The Raiders are back in the state playoffs for the first time since 2011 with a big home win over Apalachee. It took a fourth-quarter comeback to pull it off, but the Raiders did it. Final score 28-21.
Apalachee got on the board first in the 1st but Habersham quickly answered with a rushing TD by Donovan Curry. The Wildcats came back and scored again. Late in the first, Habersham QB Tre’ Luttrell connected with Curry on a 48 yard pass.
The Raiders and Wildcats went into the 2nd quarter tied 14 all.
After a scoreless 2nd, they came back from the break and battled it out. The Raiders pulled ahead in the 3rd on an 8 yard pass from Luttrell to Curry. Habersham missed the extra point. Apalachee tied it up on an 80 yard run by AJ Millbrooks, split the uprights and went up on the Raiders by 1.
The Raiders fought back. In the 4th, Tracey Lowery scored on a 5 yard rushing TD for the go ahead score. A 2-point conversion and the Raiders sealed the deal, clinching the No. 3 seed in Region 8-6A (6-4, 3-2).
Hab Central will take on the No. 2 seed Region 5-6A Douglas County Tigers in the first round of the GHSA Class 6A state playoffs next week.
In other area high school football action…
The Locals
#2 Rabun 56, #9 Union 28
The Wildcats scored 35 unanswered, including four touchdown runs and five total by Gunner Stockton to win the Region Championship, a fifth straight.
#7 Dawson 17, #10 North Hall 10
The Tigers won an overtime thriller in a top-10 matchup to earn the home playoff game and #2 seed out of 7-AAA.
#1 Athens Academy 21, #7 Commerce 14
Commerce dropped its second straight in the 8-A Region Title game.
Elbert 42, Banks 0
Banks County was eliminated from playoff contention in a blowout loss to Elbert.
East Hall 32, Lumpkin 31
The Indians dropped a heartbreaker in their 2018 finale, coming up just short in a thriller.
#4 St. Pius X 56, Stephens 11
The Indians dropped its regular season finale, but is in the state playoffs with the win last week.
#1 Blessed Trinity 42, White 7
The Warriors lost, but won at the same time, as Flowery Branch beat Denmark and East Hall beat Chestatee, getting White County in barely!
Towns 21, Providence Christian 16
The losing streak ended for Towns County with a much-needed win in the season finale.
THE REST
#2 Buford 45, Clarke Central 3
#8 Flowery Branch 28, Denmark 19
West Hall 62, Chestatee 19
Loganville 27, Johnson 10
#3 Prince Ave. Christian 48, Riverside Military 27
Athens Christian 24, Lakeview 21
Lanier 6, Gainesville 2
