The Red Elephants scored just 19 seconds into the game on their first play from scrimmage -- following a fumble by the Rebels on the opening kickoff -- and then cruised to a 49-20 win at City Park Stadium.
Fifth-ranked Gainesville will play host to Cedar Grove next Friday in the Class AAA Sweet 16.
Devon Pierce scored three first half touchdowns and Markece Robertson scored twice as the Elephants (10-1) used a 21-point second quarter to blow open a close game. Pierce would finish with 85 yards and four scores to lead a balanced Gainesville offense.
Robertson finished with 82 yards rushing and freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson was 15-of-22 passing for 197 yards.
The Gainesville defense then forced a second Haralson County turnover on the Rebels first true possession that led to a 6-yard Pierce touchdown run less than six minutes into the game. Haralson would cut the lead in half on a 89-yard run by Antoine Phillips to make it 14-7 just before the end of the first quarter.
It was all Gainesville after that. Pierce would score on the next two Elephant possessions, including a nifty 15-yard blast. Robertson would cap the first half with a 2-yard run dragging several Rebel defenders into the end zone with him to make it 35-7.
Gainesville picked up where it left off in the third quarter with Pierce scoring his fourth touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run. Trey Harrison put the game out of reach with a 29-yard scamper to cap a 35 consecutive points streak.
Haralson County would add a pair of late touchdowns against the Gainesville reserves to make the score closer. Phillips would finish with 234 yards for the Rebels (3-8).
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/11/233754