It was a hot one at kickoff as the temperature sat right around 90 degrees at kickoff. However, the heat could not stop an otherwise scenic game in the mountains of Dahlonega as Lumpkin County would win big, 44-27. The refs issued a few “heat breaks” as everyone in attendance felt the effects, everyone but Mason Sullens. The star Indians RB opened up his season with an incredible performance scoring four times as the Panthers defense could not find any answers to stop him. Though the game ended in a 17-point victory for Lumpkin County, both teams know it could have been more as the Indians coughed the ball up twice with goal to go, which allowed the Panthers to keep it close for most of the first half. The Panthers offensive trio of Caiden Tanner, Jansen Goble, and Braylen Rader filled up the stat sheet as well, but their efforts fell short when an ineligible receiver penalty later in the 3^rd quarter stalled their drive keeping them from getting it back to a possession game.

Photo from LCHS Football Facebook

Game Notes

Q1

Lumpkin County got off to a hot start on offense as Mason Sullens got the game going with a big 50 yard run to get into Panther territory. Their first drive, consisting of all runs, was quite successful as they marched 79 yards all the way to the Union 1 yard line before Sullens fumbled the ball away to Union. Union County found no success on their first two drives and a short punt gave Lumpkin great field position on the Union 45 when they got started for their 3^rd drive. Mason Sullens had another big run for 38 yards bringing the ball back inside the Panthers 10-yard line, with Gerald Walker Jr. punching the ball in for the first score of the game on a seven-yard touchdown run. Union answered on their next possession as Braylen Rader found the endzone on a one-yard run, that was set up by a big 77-yard WR screen pass to Rader, but the PAT was no good making the score 7-6. Lumpkin would drive down the field again bringing the ball inside the Panthers 10-yard line, before fumbling the ball away again.

Q2

The 2^nd quarter got off to a rough start for the Panthers after failing to capitalize on the Indians 2^nd turnover as a bad snap led to a busted play and an ensuing punt. Lumpkin would get the ball back on their 33-yard line. QB Cal Faulkner would get the drive going on a big QB run down to the Union 40 and 15 more yards would be tacked on thanks to a facemask call. This would get Lumpkin set up deep in Panther’s territory, where yes you guessed it, Sullens would find the endzone four plays later giving Lumpkin County a 14-6 lead. Union would see no success on their next two drives with a three-and-out and a big fumble on another bad snap that would give Lumpkin the ball on the Panthers 33-yard line. The Indians would take advantage of their gifted field position as Faulkner would connect with WR Luke Evans on a big 25-yard touchdown, making it 21-6. However, all was not lost for the Panthers as they would put together a very long and successful drive, thanks to a couple of successful WR screen plays to Goble, as the drive would end in a three-yard QB run from Tanner as the Panthers would bring the game back to one possession late in the 2^nd, 21-13. With 1:22 left in the first half, Lumpkin would get into field goal range as K Josue Nieto would split the uprights as time expired stretching the lead to 24-13.

Q3

Neither team had success on their first drive of the second half. After stopping the Indians on 4^th down, the Panthers took over on their own 40-yard line. Tanner needed only three plays on this drive to find the endzone as he connected with WR Ethan McBride for a big 50-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 24-20. Union’s defense came out to play, or so it looked, as they quickly got Lumpkin to a 3^rd and five, but Faulkner and Evans would connect for another huge play as the 27-yard pass completion would get the Indians to the two-yard line and Sullens would punch it in on the next play getting the lead back to two possessions, 30-20. As the clock ticked away in the third, Union needed to answer on this drive. However, in heart breaking fashion there was no success to be found as the Panthers found themselves in a 3^rd and 11 situation. Tanner would find an open receiver for a big play and what would have been a first down if it wasn’t for an ineligible receiver call, negating the play, pushing them back five yards and an incompletion on the next play leading to a punt and ultimately a loss.

   Q4

Lumpkin County controlled much of the fourth quarter. Sullens would tally another big 50+ yard run as he went 55 yards to the house, with another rushing touchdown in the quarter as well. Union would record another touchdown score on a 10-yard pass from Tanner. The final in this one was 44-27.

Team Notes

Mason Sullens, Mason Sullens, Mason Sullens. He recorded over half of the offensive plays and more than half of the points for Lumpkin. He would finish with 249 yards and four touchdowns, on 32 carries, averaging 7.8 YPC. Cal Faulkner had himself a game as well throwing for 141 yards and a touchdown while also adding another 96 yards on 13 carries. Luke Evans would lead the Indians WR room with 74 yards on four catches and a clutch touchdown.

As for the Panthers, their defense will need some work after allowing 44 points and over 500 yards. However, their offense was solid for most of the game. Tanner finished 19/37 with 292 yards and two touchdowns. He would also lead the ground game for Union, adding 40 yards and another touchdown. Rader finished with 35 yards and a touchdown on the ground while also finished with 65 yards receiving and another touchdown. Jensen Goble also had himself a huge game finishing with 161 yards on 11 receptions.

Player of the Game

Lumpkin County– Mason Sullens: 32 carries, 249 yards, 4 TDs

Union County– Caiden Tanner: 19/37 292 yards, 2 TDs / 11 carries, 40 yards, TD

Looking Ahead

The 1-1 Panthers will head back home to take on the 0-2 Towns County Indians. As for Lumpkin County, they will look to move to 2-0 as they travel to Franklin County to take on the 1-1 Lions.