CLEVELAND — Habersham Central took advantage of White County's mistakes to roll past the Warriors, 21-12, Friday night at Warrior Stadium.
The Raiders (2-1) only scored one offensive touchdown and if you took a quick scan of the stat sheet, you'd think White County won the game.
The Warriors (1-3) outgained the Raiders, 216-121 yards, had nine more first downs, forced two fumbles and two interceptions. But it was the Raiders defense that cashed in on the Warriors' mistakes -- a blocked punt for a touchdown and an interception for a score.
Habersham's Garrett Turner grabbed the blocked punt and rushed one yard for a touchdown with 5:35 to go in the first quarter. Later on, in the quarter, Brennon Clouse picked off Tripp Nix and ran 20 yards for paydirt. The scores gave the Raiders a 14-0 lead at the end of the opening period.
The Warriors found some offense early in the second quarter when Nix hit Darius Cannon on a 10-yard pass, but the extra point attempt miss left the score, 14-6.
The Raiders' offense scored its first touchdown early in the third quarter on a Sirmarcus Burney 11-yard run, going up 21-6 with 11:36 to go in the third.
White County added its final touchdown with 3:23 left in the third on a six-yard Silas Mulligan run.
Mulligan led the Warriors with 164 yards rushing on 36 carries. Carson Parker was the rushing leader for the Raiders with 64 yards on eight carries.
