HOMER — Playing without star quarterback Pierson Allison and a pair of receivers, Class 2A No. 8-ranked Union County fought off a tough upset bid from Banks County Friday night in a 14-7 Region 8-2A win at Leopard Stadium.
The win kept the Panthers (7-0, 4-0 Region 8-2A) tied with Rabun County atop the region standings with three weeks left. The loss dropped the Leopards (3-4, 2-2) into the tied for third place with Elbert County.
Allison came into Friday's action as the No. 3 passer in the state, all classifications and the Panthers offense as a whole was No. 1 in Class 2A in scoring.
Union County scored on a long pass in the first quarter and then grinded out a scoring drive in the third for a 14-0 lead. But Banks County did not go quietly.
The Leopards got a 68-yard touchdown pass from Bowen Roberts to Erwin Durmic early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead in half. They then recovered the ensuing onside kick.
But the Panthers were able to stop Banks County in their own territory and then hang on down the stretch.
