The Raiders were all over Winder early and often, and earned a HUGE region win to boost their playoff hopes. Habersham picked up its fifth win of the season defeating Winder-Barrow, 34-17.
Raider Head Coach Benji Harrison called it a great win for his team at a time when they really needed it.
“I told our guys before the game, the last two years this team has kept us out, so, we needed to come out and play well. We knew they were going to play hard ’cause they were still in the playoff hunt as well, so we knew that we had to come and play our best game.”
Harrison credits the defense with helping to carry the Raiders to victory.
“I thought our defense second half really made some good adjustments at half-time. We came out at the second half and played. We moved the ball good enough the second half offensively and came away with a win.” He adds, “It was a great win, it really was. Our program needed it, our team needed it and we’ll enjoy tonight. I know that one helped, sure enough, about getting in the playoffs.”
The Raiders take on Apalachee Nov. 2 at home.
In other football Friday action…
White 49, Chestatee 20
The Warriors shook off a slow start to overcome a 20-7 halftime deficit with 42 unanswered points in the second half on the way to a 49-20 win. J Ben Haynes ran for a pair of TDs and passed for another, and Kurtis Havlen ran for three scores, while Jay Lepkoske added one.
#2 Rabun 63, Oglethorpe 6
The Wildcats were up 56-0 at the break, and pulled all starters at that point. Gunner Stockton threw 5 TD passes and ran for another. Braxton Hicks caught 3 TD, and Brison Beck rushed for two.
Riverside Military 20, #3 Commerce 19
Riverside shocked the state with perhaps the biggest upset of the season in a 20-19 loss to a 5-4 RMA team. Just SHOCKED here….
#7 Dawson 41, Cherokee Bluff 7
Dakohta Sonnichsen got the scoreboard going early with a 69-yd TD in the first quarter. Sevaughn Clark then added a 79-yd TD and Ahmad Kamara a 49-yd TD all in the first. Shwan Thomas also had a 5-yd score to put the Tigers up 27-0 after just one quarter. In the second, Kamara and Thomas both scored again to put the game away 41-0 into the half. The game was extra-special with the halftime retiring of Coey Watson’s (class of 2018) jersey #14. The dual threat scored over 100 total touchdowns for the Tigers in four seasons.
#10 Union 42, Social Circle 7
It wasn’t even close. Pierson Allison ran for a first quarter TD and threw two more (77-yd to Kyle Morlock & 74-yd to Sawyer Drake). Kanon Hemphill and Cayden Rich also caught TD passes from Allison in the second quarter to go up 35-nothing. Starters rested the second half as both teams found the end zone once more.
Fannin 35, Lumpkin 14
Lumpkin’s playoff hopes were officially dashed. Fannin led 14-0 at the break, and despite a kickoff return for a TD by Luke Smith to start the second half, the Indians would get no closer.
Stephens 42, Madison 14
The Indians earned a trip to state with this win, being that they’re in a five-team region. This is a big step for this group and a nice way to break a two-game losing streak.
#7 Jefferson 38, Jackson 3
The Dragons got to scoring early with Donsha Gaither and Zac Corbin finding the end zone twice in the first half, as well as Garmon Randolph. Jefferson led 28-0 at the break. Carter Stephenson got in the end zone late in the game to seal the deal.
Monticello 36, Banks 33
Monticello dealt Banks a crushing blow with a 36-33 loss for the Leopards.
Lakeview 21, Towns 20
Towns County lost a heart-breaker and its sixth in a row. With a 20-14 lead and three minutes to go, a decision to go for it on 4th and 11 gave Lakeview a chance to go for the win in the final minute.
THE REST
#2 Buford 61, Walnut Grove 0
#9 Flowery Branch 27, West Hall 7
#10 North Hall 76, East Hall 0
Gainesville 7, Apalachee 6
Feature photo Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham
