OAKWOOD — Dawson County was averaging just 138 rushing yards per game before Friday night's Region 7-3A showdown against West Hall at the Hot Gates.
That average has gone up as the Tiger backfield churned out a season-high 327 yards rushing -- 545 total yards -- en route to a 38-21 win over the Spartans at Spartan Field.
Isaiah Grindle led the attack with 104 yards on 20 carries, while Dakohta Sonnichsen rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown and Conley Dyer finished with 81 yards and two scores.
Dawson County quarterback Zach Holtzclaw was 15 of 25 for 218 yards and touchdown and rushed nine times for 51 yards and a score.
Dawson County (4-3, 3-0 Region 7-3A) is one of three teams undefeated in the region. Cherokee Bluff beat Lumpkin on Friday and North Hall rolled against Gilmer on the road.
Senior quarterback Clayton Jenkins was 21 of 32 for 256 yards and two touchdowns but the West Hall offense had issues scoring until a 14-point fourth quarter.
After Tilil Blackwell tied the game on a five-yard run in the first quarter and only trailed the Tigers 10-7 at the half, the Spartans offense failed to find paydirt until the final frame.
Dawson County used the Spartan lull to chipped away, scoring 17 unanswered points to take a 24-7 lead -- a Bonesteel 20-yard field goal, Sonnichsen 57-yard run and Dyer two-yard run.
Jenkins connected with Rodrigo Lopez on a 55-yard touchdown pass to cut into the lead 24-14. Dawson's Holtzclaw, however, hooked up with Tyler Lane on a 67-yard bullet to push the Tigers' lead up 31-14.
Jenkins answered the scored a few minutes later on a 13-yard pass to Josiah Henriques cutting the lead down to 10 points, 31-21. But Dawson's Dyer broke off a 33-yard rush late in the fourth.
