By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Tigers fall to Spartans in region championship
GAC wins 49-10 over Dawson County
Football pic 1 alt, 10.18.17
Vaughn Clark carries for the Tigers during the Nov. 3 region championship game. - photo by Kolton Brumbelow for the DCN

For the second straight year the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans defeated the Dawson County Tigers in the Region 7-AAA championship game.

The Tigers became region runners-up with the 49-10 loss on the road. 

Both teams entered Friday’s contest at 5-0 in region play with the Spartans 8-1 overall and the Tigers 7-2. 

The Spartans dominated on both sides of the ball and Clemson commit Kyler McMichael broke free on the second play of the game for a 54-yard touchdown run.

GAC led 7-0 with only 11:30 in the first period.

Dawson went three and out after a false start and the Spartans began again at the 45. That drive would end with a Josh Rose keeper for a score from 30 yards out to make it 14-0 with 8:27 in the first.

Football pic 3
Dawson County quarterback Coey Watson looks for an open man while the offensive line holds off the GAC Spartans during the Nov. 3 region championship game in Norcross. - photo by Kolton Brumbelow for the DCN
The Spartan defense again stifled the Tigers, but GAC’s next drive would be stopped short. Logan Brumbelow got pressure on Rose in the backfield on multiple downs including a tackle for a loss on third and two at the 10.

GAC would go for it on fourth and 3 and Caleb Bell stopped Rose on a keeper to send it over on downs. 

Dawson was unable to generate anything on offense and would again punt, this time to the Spartan 31-yard line.

Rose picked up a 29 yard run to the Tiger 40 and Montae Bailey carried it on the next down to the 11 before running it in to make it 21-0 with 1:21 still in the first period.

On the next Spartan drive, with second and 11 at the 23 a personal foul on the Tigers gave GAC first and goal at the 8. 

Tyler Bride would score on fourth and inches to make it 28-0 in the second quarter.

The next Dawson outing was short-circuited by a false start and an intentional grounding call that backed the Tigers to their own 1. Forced to punt from their end zone, GAC came after the ball and blocked the punt and carried it in. 

With 5:09 until the half it was 35-0.

A tipped ball would result in a pick six for the Spartans on the next Dawson possession making it 42-0.

With under three minutes until the break, Dawson County was able to sustain a drive beginning at their own 20. Vaughn Clark and Ethan Cameron carried the ball and Watson found Shawn Thomas. 

Watson had 109 yards passing.

Clark would finish off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to finally get the Tigers on the board.

Clark finished with 19 carrie for 108 yards.

With less than 30 seconds until half, the Spartans’ McMichael ran 70 yards for another GAC score and GAC went to half with a 49-7 lead.

In the second half, the Tigers would score on a Peyton Allen field goal and Brody Howell would get an interception on Rose but the score would be final at 49-10.

The loss means the Tigers end the regular season at 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the region.

Next week, Dawson County will host the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs and will face Hart County (3-8, 3-2) of Region 8. The game will be at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.