It was the win that nearly was. The Habersham Central Raiders left it all on the field Friday in their homecoming game against the Centennial Knights of Suwanee.
Looking to snap their 19-game losing streak, the Raiders struck first. They got on the board with six minutes to go in the first quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Alex Alvarado. The Raiders were up until halfway through the second quarter when Knights’ quarterback Casen Conway connected with Tee Holland on a 60-yard pass. The TD and extra point put the Knights up 7-3. Conway connected with Holland again late in the second for another touchdown making the score 14-3, but the Raiders quickly answered. With just one minute left in the quarter the Raiders’ Michael Babers scored on an 8-yard rushing touchdown. The volley continued as the Knights scored again with less than a minute left. Halftime score, Knights 21 Raiders 10.
The Raiders came back after halftime homecoming ceremonies determined to turn things around…and they did. Halfway through the third quarter Michael Babers scored again on a 40-yard rushing touchdown. The Raiders then pulled ahead on a 4-yard rushing TD by Jim Barnett. The Raiders were up 21-24 with just a minute to go in the third.
But it was the fourth quarter that killed the Raiders’ dreams of that long-awaited win.
Halfway through the fourth quarter Centennial reclaimed the lead, scoring on a 25-yard rushing TD by quarterback Conway. Babers answered with a 40-yard touchdown – his third of the game – and the Raiders were up again by a score of 31-28 with just three minutes left in the game. It was downhill from there for the Raiders as the Knights scored twice in succession. First on a 30-yard pass then a defensive touchdown. The Knights took the lead late in the fourth 42-31.
The Raiders scored again with just 40 seconds left in the game but it wasn’t enough. Final score, Knights 42 Raiders 39. The Raiders are now 0-7 on the season, 0-6 in the region.
The Raiders have three games left this season. They’re away next week to take on the Johns Creek High Gladiators at Johns Creek High Stadium. Kick off is at 7:30pm. Both HCHS and Johns Creek will be playing for their first win of the season. The Gladiators lost to North Forsyth Friday 14-13.
Other scores in Region 6AAAAAA:
Alpharetta 56 Chattahoochee 7
Lambert 3 Northview 0
West Forsyth 27 South Forsyth 14
Other scores of regional interest:
Region 8-AAAAA
Flowery Branch 52 Apalachee 28
Winder-Barrow 37 Cedar Shoals 35
Gainesville 35 Clarke Central 10
Lanier 49 Heritage, Conyers 20
Salem 31 Loganville 27
Region 8-AAAA
Buford 51 Monroe Area 12
Stephens County 55 Chestatee 27
East Hall 42 Johnson, Gainesville 23
Madison County 49 North Hall 20
North Oconee 31 White County 6
Region 8-AAA
Jefferson 63 East Jackson 0
Hart County 43 Jackson County 7
Oconee County 33 Morgan County 31
Region 8-AA
Riverside Military 21 Oglethorpe County 0
Rabun County 45 Union County 31
Washington-Wilkes 41 Social Circle 0
Region 7-AAA
Banks County 49 Lumpkin County 46
Fannin County 35 Dawson County 28
East Hall 42 Johnson, Gainesville 23
West Hall 27 Franklin County 12
