LOGANVILLE — Gainesville clinched a playoff spot Friday night with a hard-fought 24-14 victory over Loganville.
Now, the Red Elephants (6-3, 6-2 Region 8-AAAAA) will try to lock up second place and a first round home playoff game when they play host to Flowery Branch next week in both teams' season finale.
Against Loganville, the Gainesville defense helped keep a potent Red Devils (7-2, 6-2) offense out of the end zone with three key interceptions.They held running back Darryl Giles to just 66 yards rushing and harrassed quarterback Cameron Perkins-McLeod into just 12-of-30 passing for 146 yards.
Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said his group is putting things together at just the right time.
"They guys are playing hard right now," Miller said. "The last two weeks we have done the things we need to do to win. This was a huge win for us because it's been such a roller coaster season we didn't want to have to go into the final game having to win to get in."
Chris Byrd has a pair of rushing touchdowns, one in each half, and Messiah Dorsey connected with Martavious Davis on a 24-yard touchdown pass in the first half. Davis's touchdown catch was set up one play earlier on a 31-yard catch from Dorsey.
Chandler Staton added a 39-yard field goal but missed on two others.
Loganville (7-2, 6-2) could still finish second with a win next week over Madison County and a Gainesville loss to Flowery Branch. The Red Devils would finish third with a Gainesville win next week.
