Shaw leads Falcons past Lumpkin

FLOWERY BRANCH -- After a disappointing opening-season loss to Stephens County last week, Flowery Branch was looking for some momentum as it entered Region 7-AAA play Friday night against Lumpkin County.

The Falcons got what they wanted as Connor Shaw ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more as they pounded out a 42-10 win over the Indians at Falcons Field.

"Coming off the loss we just needed some type of momentum," Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw said. "We're a good team. We just needed to get over that hump and roll on."

Shaw ran for 161 yards and threw for 185 yards to spark the offense, which piled up 476 total yards.

It was a tight game in the first quarter, as Flowery Branch (1-1) led just 14-7. But the Falcons scored 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to blow the game open.

The Indians (0-2) were paced by Haden Rider, who had 103 yards on 12 carries for the game. Chris Guthrie, however, scored Lumpkin's only touchdown in the first quarter on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 7-7.

It was all Flowery Branch after that.

The Falcons defense held the Indians to just 242 total yards and forced two turnovers.

Darius Kimbrough scored a touchdown for the Falcons on a 54-yard run and Jamel Mitchum caught two touchdown passes, including a 76-yard bomb from Shaw.

Ben Ayers kicked a 25-yard field goal for Lumpkin for the Indians' only second half points.

Lumpkin County Indians @ Flowery Branch Falcons

-Score by quarters
1 2 3 4 Final
Visitor: 7 0 3 0 10
Home: 14 14 7 7 42

-How they scored:

FIRST QUARTER
Flowery Branch- Connor Shaw 3 yard run
Lumpkin County- Chris Guthrie 1 yard run
Flowery Branch- Connor Shaw 2 yard run

SECOND QUARTER
Flowery Branch- Kimbrough 18 yard run
Flowery Branch- Shaw to Mitchum 76 yard touchdown

THIRD QUARTER
Flowery Branch-Shaw 54 yard run
Lumpkin County- Ayers 25 yard field goal

FOURTH QUARTER
Flowery Branch-Shaw to Mitchum 8 yard touchdown

- Team stats:
Visitor Home
Rushing totals (rushes/yards): 37-162 32-291
Passing (comp.-atts.-INTS): 5-13-1 12-17-1
Total yards: 242 476
First downs: 6 13
Penalties: 0 3
Punts (number/average): 7 (5 yard rt avg) 10 (0 yard rt avg)
Fumbles (total/lost): 3/1 2/1

- Individual stats

Rushing:
Visitors (name/total rushes-yards): Haden Rider 12-103
Home (name/total rushes-yards): Connor Shaw 8-161

Passing:
Visitors (name/completions-attempts-ints/TDs): Chris Guthrie 5-13-1/0
Home (name/completions-attempts-ints/TDs): Connor Shaw 11-16-1/2

Receiving:

Visitors (name/catches-yards): Austin Gilreath 3-55
Home (name/catches-yards): Jamel Mitchum 3-89