A furious comeback attempt by the Raiders was too little, too late in a 31-28 thriller in Mt. Airy against visiting Flowery Branch. Habersham (1-1) had been seeking its first-ever win against the Falcons. Ultimately, FB (1-1) got out to a quick start and never relinquished the lead behind four TD runs from Griffin Harper.
Flowery Branch used the ground game on the opening drive. Brett Strum had a huge gain down to the one, and Griffin Harper punched it in for the game’s first score. It was a bit of Deja vu when Harper scored another TD from a tick out for the 14-0 lead with 1:31 to go in the first.
The Raiders needed a boost and got it. Paris Wilbanks on a third down attempt found KJ Murray in the end zone for a 26-yd jump ball TD, as Habersham sliced into the deficit. It was short-lived however, as Harper scampered for a 64-yd TD run – his third of the game – to immediately get the score back.
The 21-7 score held true til halftime. The home team came out strong and aggressive in the second half. Warren had a handful of gains beyond 10 yards, and Wilbanks punched in a 2-yd keeper to get the Raiders to within 21-14.
Momentum appeared to be on Habersham’s side as they quickly forced a punt, but it was muffed and recovered by the Falcons deep in Raider territory. But on a first and goal situation, Flowery Branch kindly gave it back, as Sutton Porter recovered the loose ball.
Eventually though, the Falcons took a flight back into the end zone. It was Harper again who found pay dirt with his fourth TD of the contest for a comfy 28-14 lead with 11:18 left in the game.
Habersham didn’t give in. Using a combo of passing and running, the offense got in a great position in which Warren delivered a 4-yd TD to pull within 28-21 with just over five minutes on the clock. The ensuing kickoff was taken all the way to the 10-yd line for Flowery Branch.
Although the defense did well to hold it to a field goal, Brooks Rencinella knocked in the chip shot for the 31-21 lead with under three minutes on the clock. Habersham turned it over on downs, but got another shot at it and used the passing game to set up a Wilbanks 4-yd TD, making it a 31-28 game with just 33 seconds to go.
An onside kick try was recovered by Flowery Branch, putting an end to the comeback attempt. Wilbanks accounted for three TDs – one passing and two rushing. The Falcons are 4-0 all-time against Habersham.
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