Someone is going to leave Week 7 undefeated, and the other is going to suffer its first loss of the season.
On Friday night, Oct. 3, Taylor County beat Maclay on the road, 41-14, to improve to 6-0 while the Marauders fell to 5-1.
The Bulldogs were too much for the Marauders to handle, leading 28-0 at one point in the first half. Leading the charge was quarterback Jabez Glanton, who finished the night with five total touchdowns.
Maclay has been down before and even has experience of digging its way out of a deep hole.
The Marauders were able to cut the Bulldogs’ lead in half to make it 28-14 in the third quarter, led by quarterback Beau Beshears. However, that didn’t stop the Tayco from adding two more touchdowns to complete the game for them.
“We’re fired up. That’s a good football team,” Taylor County’s head coach Jesse Braswell said.
“I know that I’ve coached this area for a long time, that ain’t the same one we’ve played. Coach (Arie) Slone is doing a heck of a job. A class guy. I admire him.”
Here are the three takeaways from the game.
Jabez Glanton couldn’t be stopped
Jabez Glanton showed why he’s one of the best playmakers across Big Bend. The junior QB scored five total touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
Four of those touchdowns were through his passing, and one was rushing. Two of his four passing TDs were connected to wide receiver Chedrick Ellis.
Glanton said after the game that he wasn’t expected to perform like that against the Marauders because of what they were capable of.
“Coach (Braswell) put in our heads that every week is playoff week,” Glanton said.
“He told us that it’s going to be a tough game, so I wasn’t expecting it to be like that, but I knew we were going to get the job done.”
He has done it all for the Bulldogs at his size, at 5-foot-9, dual-threat. This season, he has put together nearly 1,200 yards of offense.
Taylor County’s defense pounces on Maclay with two early turnovers
Taylor County’s defense didn’t waste any time at the beginning of the game when it intercepted Beau Beshears’ pass twice.
The first pick was from linebacker Ayden Dunnell in the second quarter. This was Dunnell’s second interception he has made all season.
Then Kryan Barnes, another linebacker, got picked off on a tipped ball in the second quarter. Both takeaways would set up Taylor County for two of the four touchdowns in the first half.
Taylor County’s defense has been a dominant force all season, allowing an average of 10.3 points a game and generating eight turnovers.
Taylor County plays like every day is playoff week
The players at Taylor County feel like they have been overlooked heading into this season, despite the team’s 6-0 start last year. Every week, the Bulldogs play with urgency and as if they are underdogs.
“Last year, we lost in the first round, and everybody doubted us coming into next season,” Tayco’s offensive lineman Vern Faulk said.
“We’ve been underdogs since we played Wakulla and NFC, and have been underdogs since then.”
Glanton believes that the reason behind the team’s undefeated season so far is the connection the players have.
“I think it’s our love for each other,” Glanton said. We all grew up with each other. So we got chemistry. Everybody does.”
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Maclay’s 2025 schedule
Taylor County’s 2025 schedule
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: QB Jabez Glanton’s 5 TDs keep Taylor County undefeated after shutting down Maclay | Takeaways
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
