TIGER — There is absolutely no secret about what Jefferson football wants to do in the early stages of the 2015 campaign: Run. The. Ball.
Good luck stopping it, however.
Rabun County gave it a shot on Friday but could not hold out versus the Dragons’ combination of a mammoth offensive line and running back Colby Wood, as the sophomore ripped off three touchdown runs en route to 264 yards rushing in a 19-7 victory during both teams’ season opener in Tiger.
“We were able to run the ball really well at times, but they also got us a few times -- hats off to Rabun County; they made us work for everything,” Jefferson coach Ben Hall said. “I’m just proud of the way our kids fought.”
The Dragons (1-0) -- and Wood -- proved most dangerous just when the Wildcats appeared to have them cornered.
Still scoreless in the second quarter, Rabun County utilized a 58-yard punt to pin Jefferson on its own 9-yard line. Cue a 42-yard run from Wood -- one of his six rushes of 10 yards or more during the night -- that set up his own 38-yard touchdown run just moments later.
New Dragons starting quarterback Bryce Moore (8 of 9 passing for 97 yards on the night) also got in on the act in the third quarter, lofting a 49-yard pass to Kaleb Cooley (5 receptions, 68 yards) after the Wildcats (0-1) again pinned Jefferson deep, this time on the Dragons’ 5-yard line. Wood took it from there, exploding on a 47-yard touchdown run -- part of 112 yards rushing in the third quarter alone.
The sophomore also added a 37-yard run late in the third quarter to set up a 1-yard plunge that made it 19-7, immediately answering Rabun County’s own touchdown.
“It was a tough game, but it was a great game to play in,” said a modest Wood afterward. “I don’t care about the (rushing yardage) numbers; I’m just glad we won. Of course I have to give credit to my offensive line. I love those boys. All of them played well tonight.”
Rabun County made Jefferson battle throughout and, despite not finding the end zone until the third quarter, stayed within striking distance via a gritty defensive effort.
“We fought all night versus a really good team. Our linemen are going to grow up in a hurry after that one because I’m not sure we’ll play against a better group of linemen this season,” Wildcats coach Lee Shaw said. “We held them there for most of the first half, but they dialed us in there a little bit in the third quarter.
“But we also had too many dropped passes and missed some key opportunities. We knew against a team like that we had to make the most of our early opportunities.”
Rabun twice marched into Jefferson territory in the first half but punted on each possession -- including after watching a 35-yard scramble and touchdown pass from Bailey Fisher to Noah Cannon negated by a holding penalty.
Yet the Wildcats found tough going against a Jefferson defense that held Rabun’s big-play ability in check and yielded just 213 total yards. Fisher led the way with 120 yards passing, completing 14 of 24 attempts to nine different receivers -- he also rushed for 44 yards. Only Charlie Woerner caught more than two passes, but the University of Georgia commit never truly torched the Dragons, finishing with five catches for 49 yards.
Rabun found its traction late in the third quarter, marching 8- yards on 14 plays before Cal Drummond tightened the contest -- plunging into the end zone on fourth and one with 3:08 left in the third quarter to make it 13-7.
Jefferson wasn’t in the mood to let the contest get any closer, however, and Wood took off on a 37-yard run on the first play from scrimmage following the Rabun kickoff. His own 1-yard plunge just minutes later restored Jefferson’s two-score advantage and sent the Dragons on their way.
“I’m proud of the guys for being able to finish in a ballgame that didn’t really go our way early,” Hall said. “We were on the practice field for about 30 minutes this week (due to inclement weather), so for us to come out and perform says something about our focus.”
Jefferson will play host to Winder-Barrow next Friday at Memorial Stadium.
Rabun County, meanwhile, will look to regroup as it travels to face Habersham Central next Friday.
“I’m disappointed but not discouraged,” Shaw said. “Our guys will respond to this game, just like they did last year. We’ve just got to get back to work.”
SCORING SUMMARY
JEFFERSON....0....7...12....0 -- 19
RABUN CO.......0....0....7....0 -- 7
Second Quarter
JEF -- Wood 38 run (Carreno kick) 6:36, 7-0
Third Quarter
JEF -- Wood 47 run (kick failed) 6:45, 13-0
RC -- Drummond 1 run (Phillips kick) 3:08, 13-7
JEF -- Wood 1 run (kick failed) 1:10, 19-7
