It was the last game of the regular season for Dawson County’s JV Tiger football team last Thursday.   

The Tigers were hosting Fannin County, who thumped them 40-0 earlier in the season. This time the outcome was different, as the Tigers came away with an exciting 6-0 win.  

Running back Cody McGinnis scored the winning touchdown with just 1:42 to play in the game. McGinnis took a hand-off from quarterback Wyatt Wofford and scampered around the right end for the 23-yard score.   

The sideline erupted for Dawson County. The Tigers had struggled all year with an 0-6 record, but this win was sweet for Dawson County High School Head Junior Varsity Football Coach Doug Miolen and his team.  

“We had our best week of practice with this group this week,” Miolen said.  The game didn’t get off to a roaring start. The Tigers fumbled two times in the red zone, giving the ball back to Fannin.  

Neither team could find the end zone, and at halftime the game was scoreless.  

Fannin also had a difficult time holding on to the football. Tiger defensive player, Blake Clark, was the recipient of one of those fumbles jumping on the ball with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. Bruce Rayner also recovered a fumble for Dawson County.  

Defensively, the Tigers were strong all afternoon. Dawson defenders kept the option attack of Fannin at-bay, and didn’t allow them into the end zone.  

“The defense played outstanding. I think they got across midfield once. Our defense came to play,” Miolen said about the defensive play of his team.  

The duo of Wofford and wide receiver Brock Sutton were outstanding. Sutton caught seven passes from Wofford, one of them was snatched off the back of a Rebel cornerback for a big 37-yard gain.  

“Wyatt did a much better job running the offense. He was much quicker today and I think it made all the difference. Brock Sutton played with confidence and played extremely well,” said Miolen. “Our running back played better and improved tremendously during the course of the year. The offensive line got better.”  

What a way to end the season for the junior Tigers. Next year they will be bigger and stronger as they prepare for the varsity.  

E-mail Pam Jacobs at sports@dawsonnews.com.