With less than eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Thomson senior quarterback Markevion Jones had the ball on 3rd and 17 at his own 34 yard line. Up 17-14, getting stopped here meant giving Burke County a chance for a game-winning touchdown drive. And more importantly, it potentially could mean another loss in this storied rivalry between the Bears and Bulldogs.

Jones dropped back and looked for his receivers. His first, second, and even third options were covered.

The senior decided to make the play himself, dodging defenders before seeing nothing but open field ahead of him for a 66-yard touchdown run. The score would be the dagger in the Bulldogs 24-14 victory over the Bears.

“You gotta beat the man to be the man,” Thomson coach Michael Youngblood said after the win. “Whethe

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