DAHLONEGA — Lumpkin County built a 13-0 halftime lead and then held on for a 26-13 victory over Jackson County Friday night at The Burial Grounds.
It was a long wait for the Indians (1-0) who had their season-opener washed out last week by lightning.
No storm could have slowed down Lumpkin County on this night. The Indians pounded out 261 yards rushing and got 194 and three touchdowns from Zack Matthews.
Lumpkin got a 25-yard field goal from Wesley Wells midway through the first quarter and Matthews his first on a 3-yard run with just over a minute left in the opening 12 minutes.
Wells pushed the lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter on a 47-yard field goal and it stayed that way at halftime.
Jackson County (1-2) trimmed the lead to 13-7 in the third quarter on a 22-yard touchdown run from Noah Venable. But Matthews pushed the lead back to 19-7 for Lumpkin County with a 48-yard scamper.
Venable kept the Panthers within striking distance early in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard TD pass to cut the lead to 19-13. But Matthews sealed the win for the Indians with his third score on a 21-yard sprint to make it 26-13 with just 2:45 left in the game.
Jackson County, which has dropped two straight, will play host to a surging West Hall team next week.
Lumpkin County will travel to Madison County next week.
