The Veterans Warhawks picked up its first win of the season in style Friday night at Freedom Field, rallying late to secure a dramatic 29–22 victory over the Statesboro Blue Devils.
Veterans set the tone early when senior running back Trey Byrd sprinted 71 yards for a touchdown on the Warhawks’ opening possession. But Statesboro responded in the second quarter, as standout back Keon Childers punched in a 5-yard touchdown to cap a methodical 10-play, 65-yard drive. Moments later, the Warhawks reclaimed the lead when Glover finished off a 40-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. The two-point attempt failed, leaving Veterans in front 13–7.
Childers wasn’t done, however. He added a second score before halftime, finishing off another quick strike from the Blue Devils to send Statesboro into the break ahead 14–13.
The Warhawks regrouped after halftime. Byrd engineered a 76-yard drive, finishing it with a 2-yard touchdown run. He then found Derrick Ingram for a two-point conversion, swinging momentum back to Veterans at 21–14.
Statesboro refused to go quietly. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Cam Jackson led a 10-play, 68-yard march, scoring on a 2-yard keeper. Gage Newsome tacked on the two-point conversion, giving the Blue Devils a 22–21 edge with just over a minute remaining.
That’s when Byrd and the Warhawks delivered the decisive blow. On a lightning-fast two-play drive, Byrd connected with LJ Moton for a 67-yard touchdown bomb. Ingram added another two-point conversion, sealing a 29–22 win for Veterans.
Byrd finished the night with three total touchdowns, including two on the ground and one through the air, while Childers powered Statesboro with a pair of first-half scores.
With the victory, Veterans improves to 1–1 and will look to build momentum next week when they host Starr’s Mill at Freedom Field.
