Gainesville rolls, looks toward showdown

GAINESVILLE -- After weeks of making sure they didn't look ahead, the No. 1-ranked Red Elephants can finally focus on the game that most figured would decide the Region 7B-AAA and 7-AAA crowns.

Gainesville jumped out to a 42-0 halftime lead and closed out a 63-0 win over Johnson on Friday night at The Brickyard to seal a playoff spot and set the stage for a showdown next week at Flowery Branch.

The game will decide the playoff fate of the Red Elephants (9-0, 4-0 7B-AAA), Falcons and North Hall, which could win the 7-AAA crown with a Gainesville loss.

"It all comes down to one game, one big game," Red Elephants coach Bruce Miller said.

If the Red Elephants can get the kind of offensive and defensive production next week that it got on Friday, they'd have to like their chances for a second straight region title.

"That was one of the most complete games we've played all year," Miller said.

Gainesville pounced on a Johnson (3-7, 2-3) miscue at the start, grabbing a Knights fumble on their opening possession of the game. Red Elephants running back Teryan Rucker scored seven plays later for a 7-0 lead. It was the first big play on a night of many for the senior, who finished with 148 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just nine carries. Rucker's touchdown plays included a 35-yard screen pass from Sims in the second quarter and runs of 48 and 64 yards in the third quarter.

Gainesville quarterback Blake Sims also enjoyed an explosive game, accounting for five touchdowns -- two rushing, two passing and one on an 80-yard punt return.

Sims' 80-yard blast was just his second punt return of the season and made it 28-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Red Elephants pulled ahead 42-0 on a deflected touchdown pass just before the half, as Sims' attempt glanced off Darius Tanner and into the waiting hands of Desmund Hamilton.

Gainesville's defense, which held Johnson to 137 total yards, also got in on the scoring in the second half when linebacker A.J. Johnson scooped up a Knights fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown.

While the Red Elephants did turn the ball over twice on interceptions, Gainesville rolled up 409 yards of offense. Tai-ler Jones was on the receiving end of Sims' other passing touchdown, taking a swing pass 40 yards for a score.

Johnson's season is now over.

Gainesville still has multiple games, including the regular season finale next week at the Branch -- though it might as well be the start of the playoffs for the Red Elephants, who could slip from first to third should they come up short next week.