JEFFERSON — For all the build up, Jefferson football was not about to let Friday night's showdown with Stephens County get blown out of proportion.
The fourth-ranked Dragons knew they had to defeat the Indians in order to eventually claim the Region 8-AAAA crown -- but they also know they have to win again next week at Oconee County to complete the task.
Jefferson completed step one without much fuss, knocking out Stephens County 35-7 at Memorial Stadium, relying on their dominant ground game and defense to hand the Indians their first region loss of the campaign while keeping its own 8-AAAA mark unblemished.
The Dragons (8-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAA) rushed for 209 yards and allowed just 202 total yards to Stephens County. And yet, Jefferson also flexed its passing game muscles, as quarterback Colby Clark connected with Colby Wood for two touchdown passes, including an 83-yard scoring strike to make it 14-0 in the second quarter.
Clark finished the game 4 of 7 for 124 yards and two scores -- both to Wood -- while also rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown. His second touchdown pass made it 21-0 at the half, helping cap a dominant opening, as the Indians (7-2, 3-1) managed just 85 yards before the interval.
Wood also had a nine-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished with two receptions for 96 yards and two scores. Zack Boobas capped Jefferson's offensive output with a two-yard scoring plunge in the fourth quarter for a 35-0 advantage.
Stephens County tacked on a nine-yard touchdown run by Hassan Brown in the final stages of the contest but was unable to gain much offensive traction thanks to the Jefferson defense. Donte Wilson led the Dragons with 10 tackles, while Boobas added eight stops.
Now Jefferson can look toward a true championship shot next week in Watkinsville -- though the Warriors are still in the hunt and will look to last year's overtime win over the Dragons that sealed the Region 8-AAA title.
Stephens County will close out the regular season next week against North Oconee, and will await the result from Oconee to determine their playoff seeding.
