halftime, however, putting together another drive that ended with Hill scoring from two yards out with one minute remaining.
That touchdown sent Jeff Davis into the locker room with a 22-7 halftime lead.
McIntosh received the second-half kickoff, but the Jeff Davis defense quickly set the tone with a three-and-out. The Jackets then leaned again on the running game.
Hill broke free for a 33-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, his third rushing score of the night. The run extended the lead to 29-7 and gave Hill 86 rushing yards at that point in the game.
McIntosh produced one of its best opportunities immediately afterward when Josh Griffin broke through the kickoff coverage and raced deep into Jeff Davis territory. Jacob Laney chased him down from behind near the Yellow Jacket 40, preventing a touchdown.
That play proved important. The Jeff Davis defense continued to tighten after McIntosh’s opening-quarter score, repeatedly forcing the Buccaneers off the field and keeping them out of the end zone for the remainder of the game.
The Jackets added one final score with less than a minute remaining. Durden dropped back to pass and found Jai-den West uncovered for a touchdown, Durden’s second touchdown pass of the night. Calderon’s extra point made it 36-7.
Jeff Davis finished with 339 total yards on 44 plays, including 295 rushing yards on 40 attempts. The Jackets averaged 7.7 yards per play and recorded 24 first downs. Durden completed two of four passes for 44 yards, with both completions going for touchdowns.
Hill led the rushing attack with 86 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns. Durden added 54 rushing yards, Laney finished with 51 and Garrison Coleman added 50 as Jeff Davis continued to spread carries across the backfield.
On the other side, the Yellow Jacket defense held McIntosh County Academy to 117 total yards, including 105 on the ground and just 12 through the air. The Buccaneers converted only one of 10 third-down attempts.
The 36-7 win moves Jeff Davis to 4-0 and closes out the non-region portion of the schedule unbeaten.
NEXT UP: Jeff Davis will open region play Friday night on the road against an undefeated Fitzgerald team that has made a habit of giving the Yellow Jackets trouble.
The Purple Hurricanes enter the matchup 4-0 after a 25-20 road win over Worth County. Fitzgerald has also picked up wins over Clinch County, Irwin County and Dodge County, including a 28-0 shutout of Irwin. Junior running back Latavis Devine Jr. has emerged as one of the Hurricane’s biggest offensive threats, averaging 150 rushing yards per game through the early portion of the season.
There is recent history between the two programs. Fitzgerald handed Jeff Davis lopsided losses in 2022 and 2023 before the Jackets broke through with a 26-20 win in Hazlehurst in 2024. Fitzgerald answered last season with a 35-21 victory at Jaycee Stadium.
This time, both teams arrive unbeaten. Jeff Davis is 4-0. Fitzgerald is 4-0. And the first region game of the season comes with considerably more weight than an ordinary Week 5 matchup.
Final: Jeff Davis 36, McIntosh County Academy 7
Sophia Allen | GameFace Media