THOMASVILLE – In the midst of an oncoming hurricane, the Cairo Syrupmakers and the Bainbridge Bearcats met on a damp Wednesday night in Cairo.
It was all Syrupmakers on Wednesday as the Cairo got off to an early and hot start behind one of the best running backs in the country. Bryian Duncan broke open the scoring column for the Syrupmakers just a few minutes in, and he wasn’t done. Duncan would go on to score three rushing touchdowns in the first half, including a 30-yard dash in the first quarter.
Duncan and the Syrupmakers would put up 20 unanswered points and head into the half up 20-0 after a lightning delay held up the second quarter.
Cairo would come out of halftime firing on all cylinders as Xiquavian Teal punched in a ten-yard run to put the Syrupmakers up 27-0.
It looked like it could be Cairo’s first shutout victory over Bainbridge since 2013, but the Bearcat’s Vontrey Willingham wasn’t about to let that happen. After Cairo made it 27-0, Willingham returned the kickoff for a touchdown, giving the Bearcats their first score of the game.
This is not the first time the Bearcat’s offense has had to turn to Willingham. He has arguably been the best player on this Bainbridge squad. Willingham has scored five of the Bearcat’s seven touchdowns this season, including a 60-yard reception against Coffee and a kick return for a touchdown against Thomas County Central and Cairo.
However, the weather took a turn for the worse and the game had to be postponed with about five minutes left in the third quarter.
“It hasn’t been set yet,” said Coach David Coleman about the date to resume play. “As soon as we can get back to school after this storm and figure out the date we’ll announce it.”
Cairo’s next game is a home game against Leon that is scheduled for October 4. Bainbridge’s next scheduled contest is a region home game against Westover, scheduled for the same day.