DAHLONEGA — Lumpkin County checked a lot of boxes with the 32-30 win over Gilmer on Friday at Lynn Cottrell Stadium.
It was the first region win since 2018, the first back-to-back win streak, and the first opening region win since 2016.
It was a good night for the Indians, a night that has been few and far between over the last several years, as they held on to beat the Bobcats. Meanwhile, Cooper Scott had himself a night, rushing 22 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He also passed for another 82 yards and a score on a 4-of-8 performance.
The Indians' offense came alive with 370 total yards, most of which came on the ground. Will Wood added to the Lumpkin totals with 95 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Tavion Lawerence was Scott's main target, hauling in two catches for 66 yards.
Wood gave the Indians the lead twice in the first half, including a 25-yard scoring run early in the second quarter and a 5-yard run with 1:56 to go in the half. But Gilmer grabbed the lead before halftime on a Seth Darling pass to Dominic Tarantino -- a 34-yard pass -- 16-14.
The Indians opened the second half on a 12-0 run and a 26-16 lead, which paced them to the win. It wouldn't come without a little tension, though, as the Bobcats closed the gap twice in the fourth quarter -- 26-22 on a Brock Titus six-yard run, and Kobe Stoncipher on a four-yard run with 4:50 remaining in the game, 32-30.
With the game in the hands of the Indian defense, they bowed but didn't break to seal the win.
