ROSWELL, Ga. -- Kharim Hughley threw for a career-high 456 yards and tossed a career-high 5 touchdown passes, but it wasn’t enough as a late Gainesville rally fell short in a 48-45 loss to Roswell on Friday night.
The loss dropped the Red Elephants (7-3, 4-2 Region 7-5A) into third place in Region 7-5A and moved the Hornets (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-5A) into second and a shot for the region title next week against No. 1 Milton.
Gainesville led 37-34 going into the fourth quarter, but Roswell got a 2-yard touchdown run from Nick Peal and a 33-yard scamper from quarterback Trey Smith to take a 48-37 with 4 minutes left.
Less than a minute later, Hughley connected with Shane King for a 51-yard TD pass, and Hughley added a 2-point run to get within 48-45.
Gainesville could not recover an onside kick moments later, but the defense forced a rare Roswell 3-and-out for the game to give the offense one last chance.
Hughley and the offense drove the length of the field, and with 7 seconds left, a throw to the front pylon of the end zone was ruled incomplete as the clock ran out.
Big Red led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter and took a 23-21 lead into halftime. The two teams traded a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter with Hughley and Taz Smith connecting on an 80-yard bomb and Williamson catching an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Jeremiah Ware had a huge day, catching 11 passes for 187 yards and 2 TDs. Carmelo Byrd ran for 153 yards for Gainesville. The Red Elephants put up a season-high 636 yards of total offense for the game.
Gainesville is off until the playoffs begin on Nov. 15.
