The Raiders got back on the winning track, moving to 4-1 on the season with a decisive 40-14 win over Chestatee on the road.
Once again, for the third straight game, Michael Babers played little to none, collecting just 13 yards on five carries. However, Cole Wilbanks did all the heavy lifting, torching the War Eagles defense with 311 yards and four touchdowns.
Habersham never trailed, as they went up 14-0 very quickly in the first quarter, with Wilbanks finding Trey Hurt for a 35-yard TD and, two minutes later, finding Jake Jones for a 78-yard score. The War Eagles responded with a 4-yard touchdown from Storm Yarbrough to Baylee Camp to cut the deficit to 14-6 after the PAT failed.
The Raiders scored for a third time in the opening quarter when Karl Fail hauled in a five-yard pass from Bryce Tanner. This time Habersham’s point after was no good, making it 20-6. The score capped an impressive 13-play, 87-yard drive.
The War Eagles’ star running back Nick Lyles ripped off a 65-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, but the ensuing two-point conversion attempt was no good. Habersham’s 20-12 lead was stretched for good just a couple minutes later. Wilbanks tossed his third touchdown of the evening to Hurt from 18-yards out, making it 27-12.
Early in the final quarter, Wilbanks’ fourth touchdown went to Jones, a 50-yarder. The extra point again was no good, extending the Habersham lead to 33-12. Brett Moore put the icing on the cake with a 51-yard touchdown run just moments later, while Chestatee recorded a late safety to make the final score 40-14.
Jones collected only two passes, but both for long-distance scores. He finished with 128 yards on two catches, while Hurt’s two touchdown receptions were also his lone catches of the night, totalling 53 yards. Aaron Galloway led the rushing attack with 92 yards.
Lyles led Chestatee with 146 yards and a score, while Yarbrough ended with 36 rushing yards and 147 passing with a score. Camp had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, while Lyles also recorded 41 yards receiving.
The Habersham offense outpaced the War Eagles 502-353 and took advantage of five Chestatee fumbles (and one interception), recovering four of the loose balls. Chestatee also struggled mightily on third-down conversions (1-for-11), while the Raiders were 8-for-16 in that category.
While the Raiders converted two of three red zone trips, the War Eagles were turned away twice while converting once. Habersham moves to 4-1 overall and will have a bye week next Friday before gearing up for an October 7 showdown with new region foes Gainesville at home. The War Eagles are now 3-3 on the season.
