DAWSONVILLE – Dawson County exploded for 591 total yards of offense en route to a 44-22 win over Haralson County on Friday in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs in Dawsonville.
Sevaughn Clark racked up 278 total yards -- 123 rushing, 155 passing -- and two scores.
"The offense kept rolling right along," Tigers coach Sid Maxwell said. "Vaughn did a tremendous job moving the chains, and Ahmad (Kamara) and Shawn Thomas ran the ball hard. Overall, it was a great team win."
Kamara finished the night with 17 carries for 174 yards and a TD.
The Tiger defense held Haralson's Traylon Sheppard, Class AAA's rushing leader, to 139 yards and a TD. Coming into the game, Sheppard averaged 287 yards per game.
The Tigers (10-1) took an early 7-0 lead on a Clark 4-yard run in the first quarter but, two series later, Haralson found pay dirt off a 64-yard run by Marc Harris.
The Rebels (8-3) converted the 2-point attempt, taking an 8-7 lead with 1:37 to go in the first quarter.
The Tigers stormed back in big-play fashion, however, on the speed of Clark and Noah Brock. Clark scored first on a 41-yard TD run. Then, Brock showed his speed with a 71-yard run, giving the Tigers a 21-8 lead with 7:50 left in the second quarter.
Haralson added a score off a Javon Shepherd 64-yard run, closing the gap 21-16.
The second half opened with a pair of big-play touchdowns – one by Dawson and one by Haralson
Dawson only needed one play and 21 seconds on its first drive of the second half. Kamara took it 69 yards for the score extending the Tiger lead to 28-16 with 11:39 left in the third.
Haralson then answered on the next drive with its own fireworks display.
Sheppard scampered 70 yards for Haralson's only TD of the second half with 10:04 to go in the third quarter, inching closer, 28-22.
Dawson added two more TDs and a field goal – a 37-yard Thomas run, 24-yard Kaleb Bonesteel field goal and a 62-yard Clark pass to Ryan Glass.
Dawson ended the night with 436 yards on the ground and 155 yards passing. Haralson ended the night with 273 yards - all on the ground.
The Tigers will travel to Monroe Area next week in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
