Dragons hit repeat on trip to the Benz, as defense shines [VIDEO]

Back-to-back trips to The Benz! The #1 Dragons (13-1) won a 17-13 slobber-knocker at home against #4 West Laurens (13-1) to make it to the title game for the second year in a row.

A defensive battle early on finally caved when Darren Pinkard scored on a 19-yd run late in the first quarter to give the Dragons an early padding.

The very next play from scrimmage though would negate that, as JD Hogan raced in on an 80-yd TD to knot the game with 38 seconds left in the quarter.

The Dragons consistently had good starting field possession, and cashed in midway through the second after opening at the 19 yard line. Colton Grant found pay dirt on a 1-yd keeper with less than six minutes on the clock for the 14-7 reclaimed lead.

Again, the Raiders had an answer, this time on defense when Jayce Blash made a house call after lucking into a tipped ball for the pick six. The extra point was no good, leaving Jefferson up 14-13. The Dragons had another golden opportunity inside the 30, but Shannon Adkins picked off Grant just before the break.

The Dragons got a field goal midway through the third when Taylor McCall split the uprights from 39 yards out. That had Jefferson up 17-13 heading into the final quarter and with the ball. The drive stalled on a turnover on downs at the 21, where the Dragons attempted a 4th-and-2.

In the final minutes, West Laurens failed on a 4th-and-1 from their own 30, turning it back to Jefferson to run out most of the clock. Jefferson dragged it out to the 2-yard line, electing to turn it over on downs with only 22 seconds on the clock.

A few harmless heaves later, the Dragons won when the horn hit zero. Pinkard had the lone TD for Jefferson, while Mack Gaddis was unbelievable defensively, along with the entire unit.