COMMERCE Two years ago, Commerce outplayed Irwin County for 47 minutes before a wild finish dealt the Tigers heartbreak in south Georgia.
Friday night at Tiger Stadium, it looked like fate would return the favor to the Tigers against the defending champion Indians.
And after converting twice on fourth down on its final drive in the final minutes and moving to the Irwin County 19, Commerce was one more 3-yard fourth-down attempt from pulling the upset. But the Indians defense stopped the Tigers’ Sammy Brown for one of the rare times all night a yard short to preserve a 25-21 win in the Class A Public quarterfinals.
Commerce coach Michael Brown looks on during practice this week.
COMMERCE Commerce has been in this position before in the Class A-public playoffs.
In 2018, the Tigers traveled to Irwin County in the semifinals and were up 17-7 with 11:30 left. DJ Lundy, who’s now at Florida State, scored three straight touchdowns, including the final blow with 39 seconds to go to lift the Indians past the Tigers in Ocilla, 26-23. It was the second time in four years the Indians beat the Tigers in the playoffs.
Now, the defending Class A Public champions will travel to Commerce for the third meeting in six years at Ray Lamb Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.