'Sloppy' Elephants pull away for win over Spartans

OAKWOOD - The Class AAA No. 2-ranked Gainesville football team Friday night proved it can win without playing its "A" game.

The Red Elephants scored 27 unanswered points and overcame five turnovers to run away with a 40-13 win over the Spartans in Region 7-AAA action.

Gainesville (7-0, 7-0) fumbled the opening kickoff and then fumbled a punt that led to the Spartans (4-4, 4-4) getting the tying score midway through the first quarter.

But the Gainesville defense took over holding the Spartans scoreless and forcing two second quarter turnovers of its own to help build a 20-6 halftime lead.

The Gainesville defense then put the game away in the first four minutes of the third quarter returning first an interception and then a fumble for touchdowns for a 33-6 lead.

"The defense I thought played a tremendous game because our offense made a ton of mistakes to give (West Hall) great field position," Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. "We gave them enough chances to beat us. We're definitely going to have to work on holding onto the ball. We were very sloppy on offense."

Gainesville has now won 18 straight regular season games dating back to 2001. The Red Elephants are poised to move into the top spot in Class AAA since No. 1 Screven County lost Friday 10-0 to Swainsboro.

For West Hall, a playoff spot now seems unlikely. The Spartans sit sixth in the region but travel to North Hall next week. They lost to Johnson and East Hall, who both are ahead of them in the standings.

Last year no team with five losses made the playoffs from Region 7-AAA.