COLLEGE PARK, Ga. – Gainesville led nearly the entire night, but a Woodward Academy touchdown with 2:31 left put the home team in front for a 20-17 win over the defending Class 6A runners-up Friday night.
After the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown, Gainesville struck right back as Baxter Wright muscled his way into the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown to tie things up. The Red Elephants then got it going again late in the period with an 8-yard pass from Wright to Sky Niblett to take their first lead of the night at 14-7.
Gainesville kicked a field goal late in the second half after Woodward Academy missed a 31-yard attempt on the previous drive to carry a 17-7 lead into halftime. In the third quarter after a Gainesville three-and-out, the War Eagles drove the field and converted a 33-yard field goal to trim the lead to 178-10. They then booted a 48-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead further to 17-13.
After Gainesville couldn't get anything going on offense, Woodward Academy got a 17-yard touchdown run with 2:31 left and then forced a Gainesville interception to pull the upset.
