After playing preseason scrimmage games against Bacon County and Jeff Davis County, the Pirates’ football team under coach J.T. Pollock got started with the regular season in August. The schedule called for the Pirates to face three teams of Indians to start the season.
The first was a road trip to take on the state’s third-ranked team, the Vidalia Indians. The Pirates trailed 7-6 at the half but saw the Indians take a 23-6 lead in the second half. Appling started a comeback and scored two touchdowns to pull within three points, but time ran out before they could complete the job. Appling fell 23-20 in the season opener.
The following week, the game scheduled against the Charlton County Indians was cancelled due to Hurricane Hermine, meaning the Pirates will only play a nine-game regular season. Appling County came back from the off week looking strong against the Dodge County Indians. The game went back and forth, but Keelan Crosby ran for over 200 yards as the Pirates won their home opener 41-34 at Jimmy Swain Stadium in Baxley.
Game three of the season had the Pirates traveling down U.S. Highway 341 to Jesup to face the Wayne County Yellow Jackets. In a barn burner that saw the score change hands numerous times, it came down to the final 18 seconds. Appling County was able to score and then convert a two-point PAT to win 39-38 over the AAAAA Wayne County. The Pirates started the season 2-1 with Region 2-AAA play still ahead.
Softball:
The Lady Pirates’ softball team under coach Linsey Tillman got off to a slow start with a young team. They have only two seniors on the roster – outfielder Katie Roberts and first baseman Mattie Bass – and went 3-5 to start the year with wins over Crisp County, Southeast Bulloch, and Pierce County. Appling started September with region wins over Tattnall and Long and had a four-game win streak going until they fell to Jeff Davis and Brantley counties. The Lady Pirates got a big win over Liberty County.
Halfway through September, the Lady Pirates had a record of 6-7 (4-1 in Region 2-AAA) with games still to come against Pierce, Glynn Academy, Tattnall, Long, and Brantley. The season ends at home against Liberty County on Oct. 4 with the region playoffs starting later that week.
ITG Web Content
Appling County Football, Softball Going Strong
Written by Rob Asbell
Photo by Rob Asbell
