Smyrna’s Christian Beattie scores for the Bulldogs and celebrates with teammate RJ Williams during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Smyrna came from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the No.1 ranked Oakland Patriots 22-21 at Ray Hughes Stadium Friday night.

Senior quarterback AJ Jackson drilled a pass to Jordan Edwards from six yards out to pull the Bulldogs within 21-20.

First-year Bulldogs coach Mark Williams opted to go for the two-point conversion, and Jackson completed a pass to a wide-open Succory Weathers with 30 seconds left.

“I just want to thank God and for all of the training that we and I have been doing,” Smyrna quarterback AJ Jackson said. “It is paying off. I trust my defense.”

Oakland got the ball and ran it to near midfield. On the last play, Donte Cameron threw it in the middle of the field. The receiver tried to get out of bounds but was knocked down and the clock hit zero and Bulldog Nation celebrated the huge win in the region opener for both teams.

“Our guys never quit and never gave in,” said Williams, whose team lost its first two game by one point. “We forced turnovers and we didn’t score every time, but I’m so proud of our kids for the fight and effort that they showed tonight. Oakland is a good football team and will do a lot of great things.”

It was the first Smyrna victory at Oakland since Oct. 20, 2006, when the Bulldogs won 20-14.

It is also the first time that Oakland has lost a region opener since August of 2014 against Blackman in a Sunday afternoon game on ESPN, the year before Patriots coach Kevin Creasy came to Oakland High School in 2015.

Smyrna forced four Oakland turnovers, and the Patriots were flagged 11 times for penalties. Twice they were flagged for pass interference on the Bulldogs game-winning drive.

“We told our kids that Smyrna was a wounded animal as they had lost two games by one point, and then they come to our place and win by a point,” Creasy said. “Sometimes it’s hard for teenagers to understand that the teams we play are good football teams.”

Oakland scored first on a 10-play drive, with nine of the plays being runs. Jacob Vaughn scored on a 4-yard run.

Oakland fumbled the ball and Smyrna recovered, leading to its first score – and 11-yard run by Christian Beattie. It was the first of his two touchdowns

Oakland score right before the half when Cameron rolled right and tossed the ball to Kemani Bass, who made a diving catch near the end of the half to make it 14-7 Patriots.

Oakland scored once more off a Smyrna fumble, when on fourth-and-one from the 36, Kam Morton ran up the middle and beat everyone to the end zone.

After stopping Oakland on downs on their own 24-yard line, Smyrna took two plays and Beattie snuck in from a yard out. It was set up by a 22-yard pass from Jackson to RJ Williams.

Williams led Smyrna with four catches for 55 yards, and Deantwan Sturgess led them on the ground with nine carries for 30 yards.

Scoring Summary

Smyrna 7 0 0 15 — 22

Oakland 7 7 0 7 — 21

O 1st 5:28 Jacob Vaughn 4-yard run (Clarke Boutte kick)

S 1st :12 Christian Beattie 11-yard run (Owen Sanford kick)

O 2nd :30 19-yard pass Kemani Bass from Donte Cameron (Boutte kick)

O 4th 11:53 Kam Morton 36-yard run (Boutte kick)

S 4th 2:21 Beattie 1-yard run (Sanford kick)

S 4th :30  6-yard pass Jordan Edwards from AJ Jackson (pass Jackson to Succory Weathers good)

Smyrna’s AJ Jackson gets the pass away before Oakland’s Jayden Carney get to him during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Oakland’s Jonas Oglesby jars the ball loose from Smyrna’s Deantwan Sturgess in the Bulldog backfield, but Sturgess is able to recover the fumble during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Smyrna’s Daylyn Sanders brings down Oakland’s Donte Cameron for a loss during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Oakland’s Kylan Mitchell reaches but is unable to intercept the Smyrna pass during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Smyrna punter Rylan German is taken down by Oakland’s Prince Curry El after he gets the kick away during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS

Smyrna’s AJ Jackson gets airborne but can can’t catch the pass as Oakland’s Chevy Armour defends during their game Friday at Oakland. JIM DAVIS