Tigers Roll Past Indians 54-8 Face GAC For 7AAA Title Friday

 

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County (7-1, 5-0) rolled past Lumpkin County 54 to 8 Friday to set up a high-stakes, winner-take-all showdown against No. 1-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian at Tiger Stadium next Friday to for the Region 7-AAA championship.

If the Tigers were looking ahead to the title game, there was no sign of it on the field. Coach Sid Maxwell’s starters dominated the game from the opening kickoff until the game’s final play. Dawson County scored on four of its first five possessions to take a 30-0 lead at the half.

Maxwell said he had some concerns.

“I’ve coached forever and anybody who says they’re not concerned just doesn’t know what may come the next week.”

Payton Myers, who rushed for two touchdowns, scored the first on a 24-yard run barely four minutes into the game and Cole Dennis added the PAT.

The Tigers got the benefit of a short field on their next possession when Drake Samples returned the Indians punt 24 yards to the Lumpkin County 23. Following an illegal procedure penalty, quarterback Coey Watson hit Nick Murphy on a 28-yard scoring strike. A two-point conversion gave the Tigers a 15-0 lead.

Lumpkin County’s second possession ended in disaster when punter Harrison Spivey fumbled the snap in his own end zone and fell on it for a safety to make it 17-0.

White County transfer Nasser Clark gave the Tigers a 23-0 lead when he scored on a 4-yard run to cap a seven play, 40-yard drive. A 7-yard run by Myers closed out the first half scoring.

While the Tigers offense was on a rampage, their defense was strangling the life out of the Indians who had only two first downs and 51 yards of total offense in the first half.

“Our defense held them pretty good,” Maxwell said. “They had 63 points last week (against Fannin County).  Our defensive coach and the staff did a great job holding them to hardly anything.”

By the time Lumpkin County could muster any offense at all, Watson had thrown a 44-yard touchdown pass to Kolton Brumbelow, Dennis had added a 23-yard field goal and the Tigers starters had taken a seat.

Cole White scored the Indians only touchdown with 45 seconds left in the third quarter.

Dawson County answered that score in a heartbeat when speedy Kolton Brumbelow took the ensuing kickoff one blade of grass away from his own goal line and streaked 99 yards. It was his third kick return for a touchdown in four weeks. The other two went for 99 and 95 yards respectively.

“Hats off to him,” Maxwell said. “I had to talk the boy into playing football. He’s never played before this year.”

Reserve quarterback Connor Bearden closed out the scoring for Dawson County on a 1-yard run.

Thanks to Paige Sweany for the great photos!