Gainesville made the most of a fresh start Friday to open the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

Following two frustrating losses to round out the regular season, the Red Elephants jumped off the mat with a dominating 41-14 win in the first round against Rome (8-3) at City Park Stadium.

"I kept telling the team that this is the time to turn the page," Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. "The defense played great tonight. Offense did great, too.

With the win, the Red Elephants (8-3) advance to face Kell, a 19-14 winner against Southwest DeKalb, on Friday in Marietta.

Gainesville junior quarterback Deshaun Watson took control of the game behind the quick-strike, short-passing attack it ran to near perfection almost all night. However, Watson put the game away late in the third quarter with a dazzling touchdown run.

Leading 20-7, Watson split two would-be tacklers and side-stepped another close to the goal line for a 30-yard touchdown run.

Watson finished the game completing 25 of 30 passes for 225 yards and four touchdown throws, after completing 12 of 13 in the opening quarter. He also led Gainesville with eight carries for 79 yards rushing and the long touchdown run.

"Those two loses were a learning experience, now we’re excited to be in the new season with the playoffs," Watson said. "We played really well tonight, but we can’t get too excited yet."

The Red Elephants finished the game with 489 yards of total offense (264 rushing, 225 passing), well above their area-leading average of 432.

"We had a lot of players step up for us tonight," Miller added. "I feel like we’re getting hot at the right time."

Watson says that running a fast pace at the line of scrimmage also helped to wear down a Wolves’ squad with many players going both ways.

Gainesville also had several plays where second effort was instrumental. In the first quarter, Watson gathered himself after slipping at about the Rome 5 and had the presence of mind to still throw a strike to Chastin Newman in the end zone for the score. Newman was on the receiving end of Watson’s two first-half touchdown throws.

Both of Watson’s fourth quarter touchdown passes were also a result of second-effort plays. Leading 27-7 early in the final period, Gainesville’s quarterback hit Rodney Lackey (four catches, 66 yards) at around the Wolves’ 5, then the receiver bounced off a defender and ran it in for the score.

Less than two minutes later, Watson let go of the ball just before getting hit and delivered a perfect throw to Caleb Hayman in the back of the end zone for the touchdown.

Watson spread the ball around all night with seven receivers catching passes. Four of the Red Elephants receivers had at least three catches each.

Gainesville also had a solid night slowing Rome’s ground attack, led by 1,000-yard rushers Myron Washington and Frank Griffin. The Red Elephants held Rome to just 159 yards rushing and 244 yards of total offense.

"We played a complete game all the way around," Gainesville linebacker Devan Stringer said. "I’m so proud of my team."

Gainesville’s defense helped it strike first in the game with safety Fred Payne’s interception on the first drive. Once the Red Elephants took possession, Watson completed eight consecutive passes, capped by the 4-yard touchdown pass to Newman.

"We know that the playoffs is a fresh start," Payne said. "We did well tonight taking care of the ball and playing good defense.

"It’s up to us how far we can make it in the playoffs."

Leading 13-7 in the second quarter, Gainesville took advantage of some costly Rome penalties. With Gainesville set up with a first down at its own 47, Rome was flagged 15 yards for a roughing the passer call, then 20 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct on the following play. Three plays later, Newman hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Watson.

Gainesville’s Michael Byrd added 75 yards rushing, and a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Jay Gaudlock had nine carries for 69 yards.

With the loss, Rome’s season is now finished.