ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Gainesville held Johns Creek to less than 100 total yards of offense en route to a 48-0 win on Wednesday in Region 7-5A action.
The Class 5A 6th-ranked Red Elephants (5-1, 2-0 Region 7-5A) also got a blocked punt for a touchdown from Trent Jones in the second quarter as they dominated the Gladiators (0-5, 0-1 Region 7-5A) from start to finish. They also forced a pair of Johns Creek turnovers in the first half.
The game was moved up two days to avoid the bulk of Tropical Storm Helene, which began to roll through the state on Wednesday.
Gainesville got going with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kharim Hughley to Shane King midway through the first quarter. Following a Johns Creek turnover, wide receiver Taz Smith exploded for a 49-yard reverse for a score two minutes later for a 14-0 lead.
Jones’ special teams score made it 20-0 early in the second and just over a minute later Smith got his second touchdown of the game on a 60-yard sweep for a 27-0 lead with 7;)5 left in the half. Carmelo Byrd, who finished with 50 yards rushing, scored twice over the final 4:48 of the half on runs of 3 and 5 yards to push the lead to 41-0.
Gainesville’s final score came in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard TD pass from backup CJ Payne to Brody Stafford.
Hughley finished 8-of-10 passing for 202 yards. Phillip Williams had 3 catches for 41 yards and Smith added one catch for 55 yards to go with his 109 yards rushing, all in the first half.
Gainesville next will play host to Seckinger on Oct. 4 in another important Region 7-5A matchup.
