DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County was faced with their biggest test of the year Friday night, and they passed as they took down White County in four overtimes, 61-55.
The Indians are now 8-0 for the first time since 1967 and are just one win away from their first ever region title in program history. But it didn't come without drama.
Down 35-28 late in the fourth quarter, Cal Faulkner got his first interception of the night on the 2-yard line, giving the Indians the ball with 98 yards ahead of them. Faulkner then put the team on his back, leading the charge all the way down the field and rushing in from nine yards out to tie the game and ultimately force overtime.
After both teams traded blows in the first two overtimes, Faulkner rushed in from six yards out in the third overtime before being turned away inches from the goal line on the two-point try, setting up White County with a chance to win it after Tripp Nix found Cam Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown. The Indian defense held on the two-point try before Faulkner picked off a Nix pass at the start of the fourth overtime to give Lumpkin County a chance to win with a score. The Indians handed it off to Mason Sullens three times in a row to punch it in and secure the win.
"It's a shame that either team had to lose this game," said Lumpkin County head coach Heath Webb. "White County played their guts out, but I'm proud of our guys for never quitting, even when it looked bad for us down 35-28 late and then tied up at 55-55 needing that stop on the two-point try."
The Indians got things started in the first quarter with a Faulkner 27-yard rushing score that stood as the only points of the opening quarter. Nix found Wilson early in the second to tie it up before Faulkner had his second of five rushing touchdowns on the night to give the Indians the lead again. Nix answered with a rushing score of his own to tie it back up at 14-14. After Sullens rushed in for his first score of the night on the ensuing possession, the Warriors answered right back as Nix found Gaines Clark with just seconds left until halftime to tie it up at 21-21 at intermission.
The game continued to go back and forth throughout the second half with the Warriors leading for most of the half before Faulkner's rushing score to cap the 98-yard drive and force the overtime festivities.
Faulkner finished the night with 134 rushing yards and five touchdowns while throwing for 48 more yards to go with his two picks. Sullens had 268 yards on the ground on 37 touches. For the Warriors, Ryan Fowler finished with 241 yards of rushing and a touchdown, while Nix accounted for six touchdowns, five through the air on 158 yards passing.
The Indians will now head to Dawson County as they will look for the region 7-3A title and the best start in program history next week in Dawsonville. White County will play host to Pickens.
