By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

Georgetown opened its region schedule with a 35-20 win over St. James last week.

"We actually finally put four quarters of football together, which I think was the difference in the ball game," Bulldogs coach Bradley Adams said.

"The wheels came off on us again, and that's something we've got to fix," said Sharks coach Mark Fischer, who was on the sidelines for his second game since being diagnosed with bone and kidney cancer on Sept. 28.

Georgetown got on the board first less than a minute into the game. Tarik Tucker intercepted a Josh Roper pass, and four plays later Julian Lunsford ran it in from 11 yards out for the 7-0 lead.

Roper then hit Tre McCullum on 31-yard and 68-yard touchdown passes to put St. James up 14-7.

Georgetown tied the score just before halftime with a 65-yard, nine-play drive capped off by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Hughes to Tucker.

The Bulldogs went 65 yards on the opening possession of the second half and took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown plunge from Juwan Gibbs.

St. James got a 54-yard touchdown run Austin Adams with 1:38 left in the third quarter, but Dae'Quan Gibson blocked the extra point to keep Georgetown in front 21-20.

The Bulldogs extended the lead to 28-20 on a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jordan Ward. Michael Billings capped a seven-play, 64-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown to wrap up the scoring.

"The interception made it a two-score game so it was hard for them to come back," Ward said.

Georgetown's offense compiled 428 yards on 69 plays, averaging 6.2 yards per play. The Sharks had 285 yards of offense on 57 plays, and averaged 5 yards per play.

Billings was the leading rusher for Georgetown with 72 yards. Lunsford had 42 yards before being lost to an ankle injury, and Hughes had 39.

Hughes was 17-for-26 passing for 270 yards. Alvin Walker had 140 yards, Tucker had 52, Chris Gamble had 48, and Cannon Ballard had 25.

"It was really big [win]," Walker said. "It gives us a boost of confidence. We've got to practice hard and believe and keep working hard on the field."

Ward led the Georgetown defense with 17 tackles. Anthony Blair had nine tackles, one fumble recovery and one-and-a-half sacks; Dominick Wigfall had eight tackles and one sack; Leon Ford had seven tackles and half a sack; Gerald German had six tackles; and Tucker, Gibbs and Denzell Archie had five tackles each.

Georgetown (4-2) travels to North Myrtle Beach (4-2) on Friday night.

"This is going to be a battle every single week," Adams said. "This region is probably the toughest top to bottom than it's been in years. It's going to be a battle like it was tonight every week, every minute of every ball game."

"It's a tough region," Ward said. "Myrtle Beach and Socastee are going to be the two teams competing for the No. 2 spot. We'll work hard every day in practice Monday through Thursday and hopefully compete for that No. 1 or No. 2 seed."

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Before the game, Georgetown's public address announcer asked the crowd to keep St. James coach Mark Fischer and his family in their thoughts, and Fischer accepted many hugs and well wishes throughout the evening.

Although on the sidelines, Fischer said he was not involved with the team during the week and praised assistant coach Ricky Cox, who is running the team, and the other assistant coaches.

"I think coach Cox and the staff did a heck of a job and the players played their guts out," Fischer said. "I was just a spectator tonight. For what they had to deal with this week and a good Georgetown football team, I couldn't be more proud of my boys."

Fischer began chemotherapy last week and was getting treatment the day before the game.

"I've got to go back and get more chemo but I'll raise heaven and earth to get back here for Friday," Fischer said.