BLUE RIDGE — Brian Allison said all week that crazy things happen in this game -- and the Union County coach was right.
But there was nothing unusual about how it ended -- Allison's quarterback just did his usual thing.
Panthers senior playmaker Joseph Mancuso tossed a 44-yard touchdown to Sam Gilbert, then picked off a Fannin County pass on defense and on the very next play rushed for a 61-yard touchdown to lead Union to a 37-31 win on Friday in Blue Ridge.
Mancuso finished with 238 yards passing, 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help pace the Panthers (4-0).
"I'm glad we have Joseph on our side," Allison chuckled. "He started running the ball well there late and that got us going."
Fannin County (2-2) battled back and forth with Union -- which also got 93 yards rushing and a touchdown from Bo Lynch -- taking a 24-16 lead with just 7:29 remaining. But the Panthers pulled within 24-22 on a one-yard touchdown run from Nic Rodriguez with 5:26 remaining and then pulled ahead for good on the touchdown pass to Gilbert with 1:23 left to play.
Mancuso iced the contest with his pick and then long scoring run -- though Fannin scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass with :06 left to play.
"It was nice to get the win," Allison said. "We had a couple of weird injuries this week, so it was nice to get this."
Union County will begin Region 8-AAA play next week at Social Circle.
Fannin County will take a bye next week and then begin Region 7-AAA play on Oct. 2 at Banks County.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/9/336672/union-county-outlasts-fannin-county-for-37-31-victory