GAINESVILLE — White County has made a name for itself on offense this season, and when things got tight on Friday night that offense helped carry them into the playoffs.
The Warriors ripped off three unanswered touchdowns at the start of the fourth quarter, including Kaleb Crane's fourth score of the night, as White County defeated Chestatee 56-27.
The outcome pushed the Warriors (6-2, 1-1 Region 7-AAAA) into the state playoffs in coach Tim Cokely's first campaign and halted a two-year run without postseason play. It also knocked the War Eagles (4-5, 0-3) from playoff contention.
White County stormed to 598 total yards, including 194 yards rushing for Crane, as the senior pounded his way to touchdown runs of 6, 1, 18 and 7 yards. Bailey Anderson also added 162 yards on 11 carries -- all the yardage coming on 10 consecutive carries in the fourth quarter -- which included a 4-yard and an 88-yard scoring run.
The Warriors needed much of that production to counter the performance of Chestatee quarterback Christian Charles. The freshman, moved into the starting role during the season, tallied 389 yards and all four War Eagles touchdowns. He rushed 18 times for 201 yards and completed 16 of 33 passes for three scores and an interception. Two of those scores went to Storm Yarbrough, whose first half touchdowns receptions helped Chestatee to pull within 21-14 in the second quarter.
Cue White County's offensive elevation.
The Warriors scored five of the next six touchdowns scored, Crane and Anderson doing all the damage, while Chestatee managed a 17-yard pass from Charles to Bryson Nowlin to pull within 35-20 in the third quarter (the point after attempt was blocked).
White County quarterback J Ben Haynes, also a freshman, finished with 231 yards passing, completing 14 of 21 passes for two scores -- both in the first quarter -- and an interception. Ty Ulrich hauled in six passes for 132 yards and a score. Mason Palmer caught the other touchdown pass.
The Warriors play host to West Hall next week in a seeding battle in Cleveland.
Chestatee travels to Marist next week in its season finale.
