DAWSONVILLE — Dawson County found itself on the short end of another offensive shootout for the second week in a row in a 63-49 loss to South Forsyth on Friday at Tiger Stadium.
It's the first time in the Sid Maxwell-era the Tigers have opened the season 0-3 and the first time since 2014.
The Tigers were driving in for a game-tying score with 31 seconds remaining with possession at the two-yard line when South intercepted a tipped pass in the end zone and the sprint 100 yards for the endzone.
Dawson rallied back from a 42-21 third-quarter deficit and cut the score to 56-49 with 1:14 remaining. Zack Holtzclaw (23-35-2 351yards, 5TDs) connected with Jaden Gibson for the fourth time from 21 yards out. Dawson's Caleb Bonesteel then followed with a perfectly placed onside kick to give the Tigers the final game-tying opportunity.
Dawson was able to move the possession from the South Forsyth 49 to the 2-yard line on a series of passes to Gibson (14 catches for 200 yards, 4TDs) and senior receiver Max Moon (5-74). The drive was aided by a pair of South penalties inside the 10-yard line to set up the final drama.
The Tigers matched scores with South through the busy first quarter, but the War Eagles claimed the lead for good, 21-14, with 2:18 remaining the first quarter. South pushed the score up to 26-14 off a safety and 35-yard field goal.
Later in the half, Holtzclaw connected with Gibson for a score with 1:21 to go, slicing into the Eagles' lead, 26-21.
South Forsyth appeared to take control of the game momentum, by opening the half with a 46-yard pick-six and a 7-yard Tre’-von Green score (19-113 2TDs) to push the lead to 21.
The Tigers chipped away behind a balanced attack to pull to seven points twice in the half.
Dawson County (0-3) will travel to Northview on Friday.
Scoring Summary
| SF | 21 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 63 |
| DC | 14 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 49 |
