Brock leads Warriors to big win over Dawson

DAWSONVILLE – Despite 89 points and nearly 1,000 yards of offense combined, it was the White County defense that may have been the key factor in the Warriors’ wild 47-42 win over Dawson County Friday night in a key Region 7-AAA matchup at Tiger Stadium.

White County was able to get three key stops on the Tigers, two in the second half, to help erase a 28-27 lead early in the third quarter. They forced two punts on potential go-ahead drives for Dawson County, one in the fourth quarter.

“We have eight sophomores playing on defense right now and I can’t tell you how proud I am of them,” White County coach Bill Ballard said. “They made a few plays when we needed them to and that helped us get the lead and keep it.”

It also didn’t hurt that senior quarterback Will Brock had the game of his life on offense. The southpaw channeled his best Kenny Stabler impersonation throwing for 358 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another 78 with two more scores. The Warriors scored on every possession they had except for the final drive when they ran out the clock.

“Will was tremendous,” Ballard said. “They were keying on the option and he found the open receivers and made some huge plays. It was fun to watch.”

Brock connected with Andrew Bergin for three first half touchdowns answering three consecutive scoring drives by Dawson County.

The game was huge for both teams as they were part of a four-team logjam for second place in the region after Buford had to forfeit two region wins earlier in the week.

“Hey, we’re just glad to win a game. We had lost two straight so this was huge just have a positive outcome,” Ballard said.

The Tigers got tremendous offensive efforts from senior quarterback Tyler Dominy and senior running back Zack Martin. Dominy was 14-of-23 for 209 yards passing with one touchdown and added two rushing TDs in the second half. Martin finished with 118 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Dawson County.

In the end, however, Dawson County’s inability to stop White County while the Warriors defense managed three stops was the difference. The Tigers defense has suffered several key injuries during the season and has been playing shorthanded most of the season.

White County finished with 516 yards of offense while Dawson County had 455 yards of offense, 246 on the ground, for the game.

After trading touchdowns in the first half, White County took a 27-21 lead into halftime. The Tigers got the first major break of the game recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half and Martin scored on the next play to give Dawson County a 28-27 lead.

But the Warriors got rolling on their next possession when Brock capped a short 43-yard drive with a 9-yard TD run to reclaim the lead 33-28. The White County defense then forced a punt on Dawson’s next possession and Brock connected with Coley Loudermilk on a 73-yard pass play to the Tigers 6 and then found Loudermilk on the next play for a 6-yard TD pass to push the lead to 40-28.

Dawson County eventually cut the lead to 47-42 with 4:03 left in the game but did not attempt an onside kick and White County ran out the clock to seal the win.

The first half was wide-open with both teams combining for just one punt as the offenses dominated.

The Tigers took the opening drive 78 yards in just under six minutes culminating with a 2-yard TD run by Zack Martin. But the Warriors needed little time to tie the game when Brock connected with Bergin for the first score on a 37-yard pass just three minutes later.

Dawson County would answer right back using four minutes to go 80 yards with Martin scoring from 1-yard out for a 14-7 lead. Again the Warriors would quickly respond needing just 92 seconds to tie the game at 14 as Brock and Bergin struck again on a 70-yard TD pass.

The Tigers would answer again in just under three minutes when Dominy connected with Will Anglin on 14-yard TD pass to cap a 66-yard drive to take a 21-14 lead. But back came the Warriors again.

Bergin returned the kickoff to the Dawson 48 and then reeled in a beautiful 21-yard pass from Brock their third TD connection and tie the game at 21 with just 1:57 left in the half.

The Warrior defense then made the first stand of the game forcing a Dawson punt with 46 seconds left and Brock needed just 29 seconds to give them their first lead at 27-21 hitting on four straight passes for 52 yards, capped by a 5-yard strike to Tucker Cook with 17 seconds left.

Dawson had one last chance to score at the end of the half but a Hail Mary by Dominy was intercepted in the end zone as time ran out.

Bergin finished with 163 yards and three TDs receiving on just five catches for White County. Loudermilk had four catches for 125 yards and one touchdown.

Anglin had five catches for 46 yards and one score and added 36 yards rushing on just three carries for Dawson County.

SCORING SUMMARY
White Co................7…....20......13......7 -- 47
Dawson Co.….......7..…..14…...14......7 -- 42

First Quarter
DC – Z. Martin 2 run (Muldoon kick) 5:44, 7-0
WC – Bergin 37 pass from Brock (Saunders kick) 1:53, 7-7

Second Quarter
DC – Z. Martin 1 run (Muldoon kick) 10:08, 14-7
WC – Bergin 70 pass from Brock (Saunders kick) 8:36, 14-14
DC – Anglin 14 pass from Dominy (Muldoon kick) 5:39, 21-14
WC – Bergin 21 pass from Brock (Saunders kick) 1:57, 21-21
WC – Cook 5 pass from Brock (kick failed) :17, 27-21

Third Quarter
DC – Z. Martin 9 run (Muldoon kick) 11:47, 28-27
WC – Brock 9 run (pass failed) 8:33, 33-28
WC – Loudermilk 6 pass from Brock (Saunders kick) 4:02, 40-28
DC – Dominy 1 run (Muldoon kick) 1:27, 40-35

Fourth Quarter
WC – Brock 19 run (Saunders kick) 7:37, 47-35
DC – Dominy 9 run (Muldoon kick) 4:02, 47-42