Defense carries Longhorns to 8-AAAAA title <b>(VIDEO)</b>

SUGAR HILL -- It has been a recipe for success for Lanier. Coach Korey Mobbs, however, would prefer something a little less stressful.<br /> <br /> For the fifth time this season the Longhorns fell behind early in the first quarter only to watch its stingy defense take control and spark a come-from-behind win. This time, the Longhorns rallied from a 10-0 deficit before pulling away for a 21-10 win over Winder-Barrow in a key Region 8-AAAAA battle.<br /> <br /> The win was even more dramatic as it clinched Lanier's first-ever region title and came on an emotional Senior Night at home.<br /> <br /> The game was very much in doubt at 14-10 with less than two minutes left and the Bulldoggs driving. But senior Jeremy Taylor picked off a Noah Chapman pass and raced 62-yards for a touchdown with 1:39 left to seal the victory and the region title.<br /> <br /> "I just watched (the quarterback) and it was a little underthrown and I just stepped in front (of the receiver) and took off," Taylor said. "But it wasn't just my play. It was a team effort. And to do this on Senior Night is amazing."<br /> <br /> Mobbs had to take a moment to gather himself after the emotional win. Then he broke out in a huge grin.<br /> <br /> "It's not how we drew it up but I am so proud of the kids and how they just kept battling. The defense just found a way to shut them out in the second half," Mobbs said. "As far as the region, this is a great group of young men who come to work every day and practice hard. I'm very happy for them. It feels great for the school and the community."<br /> <br /> The defense once again carried the Longhorns (9-0, 8-0 Region 8-AAAAA) forcing four turnovers and stopping the Bulldoggs three times in the second half on downs, twice in Lanier territory.<br /> <br /> "We feel like we have a defense good enough to take us pretty far (in the playoffs) and this was one of their best games of the year," Mobbs said. "We knew (Cece Green) was going to be a handful and he was. But our guys just battled and did a great job of slowing him down."<br /> <br /> Taylor also forced a crucial fumble stripping Green after a screen pass, recovered it, and returned it to the Longhorns 30 in the third quarter. That play sparked an ensuing 70-yard drive capped by a 3-yard Tario Fuller touchdown run to give Lanier its first lead, 14-10, and the defense did the rest.<br /> <br /> Green finished with nearly 150 yards for Winder-Barrow (5-4, 5-3) but 64 came on the first play of the game for the Bulldoggs to give them a 7-0 lead just 38 seconds into the contest. Green took the handoff and blasted through the Lanier defense and outraced six defenders to the end zone. He would have just one run over 4-yards over the final three quarters.<br /> <br /> Both defenses would control the rest of the first quarter with the two teams combining for 11 possessions in the first 12 minutes and they swapped interceptions on consecutive drives. But Winder-Barrow took advantage of a short field to extend its lead to 10-0 on a 30-yard field goal by Alan Leighton with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.<br /> <br /> Lanier's first chance to score came on its next possession but Mason Harwood's 25-yard field goal attempt was blocked. The Longhorns would stop Winder-Barrow on three plays on its next possession and the Lanier offense would respond with its best drive of the half.<br /> <br /> Fuller did most of the damage with 44 yards rushing and one key 12-yard reception and capped the 74-yard drive with a serpentine 24-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 10-7 with 6:08 left in the half.<br /> <br /> Both teams had chances to score in a wild final two minutes. Winder-Barrow drove to the Lanier 22 with 30 seconds left but the Longhorns' Stefan Ball intercepted a Chapman pass and returned it 45 yards to the 50. A Winder penalty was tacked on and the Longhorns had the ball at the Bulldoggs' 38 with 16 seconds left.<br /> <br /> But Tahj Tolbert's pass into the end zone was picked off by Winder's Drezdin Williams on the next play with :07 seconds left to preserve the lead at halftime.<br /> <br /> Despite the loss for Winder-Barrow, the Bulldoggs found out after the game that they too will be in the postseason. Winder advanced courtesy of Heritage, Conyers' 29-15 loss to Clarke Central on Friday. The Bulldoggs could finish as high as third with a win next week over the Patriots. It is the first trip to the playoffs for Winder-Barrow since 2003.<br /> <br /> <b>SCORING SUMMARY</b><br /> <b>Winder</b>....10....0....0....0 -- 10<br /> <b>Lanier</b>.....0....7....7....7 -- 21<br /> <br /> <b>First Quarter</b><br /> WB -- Green 64 run (Leighton kick) 7-0, 11:22<br /> WB -- Leighton 30 FG 10-0, 0:55<br /> <br /> <b>Second Quarter</b><br /> LAN -- Fuller 24 run (Harwood kick) 10-7, 6:08<br /> <br /> <b>Third Quarter</b><br /> LAN -- Fuller 3 run (Harwood kick) 14-10, 1:05<br /> <br /> <b>Fourth Quarter</b><br /> LAN -- Taylor 62 interception return (Harwood kick) 21-10, 1:39

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