DAWSONVILLE — After East Hall took at 12-10 lead, Dawson County scored 28 consecutive to outpace East Hall, 52-34, in what turned into a scoring fest in the second half at Tiger Stadium.
East Hall (1-5, 0-2) wasted no time striking first on a 59-yard pass to Mon Tabor with 10:11 to go in the opening quarter. The extra-point try was no good, leaving the Vikings up, 6-0.
The Tigers (5-1, 2-0) then started grinding, using a mix of passing, rushing and a stingy secondary to wear down the Vikings.
Dawson picked off East Hall's Clete Cooper three times -- all but one of the interceptions were cashed in for scores, including a Braden Hubbard pick that led to a 53-yard pass play from Zack Holtzclaw to Dahkota Sonnichsen to push the Tigers ahead, 17-12, with 7:22 left in the first half.
Holtzclaw connected again with Sonnichsen late in the second on a 26-yard pass to extend the lead 31-12 at the half.
Holtzclaw finished the night 11-of-16 for 197 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Sonnichsen caught 6 passes for 137 yards and three scores and Isaiah Grindle rushed 12 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
In the second half, Riley Herndon snagged a Cooper pass and took it 75-yards for the score with 7:16 left in the third quarter. The Herndon interception return capped the Tigers' 28-point run.
Cooper, who finished the night 22-of-34 with 349 yards passing, two touchdowns and three interceptions, ended the Vikings' scoring drought when he hit Macere Walker on a 60-yard scoring pass with 6:23 left in the third quarter.
Walker had five catches for 199 yards and two scores.
Dawson County welcomes GAC to Tiger Stadium Friday for a showdown for the top spot in Region 7-3A. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
East Hall will host Fannin County at 7:30 p.m.
