DAWSONVILLE — Dawson County had the ball with a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion, but a fumble cost the Tigers in a 27-19 loss to Cass at Tiger Stadium on Friday.
Despite outgaining Cass, turnovers were the name of the game for the Tigers' opening game of the 2021 campaign: one interception and three fumbles
The Tigers outgained Cass 351-293. Zach Holtzclaw finished the find 15-of-25 passing with 218 yards. Bailey Dameron caught six targets for 109 yards and a 57-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that gave the Tigers a 16-13 lead.
Dawson County took the lead off a Holtzclaw one-yard run and a Dom LeBlanc 41-yard field goal, 9-7, but a buffet of turnovers in the second half led stifled the Tigers offense.
It all started early in the third quarter when Holtzclaw tossed an interception. Cass cashed in the pick later to take the lead 13-9. Later in the quarter, trailing 20-16, the Tigers drove to the Cass six-yard line but a Conley Dyer fumble halted the drive, and in the fourth quarter, the Tigers coughed it up again, this time Jackson Grindle dropped on the Cass 44.
With one last chance to score, the Tiger defense held Cass on fourth down when Matt Bennett intercepted on the six-yard line and returned to the Dawson 22 to set up the potential winning drive with 1:38 left. After driving to the Cass 23-yard line, Holtzclaw fumbled the ball with :09 seconds to go.
