Jefferson Middle football wins conference championship

The Jefferson Middle School Dragons finished the 2009 season undefeated last Thursday night in a 28-14 triumph over Lumpkin County in the North Georgia Mountain Conference Championship.

Coach Chad Cheatham’s 9-0 Dragons led the entire way before pulling away midway through the fourth quarter on a 60-yard run by Tristan Jackson. The Dragons defense was lead by Austin Mixon, who had an interception and a 50-yard fumble return.

The Dragons opened the season with a 20-8 win over arch-rival Commerce and went on to outscore their opponents 293-80. Sammy Williams, Hanon Price, Tristan Jackson and Tyler Bowen lead the way on the ground for the Dragons. Quarterback Taylor Poff had a bevy of receivers that were lead by Donnie Hatfield and Rodney Carr. Leading the Dragons on defense were Bowen and Joe Kelly.

This was the Dragons fifth straight championship for this age group, including baseball and wrestling. They won the Dizzy Dean state baseball championship in the summer and the state middle school wrestling championship in the winter. This same group also won the North Georgia Youth Football Association last Fall. Helping Coach Cheatham were assistants Jesse Fowler, Brandon Vinson, Montrae Riley, Brian Holcombe and Keith Ramey.