DAHLONEGA – New East Jackson coach Cameron Pettus left the Gold City with a 25-22 come-from-behind win over the Indians Friday night.
East Jackson (1-0) scored 19 unanswered points to take the lead and the eventual win over Lumpkin Count (0-1).
“I’m very proud of how we stayed positive and handled the adversity,” Pettus said. “We kept battling hard and never gave up. I love the resolve and toughness.”
Lumpkin finished the night with only 67 total yards of offense in new coach Caleb Sorrells debut.
But still had the opportunity with 14 seconds left to win the game but missed a 35-yard field goal.
Early on, the Indians took advantage of a couple East Jackson mistakes to lead in the first half, a blocked punt recovered by Aaron Hopkins in the endzone and an Eagle fumble on the ensuing kickoff and a Tate Reinhardt 87-yard kickoff return for a score.
All the mistakes had Lumpkin cruising late in the second quarter, 22-6.
But East Jackson gained some momentum when Nino Brown danced 44 yards for a touchdown to close the gap 22-12 with 4:47 to go in the first half.
In the second half, Greg Huggs hit Shawn Cunningham for a 26-yard strike with 10:12 go in the third. Later in the quarter, Brown dashed in from two yards out for the go-ahead touchdown.
East Jackson ended the night with 323 yards offense. Huggs was 10-for-18 passing for 123 yards and two TD.
Lumpkin will travel to White County Friday. East Jackson is off.
Walker McCrary from North Georgia SportsLink contributed to this story.
| East Jackson | 0 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| Lumpkin County | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
LC -- Aaron Hopkins blocked punt and recovered in endzone (Kirk 2 pt run) 8-0, 7:21
LC -- BoJack Dowdy 8 run (Ramirez kick) 15-0, 7:08
Second Quarter
EJ -- Hunter Hardwick 38 pass to Caleb Adair (PAT failed) 15-6, 9:15
LC -- Tate Reinhardt 87 KO return (Covert kick) 22-6, 9:03
EJ -- Nino Brown 44 run (PAT failed) 22-12, 4:47
Third Quarter
EJ -- Huggs 26 pass to Shawn Cunningham (Vandiver kick) 22-19, 10:12
EJ -- Brown 2 TD run (PAT failed) 25-22, :00
