MT. AIRY — Michael Babers ran 184 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass to lead Habersham Central to its first victory over the season Friday night, 21-6 over Johns Creek in Region 6-AAAAAA action.
The win for the Raiders (1-7, 1-6 Region 6-AAAAAA) snapped an eight-game losing streak going back to last season. It was a crushing loss for the Gladiators (4-4, 4-3) who dropped from a tie for third down to fifth place and one-game behind both West Forsyth and Centennial in the region standings.
First-year Habersham Central coach Benji Harrison said they had been building toward getting that first victory.
"We had our chances the last couple of week but just couldn't close it out," Harrison said. "It was a great win for the kids, who have been better and better each week."
Habersham Central never trailed as Babers scored on a 16-yard touchdown run and then caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Cole Wilbanks in the first quarter to give the Raiders a lead they would never relinquish.
Johns Creek cut the lead to 14-3 by halftime on a 40-yard field goal by Jake Friant.
Babers added a 52-yard scoring run in the third quarter to push the lead 21-3 and the Gladiators closed out the scoring with a 31-yard Friant field goal in the fourth quarter.
The Habersham Central defense, which came in allowing 45.1 points per game, had its best showing of the season holding Johns Creek to just 132 total yards for the game.
