You literally couldn’t script a better start, as Habersham Central (4-2; 2-0 in 8-AAAAA) raced out to a 25-0 lead and held off visiting Winder-Barrow (3-4; 2-1), 35-21. The Raiders collected three first-half turnovers and used a big night from Donnie Warren to take a key region win.
The Raiders got the scoring started with a 29-yd field goal by Camden Meads. Immediately after, Sawyer Burgess had an interception that had Habersham right back at it.
Donnie Warren scored on the next handoff, bouncing off a would-be tackler and going 34 yards for the 10-0 lead. The defense continued to limit Winder, as CJ Davis had a huge sack to help get the ball back to Hab Central.
Paris Wilbanks connected on passes to Tyson Davis and Jay Feltus, and Warren capped the drive with a 1-yd plunge. He followed it with a 2-point conversion for the 18-0 lead early in the second.
The Raiders’ good fortune continued, as Parks York pounced on a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Although that Raiders drive ended with nothing, York picked off a pass moments later. Wilbanks wound up connecting with JJ Rucker on a 7-yd TD to push the lead up to 25-0 late in the half.
In desperate need of points, MJ Dowdy reeled off a monster run, then powered in from a yard out with 2:08 remaining in the half. The tables turned quickly, as less than a minute later Pierce Baillargeon hauled in a tipped pass and took it all the way back for a pick six. That knifed into the Habersham lead as it suddenly became a 25-14 game heading into the break.
The Raiders chewed up eight minutes on the opening drive of the second half, and Wilbanks hit Jay Feltus on a TD for the 32-14 advantage. Not to be outdone, Dowdy slugged back with a 42-yd TD just seconds later to get that one right back.
Then highly-recruited Giovanni Tuggle cut inside and picked off Wilbanks deep in Bulldoggs territory as the game reached the fourth moments later. Habersham Central was able to get the ball back and drain the clock, while Meads iced the contest with a 31-yd field goal.
Warren had two touchdown runs, while Wilbanks added a pair of TD passes – one to Feltus and another to Rucker. Meads was perfect on his two field goal attempts and three extra points.
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