SUGAR HILL — Lanier got just enough offense in a defensive standoff on Friday night, edging out Gainesville 10-3 to claim the No. 2 playoff seed from Region 8-AAAAAA in a showdown in Sugar Hill.
The Longhorns (7-3, 4-1 Region 8-AAAAAA) used a 25-yard scoring strike on fourth down to notch the game's only touchdown. Lanier executed a fake punt to set up the touchdown play, which allowed starting quarterback Noah Fritz to find Tyler Taylor for the score. Fritz led the Longhorns with 136 yards rushing and 75 yards passing.
The touchdown canceled out an early field goal from Red Elephants' placekicker Brandon Reyna after KD Smith's 54-yard kickoff return gave the visitors the early momentum.
Yet the Red Elephants -- who were without starting quarteback DJ Irons after the junior was ejected from last week's win over Apalachee and forced to sit this contest -- never could get enough offensive traction to find another score. Gainesville battled throughout and put up 257 total yards -- including 108 yards passing and 42 yards rushing from back-up signal caller Jim Barnett. But Lanier's defense proved too stout.
Gainesville's defense was equally impressive, yielding 313 total yards -- including 238 yards rushing -- but also coming up with several key stops, including a fumble recovery inside the final two minutes to give the Red Elephants one last shot.
Gainesville also hurt itself with penalties, including a roughing the kicker infraction that wiped out an 87-yard punt return from Tyree Robinson.
KD Smith finished with 98 yards rushing for the Red Elephants (5-5, 3-2), who finished the regular season with the No. 3 seed from 8-AAAAAA and will travel to face Harrison in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs next week.
Lanier, meanwhile, will play host to Allatoona in the first round next week.
