Class AAAA
Denmark 58, Chestatee 0
The host Danes scored 44 points in the first quarter and closed out an impressive shutout victory in their Region 7-AAAA opener. Quarterback Aaron McLaughlin kicked off the scoring with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Teddy Davenpart with 9:30 left in the opening quarter. Justin Bradford then intercepted Chestatee and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown, and the Danes forced another interception to set up an 18-yard touchdown run by McLaughlin on the following possession. Parker Hannon increased the lead to 23-0 with a 38-yard field goal and Brunson found the end zone again—this time on an 18-yard touchdown run. Zack Ogbogu ran in a 30-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left in the quarter and a quick three-and-out set up a Chestatee punt that was blocked and recovered by Bradford for his second defensive score of the dominant opening frame. McLaughlin connected with Ze’Vian Capers for a 92-yard touchdown in the second quarter that pushed the lead to 51-0 and Dee Crayton ran in a 17-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Marist 35, White County 20
Marist ran all over White County to pick up a home win that was not as close as the score suggested. The War Eagles led 15-0 after the first quarter, 32-7 at halftime, and by as many as 28 points (35-7) before two late touchdowns by the Warriors. Marist got touchdown runs from four different players, with Connor Cigelske, James Wise, Lincoln Parker and Brett Zoeller all finding the end zone. Parker’s 99-yard run after the Warriors turned the ball over on downs at the 1-yard line made the score 22-7 in the second quarter. For White County, J.Ben Haynes ran for an 8-yard score and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Reece Dockery.
Flowery Branch 35, Gainesville 21
Host Flowery Branch and cross-classification and non-region rival Gainesville went scoreless in the opening quarter. The Falcons grabbed a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter on touchdown runs by Jaizen Ellingham and Chandler White, but Gainesville made it 14-7 at the half following a Gionni Williams 3-yard touchdown pass to Walt Dixon with just six seconds left on the clock. That touchdown marked the first points scored on Flowery Branch this season. Ellingham added to Flowery Branch’s lead with his second rushing touchdown, but Gainesville brought it back to a 21-14 score with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Damarrie Haynes. Flowery Branch converted a critical 3rd-and-20 to set up a 10-yard Ellington touchdown run with 8:16 left in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 28-14. Once again Williams answered, this time rushing for a 6-yard Gainesville touchdown that made it 28-21 with 3:30 left. The Red Elephants’ onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, and Ellingham took Flowery Branch’s next snap in for 31-yards and his fourth score of the evening. Chase Dial-Watson iced the game with an interception on Gainesville’s final possession.
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