This time the Tigers held a late lead and came away with a victory.

Prior to Friday night's 35-30 victory over Fannin County, the Tigers had lost two games, against Chestatee and Gilmer County, where leads were lost in the final minutes.

This time Head Coach Jeff Lee's team clawed its way back into the ballgame with Fannin County on Friday night in Blue Ridge. Dawson trailed 28-14 in the third quarter before rallying back for a heart-stopping 35-30 victory over the Rebels.

"Our kids never quit," Lee said. "They believed that they could come back just like they have done all year. I'm proud of our kids coming into such a difficult place to play and coming home with a win."

To make matters worse for Fannin County the Tigers spoiled homecoming by handing them the loss.

Tyler Dominy had a huge night passing for the Tigers.

Dominy tossed four touchdown passes while going 22 for 35 for 330 yards. On the season Dominy is 90-for-135 for 1,258 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Dominy's favorite receiver, Bruce Clark, caught two touchdown passes despite playing on a sprained ankle. Clark hurt the ankle during practice on Thursday. Clark finished the game with five catches for 54 yards.

Clark has now caught 37 balls for 472 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

Not only did Dominy connect with Clark, he spread his passes around to six different receivers during the ballgame.

Fannin got on the scoreboard first on a Trevor Stone to Peyton Satterfield 34-yard touchdown pass with 3:18 left in the opening quarter.

The Tigers quickly answered. Behind the running of Zack Martin and the arm of Dominy, Dawson marched 51 yards for a tying score. Dominy connected with Keaton Toal, Martin and Clark to take the ball down to the 7-yard line as time expired in the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter Martin rambled into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was good by Max Muldoon and the score was tied at seven apiece.

Dawson's defense looked like it had a stop at midfield on Fannin's next possession. However, the Rebels faked the punt for a 42-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good and Fannin held a 14-7 advantage.

Lee's offense stormed back with a touchdown of its own. Dominy found Clark on a fade pattern from the 5-yard line. The highlight of the drive was a Dominy to Chris Sayler 43-yard completion that took the ball all the way down to the Rebel 24-yard line.

Muldoon added the extra point and with 7:56 before halftime the game was tied at 14.

Once again Fannin took the ball and went 54-yards for a score on its very next possession. Rebel running back Jordan Gray ran the ball in from 25-yards out for another touchdown. Taylor Brodowsky added the extra point that gave Fannin a 21-14 lead.

Dominy and his offense took the field after the kick return to the 50-yard line.

The junior quarterback connected on passes to Jackson Putnam, Mitchell Putnam and Will Anglin.

On second and fifteen Dominy found Anglin for a 19-yard completion down to the goal line in what looked like a touchdown. Anglin was hit hard by a Rebel defender. The ball popped out and Fannin recovered at the 1-yard line.

Jackson Putnam ended the Fannin drive with an interception that ended the half.

Fannin coach Clark Drennan's team scored quickly to start the second half.

Satterfield broke loose on a 47-yard run that took the ball down to the 6-yard line. Two plays later Fannin scored to take a 28-14 lead after the extra point with 10:01 left in the quarter.

It wasn't looking good for the Tigers.

Dawson responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that concluded on a Dominy to Clark touchdown pass from 27-yards out.

Muldoon added the extra point and Dawson was back in the game at 28-21.

The Tigers defense stopped Fannin on its next possession and gave the ball back to the Tigers' offense.

Dominy and his teammates responded on another long drive of 10 plays.

Dominy found Anglin for a 15-yard touchdown with 7:33 remaining in the game.

The big play of the drive was a Dominy to Mitchell Putnam 53-yard pass.

Momentum was definitely on the Tigers' side.

Dawson's defense got another stop that forced Fannin to go for it on fourth down at the Tigers' 33-yard line with only 5 minutes to go.

Dawson took advantage of the situation. The Tigers went on a time consuming, 9-play drive capped off by a Dominy to Keaton Toal touchdown pass on third and eight from the Fannin 14-yard line. Muldoon added the extra point and Dawson had the lead 35-28 with 1:43 left in the game.

Will Anglin came up with a big interception to stop Fannin's last real drive.

The Tigers tried to run off as much time as possible. The Tigers got the ball back with 54 seconds left at the one-yard line. Three quarterback sneaks and a safety in punt formation gave Fannin one last chance.

This time the Dawson defense rose to the occasion and stopped Fannin to give the Tigers the big Region 8A-AA sub-region win.

Several Tigers had big nights on offense.

Chris Sayler finished the game with three catches for 62 yards. Sayler had two running attempts for 48 yards against the Rebels.

Will Anglin also had a productive game with five receptions for 58 yards.

Keaton Toal also pulled down two balls for 23 yards.

Zach Martin had 13 carries for 54 yards. Martin now has 497 yards on 107 carries and seven touchdowns this season.

Up next for the Tigers will be a tough Banks County Leopards team. Under first-year head coach Philip Jones the Leopards are currently 3-2 on the season with wins over Social Circle, 13-7, Riverside, 41-0 and last week against sub-region opponent Union County, 16-14. The team's two losses have come to East Jackson, 35-7, and Athens Christian, 27-21.

"They are very athletic in the secondary. This will be a big game as both teams are undefeated in the sub-region," Lee said about Banks County.

Last season the Tigers lost to Banks 25-11.

Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Homer.