JEFFERSON — It was being billed as the Gunner Stockton vs. Malaki Starks showdown between a pair of No. 1-ranked teams.
Instead, a pair of bruising defenses took center stage as the Class 4A top-ranked Dragons held off the Class 2A No. 1 Wildcats 22-13 at Memorial Stadium on Friday in a game that was delayed 97 minutes in the first half because of lightning.
Starks was coming off a 1,500-yard rushing season and Stockton passed for 3,128 yards, and 45 TDs in 2020. Neither was a main factor on Friday.
Starks rushed for 74 yards and one score but it was sophomore Sammy Brown that set the tone with an electrifying 78-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to tie the score. Brown finished with 157 yards on just 13 carries.
Stockton was sharp early hitting his first six passes for 56 yards. But he was just 5-of-14 the rest of the way for just 99 yards and one TD pass in the third quarter after Jefferson had built a 22-7 lead.
Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart, who picked up his 150th career win, credited his defense as the difference.
“We didn’t give up any home runs,” he said. “They’re like the old Baltimore Orioles where they set you up for the three-run homer. We gave up some singles and doubles but nothing big other than one play.
“We got some good pressure on Gunner and he showed his mobility. But we did a good job of keeping them in front of us and not letting them hit the big play.”
The Wildcats came in hoping to prove their defense was up to the task of stopping a power rushing attack. Jefferson had five guys return with over 3,700 yards combined in 2020.
The Dragons did finish with 350 yards on the ground but take away Brown’s big run and a late drive to close out the game, the Wildcats showed there is plenty of reason for optimism.
“Our defense battled their tails off,” Rabun County coach Jaybo Shaw said. “The margin of error against a team like that is so small and we helped them out, especially at the end of the first half. I was very pleased with our effort.
“You know, Gunner has spoiled us all. He did a great job with protection calls and keeping some plays alive. He’s going to be just fine.”
The Wildcats won the opening toss and elected to defer, giving the Dragons the first opportunity and perhaps to test their revamped defense. It paid off as they eventually forced a Jefferson punt on the opening drive.
The Wildcats used that advantage to strike first as Stockton capped an 81-yard drive in 5:29 with a 1-yard dive over the pile for a 7-0 lead. Stockton accounted for 79 yards as he was 6-for-6 for 53 yards passing and added 23 yards on the ground.
But the Dragons answered back two plays later. After a fumbled snap by Starks, Brown took a pitch around the right side for 79-yards untouched to tie the game just 27 seconds later.
The game was then delayed for 97 minutes due to lightning. It was all Dragons the rest of the half.
The Jefferson defense held the Wildcats to a pair of three-and-outs holding Stockton and the Rabun offense to just 18 yards in the second quarter. The Dragons took a 15-7 lead with 2:22 left in the half on a 4-yard scoring run from Kaiden Bailey and a 2-point run by Max Aldridge.
The Dragons then got a huge turnover as Rabun’s Willie Goodwyn fumbled the ensuing kickoff with Isaiah Copeland recovering for Jefferson. Five plays later Starks scored on a 14-yard scramble with 9 seconds left for a 22-7 halftime lead.
Similar to last year’s game, the Jefferson ground attack chewed up 191 yards in the first half while the Rabun offense was held to just 99 total yards.
The Rabun defense kept them in the game forcing a pair of Jefferson fumbles in the third quarter. The second opened the door for Stockton and the offense.
Stockton connected with Turner Grimmet on a 13-yard touchdown pass three plays later to cut into the lead at 22-13 after a missed extra point with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.
Rabun County had another chance midway through the fourth quarter driving to the Dragons 18. But two short runs set up a fourth down and Stockton’s pass to Lang Windhom was high to turn it over on downs.
Starks and Aldridge then tag-teamed a drive deep into Rabun territory to run out the final four-plus minutes to preserve the win.
SCORING SUMMARY
Rabun Co.....7......0....6....0 -- 13
Jefferson......7....15....0....0 -- 22
First Quarter
R -- Stockton 1 run (Armenta kick) 7-0, 1:40
J -- Brown 78 run (Botts kick) 7-7, 0:53
Second Quarter
J -- Bailey 4 run (Aldridge run) 15-7, 2:22
J -- Starks 14 run (Botts kick) 22-7, 0:09
Third Quarter
R -- Grimmet 13 pass from Stockton (kick failed) 22-13, 0:37
