A year after the Gilmer Bobcats defeated Lumpkin County by 55 points, the Indians got revenge.
Last Friday’s game in Dahlonega had plenty of offensive fireworks. After the teams traded touchdowns in the opening half, Lumpkin pulled ahead in the second half and led by 10 points on two occasions.
Gilmer’s defense forced a fumble in the game’s waning moments, but Lumpkin’s defense made a stop, and the Indians held on for a 32-30 win.
The Bobcats have dealt with a young roster and razor-thin depth all season. They were missing more than 10 players Friday as freshmen and sophomores filled starting and backup roles.
“We just had no answer for them. We got eight guys injured and had some other guys out. We had four defensive starters out,” head coach Paul Standard said. “That’s not an excuse; that’s a fact. Would it have made a difference? Maybe.
“For our kids, I’m proud of them. They played their butts off and didn’t quit. I thought our offense made some stupid penalties that killed dives in the first half. In the second half, we were stopped and then we punted. Then they turned around and came back.”
Both teams used the running game as their main form of attack. GHS fullback Brock Titus battered the middle of the line for 102 yards and a score. Lumpkin stopped big gains off the edge, and halfback Kobe Stonecipher was limited to 39 yards on the night but reached the end zone twice.
Quarterback Seth Darling racked up 63 rushing yards and added 165 through the air. Dominic Tarantino was his main target and hauled in five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Lumpkin’s primary ball carrier was quarterback Cooper Scott, who proved to be tough to stop. He finished with 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns running right at the Bobcats.
GHS emerged from the locker room after halftime leading, 16-14. However, Gilmer turned the ball over on downs and was forced to punt to begin the third quarter while the Indians cashed in touchdowns.
Cooper carried five of six times and accounted for 71 of 73 rushing yards as the Indians overtook the Cats, 20-16 halfway through the third quarter. Their next drive covered 64 yards on 10 plays as running backs Will Wood and Mason Sullens did most of the damage on the ground. Cooper kept the ball over the final 8 yards for a score and 26-16 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats responded with a drive highlighted by a 27-yard Titus rush that advanced GHS to midfield. Darling then completed a 17-yard pass to Tarantino ahead of his 18-yard keeper to the Indians’ 17.
Following an 8-yard run by freshman halfback Isaac Rellinger, Titus carried twice with his last covering 6 yards across the goal line. The seven play, 79-yard drive cut the Indians’ advantage to 26-22 with 8:05 on the clock.
LCHS was back on the field for its third consecutive score. Scott completed a 61-yard touchdown pass down the seam to Tavion Lawrence. The Indians needed four plays to traverse 64 yards and bumped their lead back to 10 points at 32-22.
GHS came roaring back. On first down from its 38, Darling completed a 58-yard pass to a wide open Rellinger. Stonecipher rushed for 4 yards and a touchdown on the ensuing play, and Darling passed to Tarantino for a successful conversion.
Leading 32-30, LCHS tried to run down the clock. However, Bobcat junior lineman Hershel Defoor stripped the ball away from Scott, and GHS took over at Lumpkins’ 45 when Tony Olea recovered the fumble.
Darling got loose for a 17-yard scamper on second down, but GHS soon faced fourth down and 12 from its 27. Darling rolled to his left, and Tarantino made a diving catch for the needed 13 yards. A costly holding penalty moved GHS back 10 yards on the next play.
GHS faced third down and 18 from the 22, and Darling’s heave into the corner of the end zone was nearly caught by Tarantino. Stonecipher was there for a 15-yard catch on fourth down, but it was shy of a first down.
“We had a chance. Our defense rose to the occasion and caused a turnover when they hadn’t stopped them and they did it,” Standard said. “It gave us the ball back, but we just couldn’t finish the deal. I’m proud of our boys, and I’m disappointed for them because I know it hurts. I hate it for them, but we’re going to be fine. We just have to keep working. I just told them, ‘this isn’t a suggestion, this is the deal.’ We’re going to get right back to work Monday and get better.”
Both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter to start the game. LCHS struck first on a seven play, 66-yard drive. Tarantino blocked the extra point and LCHS led, 6-0.
GHS answered with a five-play drive that spanned 49 yards. Tarantino was there for a 26-yard catch, and Titus rumbled for a 12-yard rush. Stonecipher scored from 5 yards away and added the conversion for a 8-6 GHS lead.
LCHS had the longest drive of the night when its offense returned to the field. Lumpkin needed 13 plays to cover 66 yards, and jumped ahead 14-6 when Wood scored on a 5-yard rush.
Titus ran three times for 28 yards on Gilmer’s next series, and a 34-yard touchdown toss to Tarantino added the Cats’ second touchdown. Darling scored the conversion for a 16-14 Bobcat lead at the half.
Tarantino led GHS defensively with 16 total tackles. Sophomores Aspen Hataway and Alex Sampson had 13 and nine tackles, respectively.
“The biggest takeaway that I saw is we still made some of the same mental mistakes where we either had to call a timeout or it cost us a penalty, and we can’t do that,” Standard said. “The biggest lesson is that we’ve got to play all four quarters and find a way to finish the deal, and I know our kids will. The other takeaway from tonight is we’re getting some great experience for our younger guys. We’re going to be all right; we’ll bounce back.”
Standard expects to get some injured players back for Friday’s homecoming game against Dawson County. Those who do not return should be good to go by next Friday.
Friday’s kickoff at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.