Team Georgia continues recent dominance in Border Bowl
For the Love of the Game by Ashley ‘A.B.’ Brown
Border Bowl XII took place Saturday, January 18 and, for the first time, the event was held in South Carolina with Strom Thurmond High School hosting the game.
The Border Bowl is put on by WJBF NewsChannel 6 every year and features the top senior high school football players in the area. With teams representing the two sides of the Savannah River, the game pits Team Georgia against Team South Carolina. This is not your average All-Star style game, where little defense is played and the participants are more interested in individual moments. No, these two squads desperately want to beat one another. It is the ultimate bragging rights game.
In the previous ten matchups (one year was skipped due to COVID) the two sides have each won five times. That meant this year’s game would break the tie. Not too many years ago South Carolina led the series five to two, but a recent Georgia hot streak has seen the Peach State standouts not only win three games in a row, but they also have not allowed a single point since 2020.
Harlem High School’s Mark Boiter coached Team Georgia, while North Augusta High School’s Richard Bush was at the helm for Team South Carolina.
South Carolina got the ball first and used a double-pass trick play to find Strom Thurmond’s Jay Sewell open for a nice 27-yard gain, only to have Team Georgia’s defense, led by Cross Creek’s Nasan Houston and Burke County’s Darius Jordan, respond by getting the football for their offense. Team Georgia wasted little time in moving the ball down the field thanks to a 50-yard scamper by quarterback Ty Jones of Lakeside. Jones got Team Georgia in the red zone and his Lakeside teammate Jack Thexton punched it in on a short run for the first of his three rushing touchdowns.
Team Georgia built an early lead and survived every South Carolina attempt to get back in the game. The South Carolina side shot itself in the foot with five turnovers, including four Interceptions.
In the end Team Georgia cruised to a 45-9 victory, claiming this year’s Battle for the Paddle honors and taking a one game lead in the series.
Players of the Game
Lakeside High Schools’s Jack Thexton was named Offensive Player of the Game with three rushing touchdowns.
Harlem High School standout Baylor Davis took Defensive Player of the Game honors thanks to a one-handed interception to stop a South Carolina drive, one quarterback sack, and two tackles for loss.
Other Top Performers
Lakeside High School
The Panthers came out of this game smelling like a rose as the trio of Jack Thexton, Ty Jones and BJ Grissom combined for five rushing touchdowns.
Darius Jordan (Burke County High School DE)
Jordan may have been the most dominant defensive player on the field. He had a fumble recovery, a quarterback sack and two tackles for loss.
Ty Jones (Lakeside High School QB)
Jones rushed for 100 yards on only five carries and had a touchdown run.
Tyler Wallace (Evans High School K/P)
Wallace, who will kick at North Alabama next year, nailed a 44yard field goal and was perfect on his extra point attempts. He also did an excellent job handling punting duties as well.
Jay Sewell (Strom Thurmond High School WR)
Sewell was the lone bright spot for the South Carolina team, hauling in five passes for more than 70 yards.