DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Heath Webb has been in Dahlonega less than 20 months. Yet already he has extracted what many have long thought was buried treasure in the Gold City.
In 2022, Webb guided Lumpkin County to its most wins since 1976 (8-3), a trip to its first postseason since 2014, and a region runner-up spot, also its first since 2014. The 13 wins since the beginning of the 2022 season is as many as the program had from 2015-21 in total. One more win would give the Indians back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2010-11.
Webb credits adopting a new branding for the program: ‘Gold City football.’
“Not to disrespect anyone from before, but Lumpkin County football did not have much of a history. The stretch of no real success finally hit the community and everyone here has been willing to do whatever we suggested was necessary to build some success,” Webb said.
“The community, the parents, and especially the players have adopted Gold City football, a new brand, a new era of football up here. So far, Gold City is 13-3.”
And yet, all that success seems just the beginning of the vein running through the heart of the north Georgia Appalachians.
“There’s a lot that has gone into the success that we’ve had this quickly. And honestly, we’re probably a little ahead of the schedule we had in our heads for this,” Webb said. “The administration giving me the freedom to hire; the community and parents buying in; the players buying in and trusting (the coaches) that the plan would work.
“All of those things are huge factors. The strength and conditioning program has really worked well. That is a credit to the players.”
New branding or not, the Indians (5-0, 1-0 Region 7-3A) come into Friday’s monster showdown with Wesleyan ranked for the first time since 1967 (9th in Class 3A). They have become the midseason favorite to win their first-ever region title -- with Wesleyan (3-2, 1-0 Region 7-3A) right behind.
However, Webb said any talk of region titles is premature.
“This is only Week 2 in the region. This is by far the biggest game of the season up to this point, for sure,” he said. “The winner is definitely in the driver’s seat. But both teams still have to play Dawson County and White County so there is a long way to go. We’re just focused on this game this week.”
On paper, it’s the classic clash of styles. Lumpkin County has one of the state’s most productive rushing attacks behind state rushing leader and senior Mason Sullens (122 car., 919 yards, 7.5 ypc, 183.8 yards/game, 16 TD). Junior quarterback Cal Faulkner has added 351 yards on 57 carries and 5 TDs.
Wesleyan counters with junior quarterback Ben Brown (771 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT) and a pair of senior receivers in Baer Cole (15 rec., 201 yards, 4 TD) and Shepard Jones (13 rec., 190 yards). Jamie Tremble had 8 catches for a school-record 201 yards and 3 TDs last week for the Wolves.
The Indians are 2nd in Class 3A in scoring average (40.8 points/game) while Wesleyan has scored 93 points (31 ppg) over its past three games, all wins. Which means whichever defense can hold up the best may decide who walks out of The Burial Grounds with early region title thoughts on their mind.
The Lumpkin defense is 2nd in 3A in scoring average (58. 11.6 ppg). The Wolves defense is allowing 17.6 ppg but gave up 28 points and 222 yards for a 6.3 yards/carry average rushing last week to Gilmer.
“I think both defenses will have a challenge,” Webb said. “We will have to stop their passing game. They have a good QB and two good receivers.”
Indians fans should not fret. The secondary of Hunter Davenport, AJ Scott, Trent Mobley, Nolan Matthews, and Luke Evans has helped lead the way for a defensive unit that comes in with 9 TFL, 6 sacks, 14 QB hurries, 11 passes defended, and 5 INT.
“I feel like the game is won or lost with our secondary,” Webb said. “But our guys have been playing outstanding all season and we feel they will be more than ready for the challenge.
“This will be a tremendous high school football game. These are the kinds of games we were hoping to be playing in when we got here. The kids were hungry for success and wanted to win. They have put themselves in this position with their work ethic. We’re definitely headed in the right direction, no matter what happens on Friday.”
WESLEYAN at LUMPKIN COUNTY
Records: Wolves (3-2, 1-0 Region 7-3A); Indians (5-0, 1-0 Region 7-3A), ranked 9th in Class 3A
Last week: Wesleyan beat Gilmer, 50-28; Lumpkin County beat Pickens, 49-14
Where: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Wesleyan leads series 5-0. The Wolves won 28-14 in 2022.
