RABBITTOWN – When you’re hot, you’re hot – and no one in Region 7-AAA is hotter than East Hall right now.
The Vikings won their fourth straight game Friday, notching a 50-36 shootout win over Fannin County – an outcome that netted the No. 2 seed for the upcoming state playoffs.
“We're gonna be home, we're gonna host a first round playoff game, which, I don't know how long it's been, but it's been a long time, and long time coming,” said East Hall coach Bryan Gray, who has presided over an impressive turnaround this season after the Vikings started the campaign 0-3 before bouncing back to also claim a second straight state berth.
“The back to back years of playoffs is amazing. Our kids came out tonight and persevered. In the second half the defense stepped up. This is a great group of kids for a team that everybody said wasn't going to be that good because they're really young. 'They lost this kid, they lost that kid...' well you know what, we replaced them with a whole lot of great kids.”
A number of those standouts flashed their abilities on Friday, as players like Jiel Vargas (33 rushes, 184 yards, TD), Deon Ellison (2 rushing TDs), Austin Parker (13 of 19 passing for 249, 3 TDs) and Markese Jackson (6 receptions 168 yards, 2 TDs) all enjoyed stellar nights.
“As usual, (quarterback) Austin Parker had a phenomenal game,” Gray said. “Markese Jackson, Jacquen and Jiel Vargas... I don't know if there's a better run-pass running back around, because he just does it for us. Every time they make contact with him he gets two more yards. He really opened it up tonight for us. Amir Ellison rushing the edge really came big there in the second half -- and our secondary, I mean that's a division one quarterback there (Fannin County’s Brad Davis). I'm proud of my kids, proud of them all.”
Thanks to Fannin County’s own offensive weapons, the Vikings needed every play.
Davis completed 17 of 25 passes for 228 yards and 2 TDs – seven of those went to Cooper Earls, who finished with 95 yards and a TD. Jacob Reece also caught 4 balls for 94 yards and a score in a game that raged back and forth throughout until the Vikings (5-4, 4-1 Region 7-AAA) shut down the Rebels (4-5, 2-3) attack in the fourth quarter.
Fannin County now finds itself pulled into a four-way battle for the two remaining playoff spots in Region 7-AAA, along with Banks County, West Hall and Franklin County. The Rebels will play host to Franklin in their regular season finale next week in Blue Ridge.
East Hall, meanwhile, will face Banks County in Rabbittown.
