First Game Woes

Maclay Loses Nail Biting Home Opener Against Deerfield Windsor 30-28

Photo by Brooke Nohle/Maclay Andalusian

On Friday Aug. 25, the Maclay Marauders kicked off the 2023-24 season at home against Deerfield-Windsor. After going 4-7 the previous year, the Marauders have hoped to use this year as a stepping stone into the playoffs. After their pre-season loss against Chipley High School,13-12, Maclay came into this game hungry for a win but came up short to the Knights.

The first half started strongly with the Maclay side of the ball. After giving up a touchdown after a turnover, the Marauders were able to find a groove fast. Led by junior quarterback George Grant, who was able to connect with junior wide receiver Nash Beashers, Maclay was able to get on the board. 

“The offense started off strong in the first half and we really found our beat as we started scoring,” Beashers said. “We played very well in the first half.”

After going up 14-7, Deerfield-Windsor was able to make a last ditch effort and was able to get three points to answer Maclay’s seven. But Maclay was able to bounce right back right before the half and answer Deerfields three with another seven, making the score 21-10 before the half. 

“The first half was all us,” senior Nathan Lillie said. “But we started to let it slip after the second half. It's not all physical, it was just the mental side of it that we really need to work on.”

The second half was a different story for the Marauders. The Knights came out hot and started scoring early, and Maclay couldn’t keep up. By the end of the third quarter Maclay was down by two with a whole quarter to play. But the fourth quarter was dominated by the Knights.

Maclay was able to respond to the Deerfield touchdown with one of their own making the score 28-23. But soon Deerfield scored once more to make the score 30-28 with three minutes to play. After getting to the Deerfield 20 yard line Maclay had 47 seconds left on the game clock on fourth and two yards to gain. After a failed incompletion from Grant, Maclay was handed their first loss of the season with a final score of 30-28. 

Maclay will hope to bounce back and add a win to the column next Friday against the Brookwood Warriors in Thomasville, GA at 7:30 p.m.