DAHLONEGA — Lumpkin County's winless record didn't impact its motivation early in the game against rival Dawson County on Friday night at The Burial Grounds.
In fact, the Indians (0-9, 0-5 Region 7-3A) grabbed the early lead 3-0 on Marcus Remillard’s 34-yard field goal on the opening drive.
Unfortunately, it didn't last long for the Indians as the Tigers (5-4, 4-1 Region 7-3A) recovered to take their sixth consecutive win in the series, 63-3.
Lumpkin County had the early momentum as quarterback Cooper Scott led an air attack, mostly to sophomore Caleb Norrell, to set up the opening lead, then looked to answer Dawson’s opening score with another impressive drive that suddenly went south on the Tiger one-yard line.
The Tigers took the lead for good on the very next play after the Lumpkin County score when Zach Holtzclaw (5-9-0,156yds 3TDs) connected with Dakohta Sonnichsen (2-103 2TDs) for a 69-yard score.
Lumpkin’s answering drive nearly made the score interesting, but when Scott tried to dive in from the one-yard line, the ball popped into the air as Tiger cornerback Joey Glover grabbed it for the snag-and-score. The Glover 100-yard game-changer pushed Dawson County's lead up, 14-3, after the Caleb Bonesteel PAT.
At that point, Dawson took over the contest, locking down the Indians, while compiling 208 yards through the air and another 209 on the ground.
The Tigers extended their lead, 35-3, at the half behind two more Holtzclaw touchdown passes, an 8-yarder to Tyler Lane and another one to Sonnichsen for 34 yards, plus an Isaiah Grindle (6-63) 42-yard touchdown run.
Jaden Gibson quarterbacked Dawson County to two third-quarter scores, first an 8-yard pass to Tray Cohen and then a 3-yard run. In the fourth quarter, reserves Christian Webb and Jackson Grindle added rushing touchdowns of 19 and 3 yards.
The Tigers will travel to The Brickyard on Friday as they will battle North Hall for the second seed in Region 7-3A.
