ELLIJAY — Jayquan Smith ran for 255 yards and scored four times to lead Cherokee Bluff to a 40-6 win over Gilmer on Friday in both teams’ Region 7-3A openers.
But the game was very much in doubt as the Bears (5-0, 1-0 Region 7-3A) were held to just a pair of Smith touchdown runs of 54 and 20 yards for a slim 13-6 halftime lead.
Bluff exploded in the second half.
Starting with Smith’s 20-yard score in the second quarter, the Bears scored the final 34 points and held the Bobcats (2-2, 0-1 Region 7-3A) scoreless in the second half.
Marlion Jackson hauled in a 46-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Irons and Smith added two more TDs on runs of 30 and 8 yards in the second half.
Jhace Justice closed out the game returning a Gilmer fumble 63 yards for the final score.
Cherokee Bluff held Gilmer to just 157 yards of offense, including zero yards passing.
