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Tigers 0-2 on season
Team hopes to improve after second loss
S-Varsity football pic 1
Tiger Luke Martin tackles Gilmer running back Russell Cochran in Fridays game. - photo by Ryan Coker Dawson Community News

The Dawson County Tigers dropped their second football game of the season Friday against Gilmer County at home.

The Tigers are hoping to come off the 23-0 loss and claim their first win of the season Friday when they travel to face Heritage-Catoosa.

The Generals are currently 1-1 on the season. Coach Tim James' team defeated Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on Friday, 28-12. Heritage lost their first game of the season to Ringgold by a 44-23 score.

This will be the inaugural meeting of the two schools. Heritage plays in Region 7-AAAA.

Friday's game with Gilmer was projected as being a tough hard-nosed contest. That proved to be true as the Bobcats pounded their running game against the Tiger.

To make matters even worse was the fact that starting senior quarterback Zach Buchan was unable to play. Buchan had surgery on his throwing hand and was unable to perform. It is uncertain when Buchan will return for the Tigers.

Starting for Dawson County was freshman quarterback Coey Watson.

"Coey played well under the circumstances," Lee said. "He was playing his first varsity game. We were just trying to slow him down."

Turnovers and penalties played a big part in the outcome of Friday's game. Every time the Tigers seemed to have some momentum on offense, a turnover or penalty took the win out of their sails.

The Bobcats got on the board first on a busted play.

Gilmer quarterback, Chris James, seemed to be tackle for a loss but he broke loose for a 19-yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and Gilmer led 7-0 with 6:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Gilmer would tack on one more score just before halftime off a Dawson County fumble. The Bobcats scored on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 4:46 left in the second quarter. The PAT was not good after a botched snap from center.

Coach Wesley Tankersley's team added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Up next for Gilmer will be Murphy, North Carolina at home. Gilmer is now 2-0 on the season.