Already four weeks in the books. Here’s what transpired on Friday night.
#1 Jefferson 42, Stephens County 14
Jefferson started and ended really well, with the Indians owning the third quarter. Prior to that, the #1 Dragons were up 28-0 at the break courtesy of two TD runs by Max Brown (one for 70 yards), and Colton Grant and Griffin Drake found pay dirt as well. The second half featured Stephens County rallying with a TD by Morris Perkins and a trickeration TD from Davon Swinton to Ahmad Ivey. Zoonk Patterson had two interceptions, and Stephens County was in the red zone at the end of the third with a chance to make it a one-score game. But Dylan Berardinelli, Chance Payne, and another Dragon tallied interceptions. Grant and Eli Primm had second half TD runs to polish it off at 42-14.
Dawson County 32, Banks County 22
Jaybo Shaw claimed his first win at Dawson County with a xx-xx victory over Banks County in Dawsonville. Lane Morris got the Leopards up early with a 74-yd TD run, but Cody McBrayer’s score and Aden Bannister’s 2-point conversion had the Tigers in front 8-7. A long lightning delay stopped play for quite some time. When it resumed, so did the Dawson offense. McBrayer had an 8-yd TD run for a 15-7 advantage, which held to the break. Gunnar Weaver and Dylan Edwards connected to start the third with a 17-yd TD strike, and Morris threw his first TD pass of the season for Banks when he linked up with Caden Watson. Morris added a 2PC to make it a 22-15 game in favor of the Tigers. Jacob Felkai had a 35-yd field goal to get some of the points back late in the third. Early in the fourth, Morris added another TD run, bridging the gap to a 3-point deficit for Banks. Dawson responded with a TD run from Weaver, sealing a 32-22 victory.
Madison County 27, Commerce 21 (4th Quarter)
The Tigers finally got their game in though they had to wait a little longer than planned as the game started in a delay. Demarco Huff got it started with a 62-yd TD run before Madison County scored twice unanswered. Bronc Cash had a scoop-n-score in the second, but the Red Raiders led 20-14 at the break. After another lightning delay, Madison County started putting the game out of reach with another TD. Jace Lyle had a 30-yd TD to get the game within 27-21.
Dunwoody 24, Lumpkin County 19 (Halftime)
It was 24-19 in favor of Dunwoody at the half in a game that was significantly delayed due to lightning. Lumpkin got on the board first on a Nolan Matthews TD run. The ensuing kickoff was taken back for the tying score, though Matthews again found the end zone to push the Indians up 13-7. Dunwoody would pull ahead 21-13 at the end of the first. Late in the half, Matthews got the hat trick with his third score to pull within 21-19.
Cherokee Bluff 35, Habersham Central 14
The Raiders suffered a 35-14 loss at Cherokee Bluff, now going to 2-2 overall. Both losses came to a Flowery Branch area team, and the season has featured alternating wins and losses to this point.
#6 Rabun County 49, Dalton 42
A straight-up barn-burner, as Rabun County takes a 49-42 roller coaster on the road. The Wildcats was often ahead, as Reid Giles had a 15-yd TD in the first before Dalton tied it up. Ty Truelove hit Reed Burrell on a 3-yd TD, and Lake Evans’ 5-yd TD run made it a 21-7 game, but Dalton would keep coming back. Giles did add a 98-yd kickoff return for a TD for a brief 28-14 lead, but the home team scored twice before the break to tie it at 28 apiece. Giles’ third TD was a 35-yd score through traffic in the third, but Dalton kept pace to tie it yet again, and not for the last time. In the fourth, Rabun had to come from behind, as Dalton went ahead 42-35. Evans had the equalizer with a 5-yd TD at the 7:33 mark. Then in the closing minutes, Giles shoved off several would-be tacklers, and turned nothing into a 22-yd game-winning TD for his fourth TD with 1:16 left. The defense held it from there.
Union County 27, Murray County 7
Rob Stowe wins his first game at Union County with a 27-7 victory over Murray County. The Panthers used a strong run game in the win, as Bentley Rich had two TD runs, and Daniel McPhee had a 14-yd TD. It was 14-0 going into the fourth. Rich scored on runs of four and 13 yards. Kamden Kendrick iced the game with a 30-yd TD pass to Mikey Davis late.
East Jackson 31, White County 0
The Warriors were upended 31-0 against East Jackson, though it was only a 7-0 game at the half. By the end of the third, it had ballooned to 24-0 for the Eagles.
Towns County @ Greenville (SC) (Unknown)
Other local games of interest
#2 Buford 58, #5 Roswell 21 (3rd Quarter)
Flowery Branch vs Hart County (Delayed)
#5 North Hall 31, East Hall 21 (3rd Quarter)
West Hall vs Johnson (Unknown)
Chestatee 7, East Forsyth 0 (Halftime)
Bethlehem Christian 19, Riverside 6 (Halftime)
Lakeview 27, Windsor Academy 8
