FLOWERY BRANCH — Anyone doubting or wondering if Flowery Branch was a bona fide state title contender got their answer on Friday night.
The Class 4A fifth-ranked Falcons took defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Blessed Trinity down to the final play in overtime, where a Elijah Gainey pass to C.J. Goodwin slipped just off Goodwin’s fingertips on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion as the Titans escaped with a 21-20 victory at Falcons Field.
According to the Maxwell Ratings, the Falcons were a 27-point underdog coming into the gigantic Region 7-4A showdown of unbeaten teams. By the end, the Branch could argue it looked the better team.
“I think people saw that we’re a contender,” Flowery Branch coach Ben Hall said in the post-game address to his team. “(They) didn’t quit and kept battling. There’s no doubt that y’all showed you belong.”
The Falcons (6-1, 2-1 Region 7-4A) outgained the Titans (7-0, 3-0) 322-157 and a tenacious Flowery Branch defense held Blessed Trinity to just 3-of-12 on third down. They turned the usually-balanced Titans into a one-dimensional offense yielding just 15 yards passing for the game. The Falcons also forced two turnovers.
But one huge turnover and several drive-killing penalties in the first half kept the Falcons from taking a lead at intermission.
“Our defense played inspired football,” Hall said. “But it’s the little things in a game like this that make the most difference.”
Blessed Trinity jumped out to a 7-0 lead, chewing up over six minutes on a 67-yard, 13-play drive to open the game, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jake Smith. The Titans converted two third downs on the drive.
Flowery Branch went three-and-out on its first two drives, but, after recovering the first of two Blessed Trinity fumbles, the Falcons quickly moved to the Titans 7 and faced a 4th-and-2. Electing not to kick a field goal, Gainey’s pass toward Goodwin at the 4 (on the first play of the second quarter) was picked off by Smith, who rumbled 96 yards in the opposite direction for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“That was a big play and we just didn’t execute the way we needed to,” Hall said.
It stayed that way until the Falcons defense forced its second Titans fumble. The Falcons cashed in one play later when Gainey connected with Strown for a 41-yard touchdown pass to trim the lead to 14-7 with just 1:00 left in the half.
Flowery Branch took possession to start the second half and needed just three minutes to tie the game. Gainey rambled 49 yards on a quarterback draw and then found Strown for a 13-yard TD pass. Strown finished with 132 yards receiving and two touchdowns and added a pair of 20-yard punt returns in the second half.
Gainey was 17 of 34 for 210 yards passing and added 75 yards rushing as well.
Both defenses clamped down over the final 21 minutes until the overtime as neither team threatened to break the deadlock.
Gainey sighed when asked about just missing Goodwin for the game-winner. But he also said they’ll use the near-miss on the upset of the season as motivation.
The Falcons will need it as they travel to 2017 state runner-up Marist next week with a chance to try and put pressure on both the Titans and the War Eagles for the still-attainable region title.
“We wanted to go for the win. No doubt about it. I just missed (C.J.),” Gainey said. “This should make us more focused for next week. It’s tough but I think people saw that we’re a contender. I think we saw that also.”
SCORING SUMMARY
BLESSED TRINITY........7....7....0....0....7 -- 21
FLOWERY BRANCH.....0....7....7....0....6 -- 20
First Quarter
BT -- Smith 1 run (Chauvin kick) 7-0, 5:50
Second Quarter
BT -- Smith 96 yard INT return (Chauvin kick) 14-0, 11:42
FB -- Strown 41 pass from Gainey (Larach kick) 14-7, 1:00
Third Quarter
FB -- Strown 13 pass from Gainey (Larach kick) 14-14, 8:58
Overtime
BT -- Davis 8 pass from Smith (Chauvin kick) 21-14
FB -- Brawner 1 run (pass failed) 21-20
