WINDER — Nate Millwood ran for two touchdowns and snagged a late-game interception to help Wimder-Barrow hold off arch-rival Apalachee Friday night in both teams' Region 8-AAAAAA opener.
The Bulldoggs (4-2, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAAA) never trailed but could never shake the Wildcats (2-3-1, 0-1) who matched them score-for-score in the first half.
Winder-Barrow took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Mason White plucked a pass that ricocheted off an Apalachee receiver and returned it for a touchdown. The Wildcats answered right back, however, capping a drive on a 25-yard pass from Ryan Miller to Ethan Morris.
In the second quarter Millwood scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard run to give the Bulldoggs a 14-7 lead. But again Apalachee answered, this time rolling the dice and getting a 37-yard touchdown run on a fake punt by Jason Craig to tie the game at 14 going into halftime.
Winder-Barrow came out strong in the second half getting a 1-yard scoring from Millwood in the third quarter and a 90-yard touchdown pass from Brock Landis to Deon Williams in the fourth quarter for a 28-14 lead.
Apalachee trimmed the lead to 28-21 midway through the fourth quarter when Miller and Morris connected again on a 31-yard touchdown pass.
After stopping the Bulldoggs on their next drive, the Wildcats had one last drive but Millwood picked off Miller in the final minute to seal the win.
