NASHVILLE, Ga. — Tan Gelin burst through several blocks and into the end zone at Raymond Jones Memorial Stadium late in the third quarter.

And somewhere, you got the feeling the Thomasville coaches felt a little better. 

Or at least they received a little room to breathe.

The Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing skid and earned their first Region 1-2A victory of the season with a 28-13 victory against pesky Berrien on Friday night. 

And it was a crucial win.

The victory was one the Bulldogs (5-4 overall, 1-2 Region 1-2A) sorely needed, especially after falling at Brooks County on Oct. 5 before last Saturday’s setback against Fitzgerald. It was Thomasville’s first victory since they scored a 49-20 non-region victory against Cook on Sept. 21. 

“I would have taken a one-point victory tonight against these guys,” said Thomasville head coach Zach Grage. “Coach Tim Alligood has done a fantastic job here. But I’m so proud of our guys tonight for their effort.”

Thomasville’s defense stifled Berrien, then it used a combination of short passes and a power running game to build its lead for good in the second half. After Berrien (5-3, 0-2) trimmed the deficit to 21-13 on its opening drive of the second half, the Bulldogs pounded the ball inside and extended their lead to 28-13 on Gelin’s second score of the game.

Ken Bennett’s 5-yard touchdown scamper pulled the Rebels within a score early in the third quarter. But the extra point attempt was blocked and the eight-point deficit was as close as Berrien could get.

Ronald Smith’s interception at the Bulldog 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. Thomasville burned the final three minutes off the clock to preserve the victory.

“(At halftime), coach just told us to come out and play disciplined,” said Smith, who had three interceptions in the game. Two, however, were nullified by pass interference calls in a penalty-infested game that saw both teams flagged for questionable infractions.

Gelin scored the first of his two touchdowns minutes into the game when he scored on an 8-yard run. After Hurston Waldrep’s extra point attempt, the Bulldogs led 7-0. 

They increased it to 14-0 with 15 seconds left in the first quarter when quarterback Chad Mascoe connected with Jakarius Tillman on an 11-yard touchdown strike in the corner of the end zone.

But Berrien trimmed the deficit in half when Bennett scored on a 7-yard run at the 5:52 mark of the second quarter.

Thomasville answered on its ensuing possession with its most impressive drive of the game. Seconds before halftime, Kelvin Cochran slipped behind a defender and hauled in a 44-yard reception to give the Bulldogs first-and-goal at the 3-yard line. A play later, Mascoe connected with Cochran again on a scoring strike to give the Bulldogs a 21-7 advantage at the half.

Grage was pleased that his defense kept Berrien off the scoreboard in the second half after the Rebels scored on their opening possession. Last week, Thomasville blew a 21-10 halftime lead and fell to Fitzgerald.

“That’s a point of pride that we’ve built this program on … finishing strong in the second half,” he said. “Offensively, we played well. We haven’t seen them play man (coverage) like they did on every single snap. They were challenging our receivers.”

Thomasville is open next week before playing host to Early County in the regular-season finale on Nov. 2. A victory against the Bobcats will secure at least the No. 3 seed in the state playoffs that begin on Nov. 9.

“Our open date is coming at a good time,” Grage said. “We’ve got to take care of business. The only thing we control is No. 3, but there is a situation where if we lose, we could be out.”