TOCCOA — Habersham Central was looking for its second straight win over arch-rival Stephens County on Friday for the first time since 1990.
It was not meant to be, however.
The Raiders could not hold a late third-quarter lead as the Indians rallied to score the final 20 points in an eventual 27-12 win at The Reservation.
It was a tale of two halves as the two teams' played to a scoreless draw after the first 24 minutes. The second half was all about the big offensive play.
Stephens County (4-1) wasted little time in breaking the tie getting a 76-yard TD pass from Ben Stowe to Gamarion Carter on the opening play of the third quarter for a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders (2-2) answered on their first drive of the second half with a 34-yard TD run from Joshua Pickett but they would miss the PAT to trail 7-6.
Habersham Central then took a 12-7 lead late in the third quarter when Pickett capped an 11-play, 93-yard drive with a 35-yard TD pass to Grayson Taylor. But a 2-point pass attempt failed.
It was all Indians after that. Stephens County scored on the final play of the third quarter on a Stowe to Cam'ron Lacy 65-yard TD pass and then the Indians pushed their lead to 20-12 on a 10-yd TD run by Stowe on their next possession.
Habersham appeared to be driving for a potential tying score but the drive stalled and Stowe and Carter struck again, this time on a 42-yard scoring pass to make it 27-12 with just 4:36 left.
