DAHLONEGA — North Hall football responded in a number of ways on Friday night.
The Trojans fired back from last week's region loss and also fired back from an early deficit to Lumpkin County en route to a 28-20 Region 7-AAA win in Dahlonega.
Jack Brown and Kyle Bacus provided the big plays for North Hall's rushing attack, while quarterback Jackson Madonna lofted a 49-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Turner to help the Trojans (5-2, 2-1 Region 7-AAA) jump ahead -- where they stayed despite the Indians' own determined efforts.
Cole White and Julian Hazen each scored in the second half to keep Lumpkin County within touching distance, but despite rolling up 338 yards rushing, the Indians (4-2, 1-1) could not pull even after Brown, Turner and Madonna combined to give North Hall the lead late in the first quarter.
Brown answered Luke Smith's opening score for Lumpkin, ripping off a 55-yard touchdown run to knot it at 7-7 with 1:57 left in the quarter. Madonna then hooked up with Brown for the long scoring pass to make it 14-7 North Hall with four seconds left in the opening period.
Bacus put up touchdown runs of 29 yards in second quarter and 16 yards in the the third quarter -- though White scored from eight yards in the third to keep North Hall from pulling away.
The Trojans finished with 272 yards rushing, paced by 135 yards on 16 carries from Bacus. Brown added 97 yards on just three carries.
Smith and White each rushed for 104 yards for Lumpkin, while Zach Matthews rushed for 85 yards on 20 carries.
The Indians will travel to face Greater Atlanta Christian.
North Hall will travel to Union County next week.
