Rabbits drop non-district game to Buckeyes

Atlanta faced another tough challenge last Friday night when Gilmer came to town.

This meeting marked the third consecutive opponent the Rabbits have faced this season ranked in the top five in its respective classification.

The game was close in the first half as the Rabbs trailed only 17-14 after the first quarter and was down 38-26 at the half after the Buckeyes scored late in the half.

The second half of the contest was all Gilmer as the Buckeyes outscored Atlanta 35-0 en route to a 73-26 win.

First Quarter

The opening frame was quite entertaining as the two teams traded scores and big plays.

Gilmer won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first.

It took the Buckeyes only four plays to score but the extra point attempt was no good so the score stood at 6-0 with 10:51 left in the first quarter.

Alijuah Drayton made a nice return for the Rabbs on the kickoff and Atlanta set up shop at the 45.

After an incomplete pass on first down Rabbit quarterback Kameron Dickerson handed the ball off to running back Caleb Hamilton who attempted to get through the Gilmer defense.

As he was tackled Hamilton pitched the ball back to Dickerson who bolted for a few yards on the play.

A couple of plays later Hamilton raced 19 yards to the Buckeyes’ 16-yard line. From there Dickerson ran the ball in for the Rabbs’ first touchdown of the game.

Daniel Hernandez nailed the PAT and Atlanta was up 7-6 with 8:17 on the clock.

Gilmer’s next drive was met with much resistance from the Rabbit defense but after seven plays the Buckeyes were set at the Rabbit 8-yard line.

Big stops by Isaiah Henderson and Trey Adams forced Gilmer to attempt a field goal.

The Buckeye kicker nailed the 23-yard try and set the score at 9-7 with 5:44 showing on the clock.

Aside from a nice 30-yard connection from Dickerson to Drayton on Atlanta’s next drive the Rabbs had to punt the ball away a few plays after.

On the punt by cooper McClure the ball caromed off a Gilmer player and the Rabbits recovered the ball at the Gilmer 30.

It took just one snap for the Rabbs as Hamilton took the handoff and galloped 30 yards for another Rabbit touchdown.

Hernandez hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 14-9 with 2:51 remaining in the opening quarter.

Gilmer scored again at the 1:22 mark and after the successful 2-point play the Buckeyes were back on top 17-14.

The quarter ended with Atlanta in punt formation.

Second Quarter

During the punt the ball came off the side of McClure’s foot and went out of bounds at the 27. Two plays later Gilmer was back in the endzone for another TD.

The PAT made the score 24-14 with 11:32 left in the first half.

Atlanta’s next drive was a three-and-out and Dickerson left the game momentarily after being hurt on a third down play,

McClure executed a nice punt with 10:20 left in the quarter but a fumble at the 9:54 mark gave Atlanta another possession and stopped Gilmer from scoring.

Justin “Catfish” Pierce entered the game at quarterback for Atlanta’s next set of downs.

A stout stand by Gilmer’s defense forced another Rabbit punt with 8:59 left in the second stanza.

Gilmer scored on its next drive and pushed the score to 31-14 with 7:35 on the clock, but Atlanta answered with Hamilton bolting for a 66-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

The PAT was no good but the Rabbs were down just 31-20 with 7:16 left in the half.

Zachariah Jefferson and Logan Shelton made plenty of noise on the defensive side on Gilmer’s next drive, but Gilmer scored again on the drive at the 5:18 mark.

The good PAT made the score 38-20.

Atlanta’s next drive was a solid 16-play march that ate up more than four minutes off the game clock.

With Dickerson back under center the elusive QB connected with Keyshawn Easter for 19 yards, McClure for 27 and picked up some nice rushing yardage.

Hamilton picked up some nice yardage on the ground as well including a nice run after scooping a loose ball and bowling through defenders down to the Gilmer 5-yard line.

Dickerson scored from the 5-yard line and the Rabbs closed the deficit.

The 2-point play was no good but Atlanta was down just 38-26 with 30 seconds left in the first half of play.

A big sack by Jefferson, a nice tackle by Drayton and an interception by Lakeceion Matthews kept Gilmer off the board.

The first half ended with that interception by Matthews.

Third Quarter

Atlanta received the ballot open the second half.

Cody Maxie picked up some nice yardage on the drive but an interception ended the drive.

Gilmer pounced on the opportunity and scored on the very next drive.

The PAT put Gilmer up 45-26 with 9:08 left in the third frame.

Atlanta had a three-and-out on its next possession but on the punt McClure snagged what could have been a snap over his head and booted the ball down the field.

The Gilmer returner bobbled the ball and Adams felon the ball for the Rabbs.

Atlanta looked to pull closer to the Buckeye lead on the drive but an interception on the first play ended the drive.

Gilmer scored again on the next drive and went up 52-26 after a successful PAT with 5:31 left in the quarter.

The two teams traded possessions until the 2:28 mark when Gilmer scored again. The PAT was good and the Buckeyes extended the lead to 59-26.

The Rabbs punted on its next possession and the quarter ended with Gilmer on its own 33.

Fourth Quarter

Just 14 seconds into the final frame Gilmer scored on a 67-yard strike. The PAT made the score 66-26 with 11:46 left in the game.

Maxie posted 11 yards on two carries and freshman baller La’randion Dowden racked up 29 yards on two carries during Atlanta’s next drive, but a fumble ended the march.

Gilmer scored again with 7:35 left in the game. The PAT set the score at 73-26.

Atlanta’s next drive featured runs by Dowden and Kartrez Andrews but the Rabbs turned the ball over on downs with a little over five minutes left in the game.

After Gilmer turned the ball over on downs Dowden made the most of the final drive for the Rabbs.

The young running back picked up 35 yards on four carries. One of those carries ran out the clock.

Atlanta finishes its pre-district run this Friday night as the Rabbs travel 25 miles north to take on Liberty-Eylau.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.