CLEVELAND, Ga. – It wasn't easy for White County, but the Warriors did what they needed to do and defeated Gilmer, 35-28, to clinch the No. 3 spot out of region 7-3A.
The Warriors were quick out of the gate, scoring on a 30-yard run by Ryan Fowler just two minutes into the game to take an early 7-0 lead. After Gilmer answered four minutes later, Fowler scored again in the second quarter on a 1-yard plunge to retake the lead, 14-7.
After halftime, Gilmer tied things up at the 9:05 mark of the third quarter, but the Warriors struck back on the ensuing drive on a 5-yard run from quarterback Tripp Nix to retake the lead. Gilmer scored early in the fourth, but a bad snap on the extra point kept White County in the lead, 21-20.
Nix led the Warriors down the field on the next drive, capping it off with a 6-yard passing score to Gaines Clark to take a 28-20 lead, but the Bobcats answered immediately with a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie things up at 28-28. Nix and Clark hooked up again with 97 seconds to play for the game-winning score on an 18-yard pitch-and-catch.
The Warriors will now prepare for Bremen in a road matchup next week.
