Dade County topples GC
DADE COUNTY 55, GORDON CENTRAL 35
The Dade County Wolverines traveled to take on the Gordon Central Warriors in Region 7-AA action on Friday. The Warriors (0-6, 0-3) played their best game of the season but fell to Dade County (2-4, 1-2) and a dangerous rushing attack in the end 55-35.
The Warriors scored the opening touchdown of the game as Branson Towe ran 16 yards for a Warriors’ score. Towe had a huge night as he carried the Warriors’ offense and rushed for 144 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also had 39 yards receiving and contributed on both defense and special teams.
Gordon Central head coach David Humphreys said he had high praise for his workhorse tailback.
“Branson plays hard all the time, and I think he got a little winded and it showed a little bit because he is also playing defense,“said Humphreys. “Early, he missed a few tackles, but it’s not because he’s not giving full effort in anything from catching the ball, to running it, to return yards. He’s definitely a guy that we love to give the ball to. “
Unfortunately for Gordon Central, Towe’s first touchdown was negated very quickly as Dade County’s Makain Everett returned the Warrior kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Then after a stalled drive and a bad punt by the Warriors, the Wolverines took advantage of the short field and running back Trey Whitehead (who was lined up at receiver during the play) took a reverse pitch and scampered 33 yards for a touchdown with 2:23 remaining in the opening quarter. Dade County then caught Gordon Central off guard and kicked an onside kick and recovered it. Whitehead scored again, this time off a double reverse from 30 yards out.
Gordon Central then answered seconds later as quarterback Martavius Harris threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to receiver Corey Dixon. That made the score at the end of the first quarter 21-14.
Dade County dominated the second quarter and scored twice while keeping the Warriors away from the end zone. The first touchdown was scored by quarterback Gregory Templeton on a 15-yard quarterback keep. The other was a one-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 35-14 at the half.
Gordon Central got the ball back first after halftime and responded with points of their own as Towe ran six yards to the end zone. Dade County answered right back though. Templeton threw a 30-yard scoring strike to Lee Spencer.
On the very next drive, the Warriors scored another touchdown. This time it was on an eightyard run from Harris.
There were three more touchdowns scored in the fourth quarter, two by Dade County (two touchdown runs by Whitehead and Spencer respectively) and one by Towe of Gordon Central near the end of the game.
Even in the loss, the Warriors have a lot to be proud of. They played their best game of the season and scrapped all game long.
Gordon Central is off next week before traveling face Armuchee on Oct. 14.