HOSCHTON, Ga. — Jackson County scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to pull away for a 38-13 win over Habersham Central in a crucial Region 8-6A game for both teams Thursday night at Panther Stadium.
It was the second straight win for the Panthers (3-4, 2-1 Region 8-6A) both in region play, and moved them just one-half game behind first place North Forsyth in the standings. It also was the first-ever win for Jackson County over the Raiders in nine all-time meetings.
It was the second straight loss for Habersham Central (2-4, 0-2 Region 8-6A) to open its region schedule.
MJ Spurlin ran for 193 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 39, 7, and 4 yards to pace the Jackson County offense, which needed everything he had. The Habersham defense held the Panthers air attack behind Chase Berrong to 3-of-17 passing for just 10 yards for the game.
The Raiders offense could not find any traction in its ground game, however, as the Panthers held them to just 73 yards on 31 carries for the game.Cooper Smith (9-of-18, 75 yards) and Carson Parker (3-of-10, 13 yards) were held to just 88 yards combined passing and were sacked twice.
Parker’s 5-yard scoring run on the Raiders first possession of the game gave them a 7-0 lead. Spurlin answered back with his 39-yard TD run to tie the game and then Michael Thurmond scored on a 30-yard TD run to give the Panthers a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
Habersham Central pulled within 14-13 on Zeke Whittington’s 27-yard touchdown run but the Raiders could not convert a 2-point pass as they went to the half trailing 14-13.
It was all Jackson County in the second half. The Panthers got a 44-yard field goal from Brice Rogers and Spurlin’s 7-yard TD run in the third quarter for a 24-13 lead. Spurlin scored his final touchdown early in the fourth and Berrong capped the big second half with 7-yard TD run with just over a minute left.
