Commerce had not lost to Banks County in the past 17 tries, dating back to 1992. On Friday night in Homer, it looked like this was the best chance the Leopards, who came in a perfect 4-0, have had to end that streak. When Ivy Tolbert’s 26-yd field goal with 1:02 left in the game to break a 14-14 tie went through the uprights, Commerce was saved. The Tigers hold the all-time series lead at 33-2.

The Leopards scored 14 unanswered to overcome an early 6-0 deficit, holding the lead until the final minute of the third when the Tigers knotted it up. Turnovers plagued both teams, as Commerce fumbled the ball away twice, and Banks County threw 3 interceptions and fumbled away the ball once.

The Tigers drew first blood in the second after neither team found the end zone in the first. It was Tysean Wiggins’ 5-yd plunge that gave Commerce a 7-0 lead. Banks County would score with 1:59 to go in the half when Caine Griffith connected with Aaron Scott on an electric 64-yd TD. The extra point failed, keeping Commerce up 7-6 going into the half.

In the third, the Leopards scored with 4:24 to go on a Griffith keeper from 7 yards out. Electing to go for two, Griffith was the recipient of an Andrew Shockley pass, putting Banks County up 14-7. Just a few minutes later, Commerce responded with Wiggins’ 40-yd TD run with just 1:02 left in the third.

Banks County committed critical turnovers in the fourth, including an interception that led to Jaiden Daniels and Wiggins getting down inside the 10 yard line, where Tolbert connected on a 26-yd game-winning field goal with 1:02 on the clock. The Leopards’ final try ended with an interception by Cohen Thomason to seal the win.

The Tigers are now 3-2, riding a 2-game win streak, while Banks County suffers its first loss of the season.