ELLIJAY, Ga. — A touchdown with 35 seconds to go gave Lumpkin County its first and only lead of the night as the Indians held on to beat Gilmer, 31-28.
The Indian defense held the Bobcats to just 54 second half rushing yards after giving up 300 in the first half, holding Gilmer to just seven points after the halftime break.
Gilmer scored first on their second drive of the night on a 62-yard rush, but the Indians answered as Mason Sullens scampered in from 20 yards away to tie the game at 7-7. Moments later, the Bobcats had another 62-yard rushing touchdown that was again answered as the first quarter closed when Cooper Scott found Cal Faulkner in the back of the endzone to tie the game up at 14-14.
The Bobcats again hit a big play early in the second quarter, sprinting in from 58 yards to take a 21-14 lead. The Indians responded with a 36-yard field goal that trimmed the lead down to 21-17 at halftime.
Gilmer stormed ahead in the third quarter, punching it in from seven yards away to take a 28-17 lead, the largest lead of the night, before the Indians scored the final 14 points, both on rushing touchdowns from Sullens. He found paydirt from six yards away in the third to cut the lead to four before scoring on 4th-and-2 with 35 seconds left from 16 yards away to push the Indians ahead for good.
Sullens finished with 207 yards on 32 carries and the three touchdowns.
The Indians will have next week off before traveling to White County in two weeks.
