The Vidalia Indians saw their season end on a 45-yard field goal by Westside’s Sean Medcalfe with nine seconds to go in the game on Friday night in Augusta to give the Patriots a 23-21 win.

The Patriots scored 23 unanswered points after Vidalia had built a 21-0 lead with 6:38 to go in the first quarter. Despite having several chances to “ice the game,” the Indians couldn’t close the deal and end the 2021 season at 3-8.

Vidalia quarterback Bryce Davis put up 356 all-purpose yards, a rushing touchdown, and two more through the air. The senior ended his four-year career as one of the most prolific players to ever play the position at VHS, with 3073 yards passing and 28 touchdowns and 2861 yards rushing, and 35 touchdowns.

The Senior got the scoring started on the Indians first possession of the night when he hit Jordan Powell on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 5:06 remaining in the first quarter. The touchdown capped an 11-play 57-yard drive to put the Indians up 7-0 following Tate McDaniel’s PAT.

The Indians defense, who kept the Patriots in check throughout the first half allowing just 151 yards, forced a three and out and gave the ball back to the offense. However, the Indians were not able to move the ball and punted the ball back to Westside.

But the Patriot possession was short-lived as Jordan Powell intercepted a Brian Green pass, giving the Indians the ball at their 42-yard line. Three plays later, Davis and Kaleb Bennett hooked up for a 53-yard strike to extend the lead to 14-0 with 10:24 to go in the half.

Westside’s Medcalfe would miss a 42-yard Field Goal on their next possession after getting the ball in excellent field position after a failed onside kick attempt. But the defense bowed their backs and forced the attempt which sailed wide to the left.

The Indians would start their next possession on their 20-yard line, and on the second play from scrimmage, Davis would sprint 77-yards for the score, and just like that, it was 21-0 with 6:38 to go in the half.

Westside would get their first score of the night on their last possession of the half. Beginning at their 45-yard line following a 47-yard punt by Davis, the Patriots went 95-yards in just seven plays to cut the lead to 21-6 when Green hit Cameron Collins on a 7-yard TD throw on second and goal. The PAT was blocked, and the Indians maintained a 15-point advantage with just 34 seconds to go in the half.

Davis provided another memorable moment on the ensuing kickoff as he took the ball at the one-yard line and raced down the field to the westside 15-yard line before being forced out of bounds with 21 seconds to go in the half.

Davis would try two shots in the endzone but came up empty, setting up Senior Tate McDaniel for a 33-yard Field Goal Attempt. But the ball hooked wide left as time expired in the half, leaving the score 21-6.

The 3rd quarter was uneventful until Westside’s second possession of the half when Green capped a 53-yard drive with a 3-yard run on 4th and goal to cut the lead to 21-13 after the PAT.

The 4th quarter began with a bang as the Indians took possession of the ball and drove to the Patriot 21-yard line. Looking to convert on a third and 3, Davis had his arm hit from the backside by a Westside defender, and the ball popped up in the air and into the hands of Westside’s Kaleb Hutchinson, who sprinted 77-yards for the score. Westside chose to kick the PAT, which was good, and with 8:36 to go in the game, Vidalia still led 21-20.

Neither team could do anything with their next possessions, which set up the final sequence of events that led to the Patriot victory.

The Indians who had forced Westside to turn the ball over on downs with 4:02 at the Patriot 45-yard line were in great shape to run out the clock. Davis took it to the 39-yard line on first down, setting up a second down and four for the Indian offense. Forcing Westside to use their remaining timeouts, the Indians looked like they would be able to run out the clock with a made first down. But on the second down, a bad snap sailed over Davis’ head and forced the senior quarterback to retreat to the Indian 49-yard line to recover the ball.

On third and 16, Davis could only get 7-yards back, and the Indians punted Westside down to the 27-yard line. The receiver dropped the ball on a fair catch but was able to jump back on the ball and take possession at their 27-yard line with 1:37 to go in the game.

Green then moved the Patriots down the field in just six plays to the Indian 28-yard line, where they called on Medcalfe for the 45-yard field goal. The Junior hit the ball, dead center, and the Indians, along with their faithful, watched as the ball sailed through the uprights to end their season.

In addition to Davis, the Indians say goodbye to seven other seniors including, Jacoby Washington, Tate McDaniel, Tommy Walker, Zach Howard, Jaylon Madison, Xavier Willis, and Rodriguse Jordan.

With a huge underclass returning next year, the Indians will be ready to make a run in their new region as the spring will be here in six short months.

(Courtesy of VHS)