RABBITTOWN — Dawson County football maybe under a new head coach and still learning its way through the 2015 campaign, but the Tigers are currently tied for first place in Region 7-AAA.
Dawson County pushed its way past East Hall 35-28 on Friday in Rabbittown, using key moments from a trio of standouts to overcome 507 yards of offense from the Vikings.
The win pushed the Tigers (3-2, 2-0 Region 7-AAA) into a tie for first place in 7-AAA with Franklin County -- and set up a huge showdown with the Lions next week in Dawsonville.
You can be certain Franklin County will be wary of Tigers' standoiuts Coey Watson, Tucker Maxwell and Hunter Mitchell.
The trio scored all of Dawson County's touchdowns -- Watson tossing two scoring passes to Maxwell and running for another, while Mitchell ran for two touchdowns. Watson completed 9 of 14 passes -- three to Maxwell for 109 yards -- while Mitchell rushed 24 times for 160 yards.
Dawson County needed every ounce of effort from the trio to outdo 321 yards passing from the Vikings (1-4, 1-1) -- 269 of that from Austin Parker, who also tossed two touchdown passes -- one each to Jacquen Hopkins (8 receptions, 154 yards) and Markese Jackson (7 receptions, 62 yards). Parker also ran for two scores and 48 yards. Jiel Vargas also added 79 yards rushing and a touchdown, while Jackson added 59 yards and a score on the ground.
East Hall's progress was hampered by four turnovers, though the Vikings never gave in, pulling within a touchdown with 1:39 remaining -- Jackson catching an eight yard scoring pass -- but Dawson County would not give the ball back, holding on for the win.
The Vikings jumped out to a 8-0 lead on an early safety and touchdown (a 26-yard run from Jackson) but watched Dawson County fire right back on a 51-yard bomb from Watson to Maxwell to knot the score at 8-8 on a two-point run conversion from Mitchell -- the game stayed a slugfest, as Dawson inched ahead 20-15 at the half.
East Hall will look to bounce back next week against West Hall.
