Swainsboro offered an encouraging first glimpse of what the 2026 season could hold this past Friday night. The Tigers topped Lucy C. Laney 41-6 in a controlled preseason scrimmage at Laney High School, marking their first game action under first-year head coach Dwight Smith.
Swainsboro built a 34-0 halftime lead behind four touchdown passes from junior quarterback Joshua Gray (#10). Senior receivers Marco Danford (#5) and Shannon Benjamin (#3) each caught two touchdown passes. The Tiger defense also contributed to the scoring with an 85-yard pick-six from sophomore cornerback Caleb Jones (#13).
Last Friday’s scrimmage featured modified rules designed to give both programs an opportunity to evaluate personnel. Special teams’ plays were dead, with no rush or returns. Possessions began at each team’s 35-yard line in place of kickoffs. Field goal and extra-point attempts were also uncontested.
Once the live action began, Swainsboro needed only one play to strike.
Gray connected with Danford for a 75-yard touchdown on the Tigers’ first offensive snap. Laney’s opening possession was stopped by the Swainsboro defense. The Tigers gave the ball back immediately, however, when they fumbled on the first play of their second series.
The Wrecking Crew made sure the mistake did not hurt.
Swainsboro kept Laney off the scoreboard, and the offense quickly regained its rhythm. Gray later hit Danford on a screen pass that the senior turned into a 64-yard touchdown. Benjamin added another explosive play with a 49-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter.
The passing game was not Swainsboro’s only source of production. Sophomore running back Kyle Johnson (#6) brought a physical presence to the backfield. Johnson ran hard through contact and forced Laney defenders to work to bring him down when his opportunities came.
Defensively, Swainsboro consistently flew to the football. Seniors Jakobi Woods (#78), Ja’Bios Smith (#0) and Derek Hughes (#7) were among those active for the Wrecking Crew throughout the first half.
Perhaps the defense’s biggest moment came when Laney put together a long, sustained drive deep into Tiger territory.
Facing a key third down, the Wildcats were met with pressure led by seniors Jayden Wilcher (#18) and Christian Tarver (#54). Jones stepped in front of the pass and turned the pressure into points. The sophomore cornerback returned the interception 85 yards for a touchdown.
Swainsboro’s defense stood tall again on Laney’s next possession. The stop gave Gray and the offense one more opportunity before halftime.
This time, the Tigers did not rely on a quick strike. Swainsboro moved methodically down the field. Gray capped the drive by finding Benjamin across the middle for a 21-yard touchdown. It was Benjamin’s second score of the half and sent the Tigers into the break leading 34-0.
Swainsboro’s potential starters handled the entire first half. The reserves took over to begin the third quarter and remained on the field for most of the second half.
The change in personnel did not stop the Tigers from finding the end zone.
Senior running back Daveyhon Williams (#21) had shown flashes of his speed earlier in the night. Later in the third quarter, Williams broke loose for a 40-yard run that put Swainsboro in scoring position. On the very next play, sophomore running back Chase Banks (#23) finished the drive with a 25-yard touchdown run for Swainsboro’s final score.
The reserves continued to handle the action into the fourth quarter. Swainsboro eventually turned things over to its freshmen to close out the scrimmage.
Laney scored its lone touchdown with 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter to produce the 41-6 final.
For Swainsboro, the trip to Augusta offered exactly what a preseason scrimmage is supposed to provide. There were positives to build on and mistakes to correct.
Smith liked the energy his team brought in its first opportunity to compete in front of the Tiger faithful.
“I was pleased at the energy we played with,” Smith said. “With it being our first time in front of our fans, the guys were fired up, and it made the difference in the game.”
The final score offered plenty to feel good about, but the scrimmage also gave Swainsboro a list of things to address before the regular season begins. Ball security was one of them. The Tigers put the football on the ground twice, including once on the first play of their second offensive possession.
Penalties were another concern, and for Smith, they pointed to something bigger than simply giving away yards.
“We had a lot of penalties, and they were a result of us being undisciplined,” Smith said. “That’s extremely disappointing because that’s what we pride ourselves on. We’ll really hone in on that this week and try and get our mistakes corrected before we face a very good Cook County team.”
Fortunately for the Tigers, there is time to make those corrections.
Swainsboro will not return to the field until Aug. 21, giving the Tigers nearly two weeks to study what happened against Laney, build on the positives and correct the mistakes before the regular-season opener against Cook at Tiger Field.
There will be plenty of attention surrounding Swainsboro while it prepares.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution released its preseason rankings Sunday with Swainsboro ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, behind No. 1 Heard County. Region 2-AA also received plenty of recognition, with Dublin, Bleckley County and Dodge County among the teams included in the preseason top 10.
The recognition may bring added attention to Swainsboro, but preseason rankings are not what the Tigers are concerned with. There is still an entire season to play, and this group understands that anything it hopes to accomplish will have to be earned on the field.
Friday night in Augusta provided the first look at what this team could become.
Now the Tigers have nearly two weeks to clean up the mistakes, build on what worked and prepare for the night when the scoreboard starts counting for real.
Swainsboro hosts Cook on Friday, Aug. 21, at Tiger Field.
