A first-half safety seemed inconsequential to Socastee at the time, especially since the Braves still led Georgetown by a surprising 6-2 score.
But in the end, the two-pointer proved to be the difference in the outcome as the Bulldogs (7-1 overall, 3-0 Region VIII-AAA) rallied for a 23-22 victory over the visiting Braves.
The see-saw battle came down to an easy extra point by the Bulldogs, who tied the game at 22-all on a late 28-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Hughes to Korey Ward.
After Socastee took an early 6-0 lead on Hunter Renfrow’s 81-yard touchdown run, the Braves were backed up near their own goal line when an option play broke down and Georgetown defensive end Leeshawn Cromedy made the tackle in the end zone.
The Bulldogs used the spark to get their offense going, and running back Julian Lunsford pounded his way into the end zone from 6 yards out for a 9-6 halftime lead.
The Braves jumped back on top in the third period on a short TD run by Daquan Brown, but Hughes hit Kysheem Muhammad for a touchdown pass to retake the lead at 16-14.
Socastee quarterback Jordan Renfrow capped a drive with a short TD run early in the fourth, but the Braves couldn’t stop the Bulldogs from scoring the game-winner late in the period on Hughes’ second TD pass of the game.
The Braves (2-6, 1-1 Region VIII-AAA) continued their string of close-call losses, suffering their fourth defeat of the season by a touchdown or less. They travel to Wilson next week for another region contest.
The Bulldogs travel to No. 4-ranked Myrtle Beach for a showdown for first place in the region.
