CLEVELAND — White County scored the final 49 points to rally for a 49-20 win over Chestatee Friday night in a crucial Region 7-4A showdown at Warriors Stadium.
The win for the Warriors (3-6, 2-3 Region 7-4A) kept them alive for a playoff berth. However, they will have to find a way to knock off defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Blessed Trinity on the road next week to have a chance to advance.
Chestatee (1-8, 0-5) stormed out of the gates jumping on the Warriors for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown runs of 2-yards and 33-yards by sophomore phenom quarterback Christian Charles.
White County puled within 14-7 in the second quarter on a 34-yard TD pass from J. Ben Haynes to Cody Versluis but the War Eagles pushed the lead to 20-7 just before the half on a 26-yard TD pass from Charles to Seth Pressley.
It was all White County in the second half.
The Warriors opened the second in style getting a 69-yard touchdown run from Haynes on the second play of the third quarter and just six minutes later Kurtis Havlen would give them the lead for good with a 25-yard TD scamper and a 28-20 advantage.
Charles, who came in as the leading rusher in Class 4A, had another big game rushing for 143 yards and passing for 171 yards.
White County, however, pounded out 347 yards rushing against Chestatee, which also came in allowing the most points in Class 4A on the season.
