The Treutlen Vikings held homecoming festivities Friday night at Bobby Driggers in Soperton but the visiting Wheeler County Bulldogs spoiled the party coming away with a 56 – 32 victory. At halftime, Calle Cauley was named Treutlen Vikings Homecoming Queen for 2020.
The Bulldogs opened the game quickly with two touchdown passes in the first quarter from QB Jacquez Kincy. The first to Brandon Smallwood for 27 yards, then to Jason Culver for 14 yard to take a 14 – 0 lead into the second quarter.
Kincy struck paydirt again with a 54 yard touchdown pass to Smallwood again with 10:16 remaining in the second quarter. The two point conversion was unsuccessful and Wheeler County led 20 – 0. On their next possession, the Vikings turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldogs 2 yard line. It was the first of three trips inside the Bulldogs 10 yard line that resulted in no points for Treutlen.
On the Bulldogs first snap from their own two yard line, Viking defensive lineman Ben Foskey got penetration, disrupting the play and forcing a safety, resulting in two points for Treutlen. The Vikings got good field position after the kick from their own 20 yard line from Wheeler County. Treutlen quickly drove the field, scoring on a 9 yard touchdown pass from QB Logan Hughes to WR Tim Blair. The two point conversion was no good and Treutlen had cut the lead to 20 – 8 with 1:10 before halftime.
Wheeler answered the score quickly following a 54 yard pass to put the Bulldogs first and goal at the Vikings 7 yard line. Kincy hit Keenan Bryant on a crossing route in the back of the end zone with :39 seconds before the half to extend the Bulldogs lead. The two point conversion was no good and Wheeler County led 26 – 8 at halftime.
Treutlen received the ball to start the second half with good field position at their own 45 yard line but on the second play from scrimmage fumbled the ball away to Wheeler County. The Bulldogs took advantage of the turnover quickly when Kincy hit Smallwood for the third time on the night with a 19 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion was successful and the Bulldogs led 34 – 8 with 10:46 left in the third quarter.
Trailing by 26 points, the Vikings began to make a run. On the ensuing kickoff, Jarvis Williams returned the Diego Ortiz kick 90 yards for a touchdown cutting the lead to 34 – 14. After a defensive stop, Treutlen scored on their next possession on a 21 yard run by RB Qamar Jordan. The PAT was no good and the lead was cut to 34 – 20 in favor of Wheeler County.
On the Bulldogs next possession, Viking defensive back PJ Smiley jumped the route on a pass into the flat by Kincy making the interception and returning it inside the Bulldog 5 yard line. Viking QB Logan Hughes then ran it in from 3 yards out for the touchdown. The PAT was no good and Treutlen had cut the lead to just 6 points, 34 – 26, but could get no closer.
The Vikings attempted an onside kick that they recovered at the Wheeler County 49 yard line but despite no flags being thrown, it was determined that a Treutlen player touched the ball before going a full 10 yards and Wheeler County has possession at midfield. On their first play, Bulldog RB Landon Bell scampered 50 yards for a Bulldog touchdown. The conversion attempt was no good and Wheeler led 42 – 26 with 5:11 left in the third quarter.
Wheeler County added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a 26 yard run by Jason Culver and another touchdown pass from Kincy to Quinshad Edwards for 26 yards. Treutlen scored once more as well on a 3 yard run by Qamar Jordan making the final score 56 – 32 in favor of the visiting Bulldogs. QB Jacquez Kincy ended the night with 6 touchdown passes for the Bulldogs.
The Vikings fall to 1 – 5 on the year and Wheeler County goes to 5 – 2. Treutlen travels to the Shamrock Bowl in Dubin next Friday night to battle the defending Class AA champs, the Fighting Irish with kickoff at 7:30. Catch all the action with Jeff Raiford and Brad Collins on Sweet Onion Country 101.7 FM and online at www.southeastgeorgiatoday.com.
