WINDER, Ga. — Habersham Central had 654 yards of offense and scored 43 points but turned the ball over five times in the 57-43 loss to Winder-Barrow on the road.
The Bulldoggs (4-2, 2-0 Region 8-5A) also put up impressive numbers, tallying 532 yards of offense, 408 of which came on the ground behind running back MJ Dowdy. Dowdy finished the day with 319 yards rushing and five touchdowns. He also averaged 11.4 yards per carry, including TD runs of 19, 37, 29, 40, and 51.
The Raiders (2-4, 1-1 Region 8-5A) had more success through the air. Paris Wilbanks was 31-of-42 for 466 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Zeke Whittington hauled in 13 of those passes for 196 yards and two scores. Jay Fettus caught six passes for 128 yards and a TD.
The Raiders fell behind early, 22-7 when Camden Hodge found London Munoz on a two-yard TD pass with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
However, the Raiders answered on a touchdown run from Donnie Warren (17-127 yards rushing) and forced a safety to close the gap 22-16.
After falling behind two scores by halftime, 28-16, the Raiders opened the third quarter with a big play TD pass from Wilbanks to Fettus — a 64-yarder, to cut the lead to six points, 28-22. But that would be the closest the Raiders would get in the second half.
