FLOWERY BRANCH — The Flowery Branch football team will play for the Region 8-AAAAA title in its first season under new coach Ben Hall.
That the Falcons will do so is a testament to their second half performance on Friday.
Ninth-ranked Branch trailed upset-minded Clarke Central 14-12 at the interval -- only to lock down the Gladiators the rest of the way, yielding just 34 yards and forcing two turnovers, including a fumble return for a touchdown, en route to a 32-14 victory in Flowery Branch.
The Falcons (8-1, 5-0 Region 8-AAAAA) kicked into gear on Jacob Reid's scoop and score with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter. And while the point after failed, the Branch would not turn loose of its 18-14 advantage.
And after managing just 136 total yards and giving the ball away twice in the first half, the Falcons churned their way to 122 yards rushing the rest of the way, including a five-yard and a one-yard touchdown run from Malik Damons.
Damons finished the game with 173 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 34 attempts, while Malik Drayton added the other score -- on a 1-yard run in the first quarter -- and finished with 56 yards.
It was a pattern that has served Flowery Branch well this season -- a pounding ground game and stingy defense -- and while Clarke Central quarterback Jack Mangel did complete 13 of 24 passes, he only finished with 74 yards and a solitary touchdown, that coming in the first quarter. And while the Falcons passed for just 46 yards and were picked off, it mattered little thanks to the ground game and defense.
The Falcons can now turn their attentions toward Buford and the regular season finale, which represents a title shot for a team that also clinched at least home field for the first round of the postseason (the Branch can finish no lower than the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAA). The Falcons, who broke a three-season barren streak in the postseason earlier in the campaign -- have a bye next week before hosting the third-ranked Wolves.
