The game slows down for Hunter Mitchell, according to the Dawson County senior.

Maybe that’s how the converted cornerback was able to pull off his second straight game with over 140 yards Friday night to lead the Tigers (3-2, 2-0 in Region 7-AAA) to a 35-28 victory over East Hall at East Hall Stadium.

“I’m an older player, I guess,” said Mitchell, who scored two touchdowns in the win. “No matter where I’m playing, it feels like I’m faster than the others around me.”

Mitchell’s 23-yard touchdown run with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed back-to-back victories for Dawson County for the first time since the 2013 season. He finished with 162 yards in last week’s 17-0 shutout win over West Hall.

Markese Jackson (11 catches for 163 yards, two touchdowns) caught a pair of 5-yard touchdowns in the final eight minutes to close Dawson County’s lead to just one score late, but East Hall ran out of time to complete the comeback.

The Vikings got off to a 8-0 start early in the first quarter when Jesse Peterson caused a safety and Jackson completed a 25-yard touchdown run.

But the Tigers reeled off three unanswered scores between the first and second quarter to gain a safe advantage that East Hall never overtook

Dawson County led 20-15 heading into halftime. With the victory, the Tigers already have more wins (three) than they had all of last season.

East Hall drops to 1-4, 1-1 in the region. The Vikings next host county rival West Hall on Oct. 9, while Dawson County next hosts Franklin County.

First-year quarterback Austin Parker (25 for 42, 275 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) said his team felt “anything was possible” when East Hall scored to close the deficit to 27-22 with 8:14 left to play.

“We always hope for the best,” said Parker, a sophomore. “There were a lot of things that stopped us from doing what we needed to do tonight. We’ve just got to stay positive from now on.”

East Hall looked the stronger team in the second half, and could have converted on three promising drives to open the third quarter.

But the same defense that shut out reigning region champions West Hall last week stood tall in the face of pressure. Dawson junior Dylan Nix picked off Parker in the opening drive that had reached the Tigers’ 25-yard line.

Two drives later, quick first downs by Jiel Vargas (12 carries for 77 yards, one touchdown) and Jacquen Hopkins allowed the Vikings to get to Dawson’s 7-yard line. But three straight East Hall penalties, including an intentional grounding call, pushed the offense back to a fourth-and-26, which Parker couldn’t convert.

East Hall made it inside Dawson’s red zone four times, but was only able to convert twice.

“We didn’t do that, and we lost the turnover battle,” said East Hall coach Bryan Gray. “You can’t lose it that many times in the red zone and win against a good team like they are.”

The game began with such promise for the Vikings, who shot out to a 8-0 lead. Still, the Tigers were able to strike back and tie the game when Tucker Maxwell (3 receptions, 106 yards, two touchdowns) grabbed a 51-yard dart from quarterback Coey Watson before Watson tacked on a 2-point conversion inside the first quarter.

Another long bomb to Maxwell in the second quarter, this time for 40 yards, allowed Mitchell to burst inside for Dawson County’s 14-8 lead, which East Hall was never able to overcome.

Mitchell started the season at cornerback for Dawson, but has since switched to running back following injuries to the starting rushers.

“That’s a gift; that’s some real talent,” said Tigers head coach Sid Maxwell. “The offensive line certainly helped out when they needed to, but we knew that he could be a running back when he came in for us.”

The chances were there for East Hall. The Vikings drove from their own 8-yard line to Dawson’s 12 following Mitchell’s score, but were unable to provide a finishing touch and failed to convert a 31-yard field goal that was blocked by Dawson County’s Colby Padgett.

Watson added a 3-yard scoring run before halftime, and was able to find Maxwell for a 15-yard score to break out to a 27-15 lead entering the fourth quarter.

East Hall’s spirited rally was swift. The Vikings drove 74 yards in just over two minutes before Parker found Jackson in the back of the end zone for a looping grab with 8:14 remaining, which cut the lead to 27-22.

But Mitchell shook off muddy field conditions on the ensuing possession to power forward for three consecutive first downs on a drive that lasted about five minutes, and ended with him running in to score untouched.

Mitchell said the team feels “a lot more confident” after knocking off East Hall and West Hall, who both secured playoff spots in 2014.

“Our confidence is through the roof,” he said. “Now, we can just see how far we can go.”

Tigers 35, Vikings 28

Difference maker: Senior wide receiver Tucker Maxwell continues to impress through the air. He picked up two touchdowns on just three receptions as Dawson County clawed back an early 8-0 deficit.

Stat that matters: 12 penalties. East Hall had several drives ruined by ill-timed penalties, including three straight on a third quarter drive that pushed the Vikings from Dawson’s 7-yard line all the way back to the 26.

Turning point: With Dawson County on 4th and 6 late in the fourth quarter, a pass interference was called on East Hall, which allowed the Tigers a free first down and extended what could have been a short drive. Instead, Dawson County and Hunter Mitchell were able to keep the possession alive and burn precious minutes off of the clock.