In what might have been a playoff elimination game in GHSA Region 6-AAA, Gordon Lee stopped host LaFayette's attempt at a 2-point conversion run to pull out a 21-20 overtime win Friday night.
The Trojans moved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play after teaming up to tackle LaFayette star Khalas Finley and hold him short on what would have been the winning 2-point run.
"There were a host of players, and it was an extremely exciting game," Gordon Lee coach Josh Groce said. "The kids played with a lot of heart. We have been preaching playing as a team this week, and that's just what they did tonight."
Peyton Groce rushed for 90 yards and had touchdown runs of 11 and 46 yards for the Trojans, while Hurley McAllister caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Day in overtime for a 21-14 lead. Finley, who had 140 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries for LaFayette (1-4, 0-2), scored on a 1-yard run to answer.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
Cedartown 35, Dalton 27: The Catamounts lost for the first time in five games to start the season as the Bulldogs caused four turnovers and used 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Isaiah Johnson to get the nonregion win.
Dalton quarterback Ethan Long passed for 340 yards with touchdowns to Kendrix London (nine catches, 138 yards) and RJ Storey (eight catches, 59 yards). Class AAAAA's Cats used a touchdown run from Adriel Hernandez to get within two in the third quarter, but AAAA's Cedartown put the game on ice with touchdown runs by Joelz Davis and Johnson.
Coahulla Creek 42, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 21: The Colts moved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Region 6-AAA after extending a 14-7 halftime lead with 21 third-quarter points and getting another big night from quarterback Chase Ward, who passed for 161 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 133 yards and two scores.
Also for the Colts, Danny Lidy rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns, Karim Bradley added 59 yards and a score and Marc Solis had five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. For LFO (1-4, 0-2), Payton Simpson returned a fumble for a touchdown, Jared Mitchell had a touchdown reception and Tragontae Lewis added a rushing score.
Darlington 28, Dade County 22: Talen Shirey caught an 18-yard touchdown pass by Sammy Kunczewski with just less than four minutes to play to help foil the Wolverines' upset bid in the Region 7-A (Division I) opener for both teams. Dade's Landon Williams scored on a 15-yard run for a 22-20 lead before Shirey scored his second touchdown of the game for the Tigers (3-2), the earlier coming on a 70-yard kickoff return.
Braylon Sullivan scored on a 9-yard touchdown run for Dade (1-4).
Bremen 21, Ridgeland 14: The Panthers (0-5, 0-1 Region 6-AAA) nearly pulled off an upset after Bryson Donald and Elijah Waters scored first-half touchdowns to give Ridgeland a 14-7 lead. Bremen (4-1, 2-0), however, used a Nick Richardson touchdown catch to tie and Trent McPherson's 4-yard run to go ahead for good with four minutes remaining.
Other area scores:
Adairsville 28, Ringgold 26
Christian Heritage forfeit win over St. Francis
Druid Hills 21, Southeast Whitfield 21 (OT)
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.