BLAIRSVILLE — Despite the offensive shootout, it was the Union County defense that came to the rescue Friday night in a thrilling 35-32 win over North Hall in a must-win Region 7-AAA game for the Panthers.
Maddox Turner gave North Hall a 32-28 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard touchdown run but the Union County defense would force two Jackson Madonna interceptions and also stopped the Trojans on downs over the final six minutes of the game.
Zach Gilliam’s interception set up Bo Lynch’s 35-yd touchdown run to give the Panthers (6-2, 2-2 Region 7-AAA) a 35-32 lead with 7:26 left.
Union County also stopped North Hall (5-3, 2-2) on 4th-and-6 at the Trojans 45 with 2:15 left. After North Hall would get the ball back one more time, the Panthers’ Sean Dobbins sealed the victory picking off Madonna at the Union County 28 with 18 seconds left.
Union County jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter on a Cole Wright 64-yard pass to Dobbins and a Wright 19-yard touchdown run sandwiched around a 36-yard Joel Barrientos field goal.
The Trojans cut the lead to 14-10 late in the second quarter on a 1-yard scoring run by Kyle Bacus but Wright answered moments later with a 79-yard run for a 21-10 Panther lead at halftime.
North Hall exploded for 15 unanswered points to open the third quarter. Madonna scored on an 8-yard run and the the Trojans pulled within 21-18 on a safety on high punt snap out of end zone. North Hall took its first lead 28 seconds later on a 49-yard run by Turner for a 25-21 lead.
Union County answered that a minute later on a 71-yard touchdown from Wright to Dobbins for a 28-25 lead to end the third quarter.
Wright finished with 201 yards passing and ran for another 115 yards with four combined touchdowns. Dobbins had three catches for 145 yards and two scores plus the game-clinching interception. Lynch had 87 yards rushing for the Panthers.
Turner finished with 162 yards rushing on 14 carries to pace North Hall. Bacus had 121 yards on 31 carries.
North Hall outgained Union County 400 to 357 yards, with 372 coming on the ground. But five Trojans turnovers proved to be the difference.
It doesn’t get any easier for North Hall, who will play host to Class AAA No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian next week. Union County is off next week and will travel to Fannin County in two weeks.
