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Tigers fall to Indians
Varsity Football pic
Tiger defender Colby Padgett makes a tackle against a Lumpkin running back. - photo by Ryan Coker Dawson Community News

Dawson County's varsity football team dropped a 42-19 decision at Lumpkin County on Friday night.

With the loss Dawson dropped to 1-8 on the season and 1-5 in Region 7-AAA play.

Head Coach Jeff Lee's Tigers will wrap up the season on Friday night in Dawsonville against Johnson High School. The game is a non-region match-up. It will also be senior night for the Tigers.

Johnson is currently 2-7. The Knights lost last Friday night to Franklin County by a score of 14-13.

The Indians are currently 5-4 overall and 4-1 in region play. Lumpkin County plays West Hall Nov. 7 for a shot at the region championship.

It was a drizzly and cold night in Dahlonega for Friday night's game. Both teams had to make some adjustments because of the weather conditions.

Dawson County took the opening kickoff and started on their own 20-yardline. On third and two, freshman quarterback Coey Watson was intercepted for a touchdown.

With the extra point, the Tigers trailed 7-0 less than a minute into the game.

The Tigers mounted a 13-play drive on the team's next possession and took the ball down to the 1-yard line. On third and goal from the one, Dawson County fumbled and gave the ball back to Lumpkin.

"Those were two crucial turnovers," Lee said. "We had to play catch up all night."

The Indians then went on a long drive. Lumpkin covered 96-yards in 15 plays and scored on the first play of the second quarter. With the point after attempt, Lumpkin led 14-0 with 11:53 remaining in the second quarter.

Lee's team got on the board on a Watson to Dalton Edwards 61-yard scoring strike with 9:41 left before intermission. The point after was no good and Dawson trailed 14-6.

Watson had a good night on offense. He threw for 239 yards.

The freshman completed 15 out of 27 passes and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 53 yards on 15 carries.

Lumpkin County added two more touchdowns before halftime to take a commanding 28-6 lead.

With just 11 seconds remaining, the Indians scored on what was arguably the deciding blow from 2-yards out to give Lumpkin a 22-point lead.

Dawson County added two more scores in the second half, both on scores by Dalton Edwards.

Edwards finished the night with six receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

Several Tigers receivers caught passes on Friday.

Jeffrey Partain had five receptions for 48 yards, Andrew Goley had two catches and Nick Murphy had two receptions.

On the ground, Goley rushed six times for 52 yards and teammate Kyle Hayes had 16 carries for 69 yards.

The Tigers amassed 430 total yards on offense.

The Tigers were unable to stop Lumpkin County on defense.

Dawson County allowed 432 total yards on 60 plays. The Indians had 423 yards rushing, while attempting just two passes for nine yards.

Defensive Coordinator Jed Lacey's squad forced one turnover on a fumble recovery by Hayes in the second quarter.