Johnson Carries Bucs to Comeback Vctory in Golden Isles Bowl

Golden Isles Bowl
Blinn College 18, Jones County 14

Johnson carries Bucs to comeback victory
Furman Bisher - Staff

Sunday, December 5, 2004

Brunswick --- Teams from Texas and Mississippi came to coastal Georgia to settle a matter of pride Saturday in the Golden Isles Bowl, and for the better part of three quarters, all that separated the two was an extra point that went awry.

The Blinn College Buccaneers of Brenham, Texas, with their 300-pound offensive linemen, were favored, but the Jones College Bobcats, lighter and quicker, led until the last 17 seconds when James Johnson burst into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day, sealing Blinn's 18-14 win.

Johnson was player of the year in the Southwest Junior College Conference, and indeed, was player of the day in this 10th annual event. The freshman from Port Arthur, La., scurried into the end zone on his 31st carry for his 212th yard of the game from 16 yards out.

"We were going to make them beat us with their running game," said Jones coach Parker Dykes, "and they did."

Blinn scored first but missed the extra point, then Jones took the lead after quarterback Brett Hyatt scored on his own from 19 yards out and Michael Story converted the extra point.

In between that point and the fourth-quarter surge, the two teams managed to self-destruct time and again, either through penalties or interceptions, until VoncarieOwens' burst up the middle from 9 yards out gave Jones a 14-6 lead.

Ten minutes were left and the lead appeared safe, but only for a moment.

Then in 32 seconds, Johnson and Treeo Gibson burst out for 38 and 39 yards on two plays and a touchdown, but another extra point effort failed and Jones still held the lead until Johnson's decisive run.

Jones was led by Milton Collins, a freshman wide receiver from New Orleans who had 10 catches, breaking a bowl record held by Deion Branch, now a wide receiver with New England Patriots.

It was the first time the Golden Isles has been played without a Georgia team involved.