Bremen closed its season with a win over Trion.
The pairing will be the third in school history between the two. The last came in 2006, when the Tigers won 17-3. Their first meeting, back in November of 2003, resulted in a 28-14 Commerce win. Both previous games were second-round playoff match-ups.
“Those other two times, we were very fortunate to win,” said coach Steve Savage. “We had good football teams those two times too. Both of them were close games that we pulled out at the end.”
Savage said Bremen has a long history of playing good football.
“Their coach, Ricky Tolleson, has been there for many years,” he said. “He and I have been friends for a number of years, probably around a dozen. That part of the state plays good football, hard, solid, tackle well, block well, very disciplined football teams.”
Savage said his team will have to do all of those things well too to compete Friday night.
“If we move the ball, we can’t do like we’ve done in some games, which is drive the ball down the field and not score. If we get in the red zone, we’ve got to score. We’ve mounted some good drives early in some games but come away without points. We’ve got to get points out of it. If we can do that, we can stay in the game and have a chance in the fourth quarter.”
Social Circle
Commerce took control early, with Jessie Savage running the first touchdown of the night in from 10 yards out after the Tigers drive 39 yards in three plays. The successful point after attempt made it 7-0.
The Redskins fumbled at their own 11-yard line, opening the door for the Tigers to score again. But the Redskins picked off a Commerce pass on the next play, only to hand it back to the Tigers four plays later on a fumble at the Social Circle 33 yard line.
This time, Commerce capitalized on the opportunity, as Anthony Norris scored on a 20-yard pass from Cody Streetman to make it a 14-0 lead.
That lead would move ahead two more points on a Social Circle safety three plays later, making it a 16-0 advantage for the Tigers.
The Redskins got an opportunity to score moments later, when Commerce fumbled the ball. Social Circle recovered the fumble, running it back 54 yards for its first touchdown of the night. A successful PAT made it 16-7, where it would stay through the rest of the first quarter.
Commerce would score again early on in the second quarter. After marching 60 yards in 10 plays, sophomore Jamal Browner scored on a one-yard run to make it a 23-7 game.
Another Social Circle fumble opened the door yet again for Commerce moments later, as the Tiger recovered the ball on the Redkins’ 26-yard line. Four plays later, Marquavius Little ran in the fourth Tiger touchdown from one yard out. The extra point attempt was blocked, however, making it a 29-7 lead.
Commerce added another TD before the half, driving 59 yards on seven plays before Browner scored from 22 yards to make it 35-7, where it would stay through the half.
The Redskins showed a little more life in the third quarter, running in a touchdown from 23 yards out to make it 35-14.
Commerce answered on its next possession, using eight plays to move 59 yards, handing off to Little, who scored his second touchdown of the night from seven yards out to make it 42-14.
Commerce padded its lead further after a 52-yard, seven-play drive that culminated in Little’s third touchdown of the night, this time on a 10-yard run to make it a 49-14 Commerce lead.
The Redskins scored on a 32-yard run to make it 49-21, where it would stay until the final buzzer.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Commerce News.
