HARTWELL — Eighth-ranked Jefferson's red zone stand late in the game sealed a massive Region 8-3A 28-23 win over undefeated and No. 5-ranked Hart County Friday night at Pete Herndon Stadium.
"Defensively we stepped up at the very end and had a critical stop," Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart said. "It's unfortunate, in one sense, that we were ever in that situation -- I take the blame for that without question. But our kids overcame and we got that big red zone stand at the end. I'm just extremely proud of our kids."
The Dragons (5-1, 3-0, Region 8-3A) win over the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1, Region 8-3A) puts them in the driver's seat to win the Region 8-3A title if they win out.
"We are certainly playing some very good football right now," Cathcart said. "We've improved every week on the practice field. We have some good experience depth that did a great job tonight. It's a big road win against an undefeated Hart County team."
Hart and Jefferson went toe-to-toe for 48 minutes, with the Bulldogs piling up 440 yards of offense. Jefferson finished with 260 yards, all but 18 of them on the ground.
Jefferson quarterback Colby Clark directed the Dragons' offense to a 21-10 lead when he converted a 4th-down-1 on the 2-yard line to cash in a Bulldog fumble for a touchdown.
"Colby had a great night," Cathcart said. "He read things very well and moved the football."
Clark had 18 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Perry led the Dragons' ground game with 80 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.
But Hart County didn't go away quietly, scoring back-to-back touchdowns, a Luke Lee 4-yard run and a Lee 28-yard pass to Cane Berrong, to cut the Dragon lead, 28-23.
"All the credit in the world to [Hart County] Coach [Rance] Gillespie and Cory Dickerson and their staff. What a job they've done in a short period of time. They played exceptionally well and we overcame our head coach and found a way to win."
