GAINESVILLE — Three games into the season Gainesville football is still looking for consistency -- but the Red Elephants showed on Friday night that they already have plenty of grit.
Gainesville absorbed a third-quarter gut-punch from visiting Clarke Central and responded with a fourth quarter haymaker, creating big plays on offense and defense to seal a 21-14 win at City Park in Gainesville.
The Red Elephants (2-1) built a 14-0 first half lead, generally keeping the Gladiators in check, including picking off two Clarke Central passes -- Clavin Murphy snagging Jack Mangel's deep balls.
But the third quarter proved a horror show for the Red Elephants, who watched Gladiators (1-2) running back Jonathan Sewell, who finished with 104 yards rushing, rip off a 65-yard touchdown run to pull within 14-7. Gainesville fumbled the ensuing kickoff right back to Clarke Central, and the visitors took advantage, as Jacorie Jordan hauled in a short touchdown pass despite tight coverage to knot the score at 14-14.
If the score rocked the Red Elephants' confidence, however, they did not show it.
And while Gainesville did not dominate the rest of the way, it did come up with a huge fourth quarter drive and several defensive stops to seal the win.
Red Elephants quarterback D.J. Irons, who finished the game with 206 yards passing on 25 of 38 attempts, as well as 3 interceptions, executed nice control to find Brendon Goss on a short touchdown pass with 6:02 to play to push the hosts back in front, 21-14.
From there it was all about defense for Gainesville, as the Red Elephants threw Clarke Central for losses and forced a turnover on downs in the final minutes.
Gainesville finished with 287 yards on offense, including 54 yards rushing for KD Smith, while Jim Barnett hauled in seven passes for 98 yards.
The Red Elephants will now take back-to-back bye weeks before taking on Jefferson Sept. 23.
