Week 8 had some huge games with playoff implications. Here’s what happened across the area….
#9 Commerce 42, #6 Rabun County 38
A game for the ages…in the third straight thriller between the region rivals, Commerce and Rabun totaled 9 lead changes. Rabun got 5 TDs from Reid Giles, including a receiving TD, three rushing, and a kick return. Ty Truelove made his much-anticipated comeback from injury and played really well, while Jaiden Daniels and Tysean Wiggins totaled 6 TDs and about 350 yards of offense. The game was back and forth, and Daniels had TD runs of 72, 77, and 31. Wiggins’ 3 scores went for 24, 75, and 14.
#2 Prince Avenue Christian 49, #4 Stephens County 7
The Wolverines picked up a huge win in which they led 42-7 at the break. Mike Bobo’s son had 4 TD passes, while the lone Indians score came on a 37-yd TD from Tripp Underwood to Davon Swinton.
Clarke Central 42, Habersham Central 28
The Raiders fought hard but came up short at home against Clarke Central. The Raiders tied it up in the first on a 51-yd TD run by Paris Wilbanks and took a 14-7 second-quarter lead on a 6-yd TD throw from Wilbanks to Zeke Whittington. Just before the break, the Gladiators knotted the game. Hab Central reclaimed that lead with 4 seconds to go in the half on another TD pass from Wilbanks to Whittington. Clarke Central went ahead 28-21 heading into the fourth, and the Raiders wouldn’t score again until less than 3 minutes to go when the Wilbanks-Whittington combo struck again on an 18-yd score.
Dawson County 71, Johnson 0
The Tigers had 70 points all season coming in, and set a program record while scoring more than the rest of the year combined with a 71-0 final over Johnson. It marks the largest margin of victory for Dawson ever, the most points scored ever, and the biggest shutout (obviously). Gunnar Weaver threw a 30-yd TD to Chatham Burnett, then another to Dylan Edwards. A safety made it 16-0, and another TD pass from Weaver to Burnett (36-yd) made it 23-0 at the end of the first. Aden Bannister’s TD run was followed by Weaver’s fourth TD pass, this time 10 yards to Eli Phillips. Elijah Odom had a blocked punt TD, then he grabbed a ball off the turf and ran it in for another score and the 50-0 lead midway through the second. Cody McBrayer had a 43-yd TD run to make it 57-0 at the half. Brody Sorenson threw his first varsity TD pass to Nate Grizzle, and Cash Watkins grabbed his first TD as well on a carry to make it 71-0.
#2 Athens Academy 41, Banks County 6
The Leopards managed one score in the 41-6 loss at home to Athens Academy, as Banks still seeks that illusive first win.
#2 Jefferson 38, #4 Monroe Area 14
The Dragons more than doubled up on Monroe Area in a huge top-5 tilt that may have determined the outcome of the region. Jefferson trailed early, but Gavin Markey’s 6-yd TD run tied it to start the second. Taylor McCall knocked home a 26-yd FG for the lead, and Markey threw a 6-yd TD to Dalton Dye to stretch the lead up to 17-7 late in the half. Markey then hit RJ Hinton for a 22-yd score in the third, and Dallas Russell had a 12-yd TD run with 3:32 left in the game for the 31-14 lead. Markey added a 65-yd TD run for icing on the cake.
#10 Ringgold 31, Union County 0
Ringgold smothered Union County, intercepting several passes from Kamden Kendrick while playing stingy dense. The Panthers couldn’t get much going on either side of the ball.
Towns County vs Anderson Christian (SC)
Score unknown
Other area scores
#1 Buford 34, #5 Collins Hill 7
#4 Gainesville 41, Seckinger 0
#5 Oconee County 56, East Hall 7
#3 Cherokee Bluff 41, West Hall 14
East Jackson 30, Franklin County 21
#2 Hebron Christian 45, Hart County 0
Loganville Christian vs Riverside (Unknown Score)
Jackson County 25, Apalachee 6
Bethlehem Christian 17, Lakeview 0
BYE: Flowery Branch, Chestatee, North Hall
BYE: Lumpkin County, White County
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