Lumpkin Wins Second Straight at Home

Written By Jason Soles

Dahlonega, Ga – Big night at the Burial Grounds as the 1-1 Lumpkin County Indians take on the 1-1 Dunwoody Wildcats. The Wildcats are in 5A Region 4 this year, finishing 8-3 last year in 6A Region 4.

Dunwoody kicks off to Lumpkin for a touchback to begin the game. The Indians put together a nice opening drive with rushes from RB Nolan Matthews setting up a 12-yard touchdown pass from QB Cal Faulkner to WR Trent Mobley. With the Extra Point, the Indians strike first with a 7-0 lead.

The Wildcats receive the Kick and get the ball out to the 30-yard line where they began their opening drive. After a few plays, the Wildcats make it across midfield where they fumble the ball, and it is recovered on the 47-yard line by Senior AJ Scott. It only takes 3 runs for the Indians to find the End Zone again from a 31-yard run from Matthews, adding the Extra Point the score is 14-0.

The Kickoff to Dunwoody goes out of bounds giving the Wildcats nice field position on their 35-yard line to begin the drive which stalls forcing them to Punt from their 43-yard line.

Lumpkin County puts together a flawless drive topping it off with a 15-yard Touchdown run by Matthews. Extra Point by Senior Kicker Josue Nieto brings the score to 21-0 with :55 left in the 1st Quarter.  

Dunwoody received the Kickoff on their 10-yard line and runs it out to their 30. The Wildcats Senior RB, Caden Celestine, had a huge run to the Indians 35-yard line. After a few passes by Senior QB Matt Pearch, the Wildcats find the Endzone on a 3-yard run by Junior Cameron Irastorza. Dunwoody attempts the 2-point conversion but was unsuccessful, leaving the score 6-21.

The Indians will score two more times from a 27-yard run from Matthews and a 1-yard run by Faulkner which will bring the score to 35-6.

Dunwoody gets the ball with :23 left in the Half. The Wildcats try to find the Endzone again before Halftime, but an Interception by Indians Senior Trent Mobley would end the Half. 

Dunwoody would get the ball after Halftime and march down the field scoring on a 35 yad pass from Pearch to Senior Caleb Hamilton. The Wildcats would be successful on the 2-point conversion bringing the score to 14-35.

The Indians would strike back on the next drive where Cal Faulkner would take it 72-yards to the End Zone. Another solid Extra Point by Nieto, the score 42-14. 

The Indians would not be able to score on their next 3 possession and the Wildcats would two more times bringing the score to 42-28 with 6:41 left in the game. 

The Indians would find the End Zone again thanks to some hard running by Nolan Matthews setting up for a 1-yard Touchdown run by Faulkner. Another Extra Point by Nieto would get the score to 49-28 with 4:11 left in the game. 

Dunwoody would try to make the most of it with a big 41-yard pass from Pearch to Hamilton. The Wildcats would find the End Zone on a critical 4the down pass from Pearch to Hamilton for 12-yards and a Touchdown. The Wildcats kicked the Extra Point and brought the score to 35-49 with 1:07 left in the game. 

Dunwoody would try their 3rd Onside-kick, but it rolled out bounds. The Indians would win the game with a final score of 49-35.

Lumpkin County’s QB Cal Faulkner would finish the game completing 16 of 19 attempts  for 169 yards and 1 touchdown. Faulkner would also tally 101 Rushing yards and 3 Rushing Touchdowns. Nolan Matthews finished the game with 210 Rushing yards and 3 Touchdowns. Senior Receiver AJ Scott would have a big game with 7 Receptions for 61 yards and a Defensive Fumble Recovery. Senior Trent Mobley would catch 3 for 28-yards and a Touchdown, also a Defensive Interception. Kicker Josue Nieto would be perfect on Extra Points going 7 for 7.

Dunwoody’s QB Matt Pearch would also have a great the game completing 30 of 48 attempts for 288 yards, 3 Touchdowns and 1 Interception. The Wildcats ground game would combine for 134 yards and 2 Touchdowns with Senior Caden Celestine having most of the carries. 

The Wildcats will begin their region play as they host the Tri-Cities Bulldogs next week. The Indians will also begin their region play as they host Greater Atlanta Christian. Both games will Kickoff at 7:30 pm. 

Jason Soles

Sports Reporter

Team FYN Network