In the end, Ringgold's defense won the battle but lost the war in Friday night's 18-6 defeat at Rockmart with the GHSA Region 6-AAA championship on the line for both teams.
The Yellow Jackets (9-1, 8-0) entered the game having averaged just less than 50 points per game in region play. Ringgold (9-1, 7-1) had allowed just more than 10 points per game, but the Tigers' trouble Friday was getting the Jackets' offense off the field.
It also didn't help that Ringgold had three possessions that moved inside the Rockmart 10-yard line only to settle for two field goals (and one miss).
"We had chances and only got six points, which really hurt us," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "It's almost like we were snakebit once we got down there. They are a good football team, and we haven't played anybody like them this year. Our defense did better than anybody has all season against them, but in the end they were better than us tonight."
Ringgold, as the region's No. 2 seed, will host a playoff game next week, likely against Region 8 No. 3 seed (and top 10-ranked) Hart County.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area high school football games)
The Tigers' defense struck the first blow when a hard hit by Jevon Coney ended the night of Rockmart star quarterback J.D. Davis on the game's third play. Backup Mason Phillips, though, came on to lead the Jackets to a touchdown on an 8-yard pass to Dennis Sims for a 6-0 lead (the PAT was blocked).
In the second quarter, after a Rockmart field-goal attempt was blocked by Jacob Garnica, Kori Dumas ripped off a 68-yard run that set up Landon Eaker's 30-yard field goal. Rockmart answered with a 58-yard drive that included two Phillips' third-down completions and was capped by a Cam Ferguson 4-yard run for a 12-3 lead.
Dumas had consecutive runs of 19 and 31 yards to start the second half, but again the drive stalled inside the 10 and Eaker's field goal made it 12-6. The Jackets again answered as Brent Washington scored on a 3-yard run to basically clinch the game and region title.
Rockmart ran 58 total plays to Ringgold's 34.
"The backup came in, and they didn't miss a beat," Akins said of Phillips. "They run the buck sweep, which is what they are good at, and it hurt us."
Fannin County 21, Dade County 17: The Rebels (9-1, 6-0 Region 7-AA) rallied from a 17-7 deficit to win the league championship in Blairsville. Dade (7-3, 4-2) answered an early Fannin touchdown with a pair of Brody Cooper scoring passes (20 and 40 yards to Brodie Swader and David Cole, respectively) to lead 14-7 at halftime.
Caroline Tremmier added a field goal in the third quarter for the 17-7 advantage, but moments later Fannin star quarterback Seth Reece broke off a 52-yard touchdown run. Reece added a 5-yard scoring run with just less than nine minutes to play to give the Rebels a 21-17 lead, and the game was sealed in the final minutes when Fannin picked off a pass to end a deep Dade drive.
The Wolverines are the No. 2 seed and will host a first-round playoff game next week.
Cedartown 49, Heritage 0: The Bulldogs (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-AAAA) rolled to the league title, with the Generals (6-3, 3-2) finishing as the No. 3 seed.
North Murray 30, LaFayette 21: The Mountaineers (7-3, 5-3 Region 6-AAA) will be a No. 4 seed after answering two fourth-quarter touchdowns by LaFayette (4-6, 3-5) with scores of their own. Ethan Dempsey scored three touchdowns, two on the ground, including a 7-yard run after the Ramblers had gotten within two on a Ross Martin run. North Murray quarterback Seth Griffin ran for one score and threw for another, while LaFayette also got touchdowns from Jaylon Ramsey and Austin Tucker.
Christian Heritage 27, North Cobb Christian 10: The Lions (4-6, 2-2 Region 7-A private) earned a No. 3 seed by overcoming an early 10-0 deficit. Christian Heritage quarterback Christian Thomas put his team on top 13-10 with touchdown passes to Solomon Locke and Sam Wooten on consecutive possessions. Locke and Eli Thomason added scoring runs in the second half, and the Christian Heritage defense posted a shutout over the final three quarters.
Northwest Whitfield 49, Pickens 28: Owen Brooker had five total touchdowns - passing for two, running for two and catching one - as the Bruins (7-3, 4-1 Region 7-AAAA) rolled in the regular-season finale. Brooker finished with 112 yards rushing and 202 passing. Braden Morrison had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Ray Morrison had 59 receiving yards and a score while also connecting with Brooker on a 23-yard touchdown for the Bruins, who will host a first-round playoff game.
Dalton 49, East Paulding 21: The Catamounts (2-8, 1-6 Region 5-AAAAAA) ended their first season under coach Kit Carpenter with a win as Tyson Greenwade had 124 rushing yards and four touchdowns and Brady Pendley passed for 316 yards and three scores. Journey Boston caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, with Karim Page adding five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown as Dalton totaled 527 yards of offense.
Sonoraville 48, Coahulla Creek 18: Jaxon Pate capped off a dynamic year as the first-time starting quarterback for Sonoraville (6-4, 4-4 Region 6-AAA) passed for five touchdowns. Pate ended the season with 24 touchdown passes and more than 2,500 total yards. Tyler Locklear and Jacob Hight had touchdowns for the Colts (4-6, 2-6), who had the most wins in school history this season.
Other scores:
Adairsville 42, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 3
Model 62, Gordon Central 0
Central-Carroll 34, Ridgeland 7
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.