GAINESVILLE -- Class AAA No. 6-ranked Gainesville made sure there would be no letdown before its region title showdown with White County next week.
The Red Elephants scored on their five first possessions and threw in a long punt return in between in taking a 48-3 rout of West Hall Friday night at City Park Stadium in Region 8B-AAA action.
Gainesville (8-1, 5-0 in subregion) will travel to Cleveland next week in a much-anticipated rematch with White County (8-1, 5-0 in 8A-AAA) for the No. 1 seed from region 8-AAA in the Class AAA playoffs. The Red Elephants beat the Warriors 31-22 in Cleveland in Week 2 in a game that went down to the final minute.
Gainesville dominated from the beginning forcing West Hall into three plays and out on three of its first four possessions on defense and used big plays and a balanced attack on offense.
Deshaun Watson connected with Michael Lorentz on two first half touchdown passes and finished with 130 yards on 10-of-11 passing in the first half. Gainesville did not attempt a pass in the second half.
Devon Pierce had an electrifying 58-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Pierce had just five carries in the game but finished with 92 yards and two touchdowns.
Keyontra Harrison also added a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown to give the Red Elephants a 21-0 lead just seven minutes into the game. Markece Robinson had one touchdown and finished with 72 yards rushing on just eight carries.
While the Gainesville offense was piling just under 400 yards for the game, the Red Elephants defense stifled what had been a potent West Hall offense coming into the game. The Spartans managed just 114 total yards of offense, just 71 passing. Brandon Fuqua was the lone standout for West Hall (3-6, 1-4) with five catches for 30 yards.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
5:55AM
