DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County scored all 17 of their points in the third quarter and held on to beat Gilmer Friday, 17-7.
The Tigers secured a home playoff game with the win and are assured of nothing less than the second seed in the 3A state playoffs.
After a scoreless first half, Kenny Nelson finally got the Tigers on the board with a 72-yard kickoff return to open the second half and take a 7-0 lead. Three minutes later, Dom LeBlanc hit a 34-yard field goal to jump to a 10-0 lead.
Elijah Smith scored on a third straight Tiger scoring drive to open the half, sprinting in from 39 yards out, but that would be the last time Dawson would find the endzone as Gilmer ate up nearly 10 minutes of the fourth quarter to score with less than a minute left to get their lone points on the night.
Smith finished with 72 rushing yards to lead the Tigers on the ground. Cade Moledor added 59 yards of rushing.
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Lumpkin County next week. A Tiger win gives them the 7-3A title and the top seed in the region.
