FLOWERY BRANCH — Flowery Branch started off its 2019 season with a dominant 50-0 win over East Hall Friday night at Falcons Field.
Sophomore quarterback David Renard, filling in for the injured Elijah Gainey, led the Falcons to six first-half touchdown drives. The final one included executing the two-minute drill to perfection covering 45 yards in 3 plays with just 24 seconds left before halftime. Renard completed consecutive passes to junior receiver Connor Larson, the latter going for 27 yards on a great leaping catch, and setting up junior running back Jaizen Ellingham's bruising 7-yard touchdown run right as the clock expired. The touchdown was Ellingham's third of the night to go along with 126 yards on 16 carries.
Opening the game both teams exchanged long offensive drives. Flowery Branch (1-0) took the opening kickoff to the 45-yard line setting up an 8 play, 55-yard drive and a 6-yard Chase Dial-Watson touchdown run to give the Falcons the early 7-0 lead.
East Hall (0-1) looked to have the immediate answer driving 78 yards to the Falcons 2, highlighted by a pair of passes from sophomore quarterback Clete Cooper to senior wide receiver Mon Prather for 39 and 29 yards. But the drive stalled on back-to-back penalties and the Vikings were denied on a fourth-down pass that was intercepted by Falcons senior safety Douglas Pena in the end zone.
Flowery Branch wasted little time taking advantage of the defensive stand, going 92 yards in just 7 plays. Ellingham capped the drive with a touchdown to extend the Falcons’ lead.
Flowery Branch never let up as touchdown runs of 4 yards by Ellingham, 4 yards by Dial-Watson, and Ellingham's score again right before the half put the Falcons in full control at 42-0.
In the second half, Flowery Branch junior Kicker Maddux Trujillo booted field goals of 21 and 42 yards and the Falcons added a safety.
Flowery Branch has a bye week before traveling to Athens to take on Clarke Central in two weeks. East Hall will play host to Union County in its home opener next week.
