GC can’t keep pace with Raiders
– Gordon Central traveled to Dalton on Friday to take on non-region foe Southeast Whitfield. Although, Southeast ended up winning in the end (47-28), it definitely served as a moral victory for the Warriors.
Senior quarterback Martavius Harris had a great night for Gordon Central as he went 6-of-11 for 143 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also added 32 yards, a rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion on the ground.
Harris did all this despite not starting the game and having to share snaps with Brent Silvar. For Harris’ valiant efforts, Gordon Central head coach Cory Nix has been impressed enough to place him at starter going forward.
“In the game, I think we figured out some pieces to the puzzle as far as personnel especially at quarterback. I will go ahead and say it right now; I think No. 6 (Harris) is our quarterback now,” said Nix. “I was scared at first because he was a little bit shorter, but as far as what we do, as far as mobility, as far as running the ball, as far as rolling out and sprint out, I think he’s the guy. He’s a competitor, and I challenged him in the second half to come out and compete as a senior, and he did it.”
In the game itself, Southeast Whitfield came out strong as they scored three times in the first quarter. Gordon Central came out very sloppy. First, a Southeast defender gave his team great field position when he picked off a Gordon Central pass on their first drive, and Southeast quarterback Porter Johnson responded by throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Greene.
Minutes later, Harris fumbled in Southeast territory, and the Raiders’ Edwin Herrera scooped it up and returned it 76 yards for the score. Then, after forcing a Warrior punt on their next series, Southeast scored in one play when Johnson hit Herrera for a 32-yard score. Gordon Central answered with a score of their own with 1:49 left in the first quarter, as Harris threw a pass to Corey Dixon, who raced down the sidelines for a 60-yard touchdown. The quarter ended with Southeast Whitfield ahead 21-7, and the Raiders scored twice more to make it 34-7 going into the half.
Gordon Central came back in the second half looking like the better team. The Warriors outscored the Raiders 21-13 in the final quarter thanks to rushing scores by Branson Towe, Harris and Nelson Gravitt respectively. Southeast’s Porter made his presence at quarterback felt in the second half as he threw two touchdown passes. The final buzzer sounded, and the Raiders left with a 47-28 victory.
Porter was the best player in this game. The signal caller threw for 330 yards on 17-of-32 passing with six touchdowns and one interception. Cameron Pierce led the Warriors in rushing with 53 yards on four carries.
Gordon Central is off next Friday and hosts Lafayette on Sept. 8.