Blue Devils defeated Franklin Co. Friday night in the Granite Bowl by a score of 27-7 to improve to 6-1 on the year and the best start since 2002.  Although, the night was marked by many clutch plays, both offensively and defensively, the outcome was due to a total team effort by the blue devils.   The night started with both teams exchanging punts and then on Franklins second drive of the night they put together a nine play drive that ended when the blue devils forcing a fumble and they recovered it on their own 20 yard line. However, the blue devils were forced to punt on their next possession after they were thrown for a loss on 3rd down. Both teams remained scoreless at the end of one quarter of play.  Franklin then mounted another drive and on 3^rd down and 11 connected for a 30 yard TD pass to put the lions up 7-0 with 10:47 remaining to play in the second quarter. The blue devils bounced right back though after a 24 yard return by DJ Lewis on the kick off.  Lewis returned the ball out to the Elbert 47 yard line where the offense put together an eight play drive, which saw 5 different players (A. Jones, T. Haley, H. Blackmon, DJ Lewis, and V. Cooper) carry the ball for the blue devils.  The blue devils then scored on an 11 yard TD pass from Hunter Blackmon to Valdon Cooper, who made a great catch in the corner of the end zone. Omar Vargas added the point after to tie the game up at 7-7 with 7:04 left to play in the quarter.  Both teams then forced the other to punt and with about 3 minutes to go in the half Franklin Co. moved the ball down the field and look as if they might threaten to score right before the half.  However, the blue devil defense again came up with a big turnover as the lions fumbled the ball on 2^nd down at the blue devils 25 yard lion where DE Taylor Smith recovered the fumble.  Thus, the score was 7-7 going into halftime.

The second half proved to be all Elbert Co. as they put together several long drives on offense and the defense shut down the lions.  The blue devils put together a strong drive on their first possession after half but the blue devils were just stopped short on a 4^th and 3 at their own 31 yard line where Franklin Co. took over but was forced to punt. The blue devils next offensive possession they completed 2 passes but were forced to punt. Punter Andy Corder made a 38 yard punt and put the lion’s offense starting back at their own 20 yard line. The blue devils defense again forced Franklin to punt after a quick three and out for the lions.  Punt returner Valdon Cooper then made a great return to set up the blue devils 2^nd touchdown of the night. Cooper returned the punt 27 yards down the lion’s 29 yard line.  The blue devils QB Hunter Blackmon then completed a big 28 yard pass  to TE Keldric Rambert that took the ball down to the lions 3^rd yard line where a play later RB Trez Haley had a 3 yard TD run.  Vargas again added the point after to put the blue devils up 14-7 with 1:55 left in the 3^rd quarter. After a touchback on the kickoff by Andy Corder the lions found their selves starting at their own 20 yard line. The defense again forced the lions to punt after only 3 plays and the next possession was the turning point of the game as the blue devils sustained a 15 play drive that was again marked by an array of blue devil runners(5) and receivers (T. Letman, V. Cooper, and DJ Lewis).  The blue devils 68 yard drive ended on a 13 yard TD run by Valdon Cooper to put the blue devils up 21-0 after the point after by Vargas.  After the long drive by the blue devils, which used up over 7 minutes, the lions found their selves down 21-7 with only 6:36 left to play in the 4^th quarter. The defense again stepped up as Trent Allen intercepted a lion pass and on the next lion offensive possession the defense stopped the lions on downs.  The blue devils scored their final touchdown of the night on a 1 yard run by Hunter Blackmon.  The Vargas point after attempt failed and the blue devils bringing the final score to 27-7. 

Offensively, the blue devils rushed for 147 yards on 42 carries for 3 TD’s and Blackmon completed 9 for 15 passes for 86 yards and 1 TD for a total of 233 yards of offense on the night. Leading the way offensively were QB Hunter Blackmon, who rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries and 1 TD and who threw for another 86 yards and 1 TD on the night.  Valdon Cooper had 8 carries for 21 yards and 1 TD as well has had 4 receptions for 26 yards 1 TD.   Trez Haley had 13 carries for 38 yards and 1 TD and FB DJ Lewis had 8 carries for 35 yards to lead the blue devils.  The top receivers for the night were TE Keldric Rambert 2 receptions for 47 yards, Cooper 4 receptions for 26 yards and 1 TD, and TE Taj Letman 1 reception for 10 yards. 

Defensively, the story of the night was the blue devils not allowing Franklin Co. a 1^st down in the 2^nd half.  The defense held Franklin to 17 total yards in the 2^nd half.  Franklin Co. finished the night with 25 carries for 66 yards and 9 for 18 passing for 105 yards 1 TD and 1 interception for a total of 171 yards offensively on the night.  The blue devils created 3 turnovers on the night, 2 fumble recoveries recovered by Taylor Smith, and 1 interception by LB Trent Allen. The linebackers again had a big night defensively as Freshman LB Tyson Dye finished the night with 12 overall tackles (6 solo & 6 assists) and 1 sack, Junior LB Taj Letman also had a big night with 9 overall tackles (4 solo and 5 assists), and Sophomore LB Bryce Martin had 7 tackles (5 solo & 2 assists).  Sophomore LB Trent Allen also came up with some big plays and finished the night with 4 overall tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Other leading tacklers on defense were FS Sophomore Hunter Blackmon finished the night with 6 tackles (3 solo & 3 assists), SR Eric Crenshaw 5 tackles (3 solo & 2 assists) and 1 sack, SR DE Ethan Fortson 4 tackles (2 solo & 2 assists) and 1 sack   Sr. DE Tray Heard also had a big night knocking down 2 Franklin Co. passes and had a sack as well as did SR DE Taylor Smith who recovered 2 fumbles on the night.  Again, the kicking game led by Seniors Omar Vargas and Andy Corder and strong special teams play was a big key in the blue devils success just as it has been all year.