Week Six featured region-openers for several teams. The games continue to get more important!

*keep checking back for additions to the recaps as that data becomes available.*

#1 Jefferson 22, #10 Clarke Central 14

The Dragons won their region opener in a defensive battle, staying unbeaten. It took a 4th & Goal stand on defense, and going to the air early with Gavin Markey TD passes to Sammy Brown (44 yards on opening drive) and Christopher Law (14 yards on second drive). A safety had Jefferson up 15-0 at the break, but the Gladiators bounced back with a 38-yd TD pass to pull within 15-7, and Jefferson had a 4th-quarter defensive stand in which Brian Senter came up with a big stop. Brown added a 4-yd TD in the final minutes, and Clarke Central scored again. Jefferson recovered the onside kick with just over a minute to go.

#4 Commerce 38, Banks County 21

Commerce defeated Banks County, as the Leopards took their first loss in an attempt to beat their rivals for the first time since 1992. Jaiden Daniels had an early 22-yd TD run, and Banks County fumbled its first offensive play. Tysean Wiggins made them pay with a 4-yd TD and the 14-0 lead. Banks County, who has never won at Commerce, couldn’t get anything going early. Early in the second though, the Leopards found pay dirt. Later in the quarter, Ivy Tolbert’s field goal made it 17-7 in favor of the Tigers. Before the break, Daniels had a monster 78-yd TD run that stretched it out to 24-7, which held to the half. Wiggins had a 56-yd TD late in the third, making it 31-7. Early in the final quarter, Aucy Jacobs had a TD run to make it 31-14, though Daniels had a TD pass of 30 yards for the 38-14 lead. Kolby Watson had a late TD pass on 4th & 30 to cap the scoring.

*Recap Info by Jason Lord*

#7 Lumpkin County 49, Pickens 14

The Indians remained flawless with a region-opening win at Pickens. It was never really in question either. Cal Faulkner got the party started with an 18-yd TD to Nolan Matthews in the first quarter’s opening drive. Luke Evans had an interception moments later, and Mason Sullens capitalized with a 60-yd TD that capped a 96-yd drive. Faulkner added to the scoreboard in the second with a 14-yd TD run, and Sullens added a 3-yd TD for the 28-zip lead that held to the break. Pickens got a score in the third, but Sullens’ third TD was a 3-yd plunge, as Lumpkin held a 35-7 lead going into the final quarter. Faulkner had an 8-yd TD early in the fourth, and Jackson Bell had a 2-yd TD in the final minute-plus.

#3 Rabun County 38, Whitefield Academy 7

It was a slow start for the Wildcats, as Whitefield Academy held a slim 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Marcus Remillard booted a 42-yd FG though. Rabun got a TD before the half to pull ahead for good when Ty Truelove connected on a 65-yd TD to Willie Goodwyn. A couple more TDs in the third pushed it to a 24-7 comfy lead, and Rabun County added 2 more scores in the final quarter for good measure. The third quarter TDs were a Reid Giles 29-yd TD run and Noah English 27-yd TD. Truelove threw a 38-yd TD pass to Cooper Welch in the fourth, then Giles had his second score, a 9-yd run.

Lanier 35, Habersham Central 14

The Raiders dropped the region-opening game 35-14 against Lanier, as Hab Central was behind just 28-14 going into the final quarter. The Raiders’ 2-game win streak was snapped. It was a tied 7-7 game after the first as well before the Longhorns pulled away.

Dawson County 32, West Hall 14

The Tigers got the first win…that monkey is off the back. Midway through the first, Dom LeBlanc had a 40-yd FG. A 33-yd TD pass to LeBlanc in the closing seconds of the quarter had Dawson up 10-0. West Hall retaliated in the second with a TD, and it was a 10-7 game at the break. A 50-yd TD pass again to LeBlanc midway through the third got the Tigers a 17-7 advantage. However, the Spartans took the ensuing kick 99 yards to the house to cut it to a 17-14 game. Preston Bannister, who had the first 2 TD passes, made it 3 with another one to LeBlanc moments later. Bannister’s 13-yd TD run late in the third made it 29-14 Dawson. LeBlanc notched a 21-yd FG to extend the lead to 32-14, and that held to the final horn.

OTHER LOCAL GAMES

#1 Buford 30, Marietta 3
Eastside 39, Flowery Branch 32
North Hall 27, Cherokee Bluff 17
Cedar Shoals 10, East Hall 7
East Jackson 42, Johnson 0
#2 North Oconee 56, Chestatee 0
Jackson County 35, Apalachee 17
Hart County 1, Cross Creek 0 (Cross Creek Forfeit)
Oglethorpe County 57, Riverside Military Academy 0
Strong Rock Christian vs Lakeview Academy (Unknown)