The Lumpkin County Indians gave Gilmer fits on both sides of the football.
The Gilmer High Bobcats made the trip to Dahlonega last Friday, and the Indians controlled the line of scrimmage to control the scoreboard.
LCHS scored on all but two possessions while the Bobcat offense never found its rhythm, and Gilmer suffered a 56-3 loss.
“We got beat by a really good football team. I’m disappointed for our kids because I feel like we prepared well and had a great week of practice,” said head coach Paul Standard. “I’m just disappointed we didn’t play better, and Lumpkin had a whole lot to do with that. They have a very talented and experienced team with 19 starters back, and it showed.
“Our kids are going to bounce back, and that has been a trademark of this group of seniors. I look forward to getting back out there and getting back to work. We had some coachable moments that we can take from this, starting with me the head coach.”
The Bobcat offense was contained to 103 yards and only achieved four first downs on the night. GHS was without its leading rusher, junior fullback Wyatt Stokes.
The Indians were led by running back Mason Sullens, the top rusher in Class 3A. He was right at his seasonal average, and finished with 183 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
LCHS reached the end zone on five of six first half possessions. The Indians racked up 218 rushing yards and 158 passing yards in the first half, and the opening drive was one of their longest of the night.
Lumpkin ran the ball on six of 10 plays on the 78-yard drive, but it was a 29-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Cal Faulkner that accounted for the game’s first points.
Lumpkin led 7-0 after four minutes of play, and Bobcat Hunter Britain returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to Lumpkin’s 8-yard line. That was as close as the Bobcats would get to the goal line on the night, and Noah Turner’s 21-yard field goal came at the midpoint of the first quarter.
The Bobcat defense then came up with a stop. While LCHS was able to pick up three first downs, GHS held on fourth down and 3 from its 13. The Cats punted after three offensive plays, and LCHS started its first of four straight scoring drives at Gilmer’s 48.
On the fourth play, Sullens broke loose for a 24-yard touchdown run. GHS fumbled on its ensuing offensive play, and Lumpkin took over at the Cats’ 25. On first down, Sullens leapt over a pile of bodies in the middle of the line before running into the end zone.
GHS was behind 21-3 with 9:44 left in the half. The Cats punted after achieving a first down on their fourth drive, and Lumpkin’s offense returned to the field at its 24.
A 25-yard pass on the drive’s third play was followed by a 34-yard jet sweep for a touchdown around the right edge.
LCHS held a 28-3 lead with 4:53 remaining on the clock. GHS had one of its better drives of the night and was able to pick up a pair of first downs. Quarterback Issac Rellinger moved GHS across midfield with a 33-yard completion to halfback Kyle Cowart.
Halfback Britain also had an 11-yard carry on the drive, which ended on downs at Lumpkin’s 11.
Faulkner completed 8 of 10 passes to move LCHS down field. From the 11, he connected with Sullens for a touchdown reception and 35-3 halftime lead.
GHS punted on all four of its second half possessions while achieving one first down. LCHS began the second half with an eight-play, 62-yard drive that concluded with a 1-yard Faulkner touchdown run.
Their next possession spanned 38 yards, and Sullens scored on a 17-yard run on the drive’s sixth play.
Leading 49-3 with 2:18 left in the third quarter, Lumpkin’s second team offense took the field. GHS forced a punt before the Indians’ fourth drive of the half resulted in a 30-yard touchdown run up the middle.
The four-play, 58-yard possession gave LCHS a 53-point lead with 2:50 left in the game.
“We still have a lot to work toward,” Standard said of the Bobcats, who are 1-2 versus region opponents. “We have a great chance to get to the playoffs and a lot to work for. You have to keep playing and plugging along. We’re going to flush this one and move on. We’re going to go on to the next week and get better.”
Players of the week: sophomore Jack Puckett (offense), senior Aspen Hataway (defense), junior Kyle Cowart (two-way player) and sophomore Hunter Britain (special teams).
Scout team players included Ethan McCollum, Jace McCollum, Salvador Ruiz and Robert Pim.
GHS hosts rival Pickens (1-5) Friday at 7:30 p.m.
JV Cats beat Pickens
The junior varsity Bobcats held on for a 14-12 win over Pickens last Thursday.
After falling behind 6-0, GHS quarterback Jase McCollum got the Cats on the board in the second quarter to even the score at halftime.
Both teams reached the end zone in the third quarter, and it was fullback Landon Ledford who crossed the goal line for GHS. Cheyne Smith tacked on the two-point conversion, but Pickens was not as fortunate and trailed by two points.
The Bobcat defense rose to the occasion twice on fourth downs to deny the Dragons. The second stop occurred with 2:40 left in the game as the Dragons were 23 yards away from the end zone.
When the Bobcat offense took over, Ledford converted a fourth down and 1 with 50 seconds on the clock to cement the win.
Gilmer coach Drew Gaddy praised the entire defense’s effort, especially that of Smith and Memphis Lewallen.
The JV season wraps up Thursday at home versus Fannin County at 5:30 p.m.