Clarke Central (6-1; 4-0) took control in the first half and never trailed throughout in a 35-14 win at Habersham Central (3-4; 2-2) in a pivotal region game. The Raiders were plagued by five turnovers, including three in the red zone.

The Gladiators got on the board first in quick fashion, as Faustino Rangel set up a walk-in score after a 65-yard run to the 1-yd line. QB Kenneth Bryant III ran it in on the next play. 

Paris Wilbanks orchestrated the ensuing drive, which resulted in a 10-yd TD pass to Preston Tatum to tie the game. 

After producing a 3-and-out, the Raiders rolled down the field and advanced inside the red zone. A trick play had Tatum looking to throw a pass into the end zone, but it was picked off by Braylen Harper, who took it back 100 yards for a 14-7 Clarke Central lead. 

In the second quarter, the Glads kept it going on a huge third down pass from Bryant III to Johntez Long. Moments later, Bryant ran one in for a 5-yd TD to widen the gap to 21-7. 

Clarke Central was driving late in the half, but CJ Davis had a timely interception to breathe some life back into the Raiders. They didn’t have enough time to turn it into points, but took some momentum into the half. 

Despite Hab Central getting the ball to start the second half, Wilbanks was picked off by Quintaveon Scott. It netted points, as Bryant scored his third rushing TD from 10 yards out for the 28-7 lead. 

The Raiders had something going with a Wilbanks run inside the red zone. But two Tatum TD runs were called back on consecutive plays, and a 3rd & 28 pass was intercepted by Harper. The visitors decided to go for a fourth down try to gain five yards from their own 10, and turned it over on downs. Wilbanks fumbled at the one yard line to hand it back over to Clarke. 

In the fourth, the Raiders had a successful drive until Newell Paul had a 97-yd scoop-and-score to make it 35-7. It marked the third turnover for Habersham in the red zone and second at the one yard line. 

Kinley Bee scored for the Raiders on a 2-yd TD in the final moments. Bryant III had three rushing TDs for the Gladiators.