It was tough for Jefferson coach T. McFerrin to go back to Elbert County, a place where he coached for seven years and won the state title in 1995.

What made it even tougher was enduring the 51-7 loss to his former team.

"What can you say about that?" McFerrin said. "That was just a good old-fashioned butt-whoop."

It was McFerrin's first time back in the Granite Bowl in Elberton since he departed there in 1998 and openly said that he never intended to have to play against Elbert County because of the friends he made while there.

Many of those were there after the game to shake the emotional coach's hand.

"This was obviously a great place for me and my career and it was tough coming back," McFerrin said. "Especially when we got beat like that, I wish we could have given them a better game."

The Dragons' (3-4, 1-3 in Region 8-AA South) first few possessions didn't go as planned.

After punting on their first drive, the Dragons got the ball back but quarterback Bryant Shirreffs was
hit as he threw the ball, leading to an interception.

After Elbert County's Valdon Cooper scored his second touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run, Jefferson got the ball back and attempted to go for it from their own 37-yard line.

They were stopped, however, and the Blue Devils scored on an 11-play, 37-yard drive.

"They've got an outstanding football team. They're really good," McFerrin said.

The Dragons began seeing a little spark on offense early in the second half.

Trailing 28-0, Jefferson running back Chris Jackson carried the team on his back to the end zone.

Jackson carried the ball six times on the drive for 76 yards, the last carry a 28-yard touchdown up the gut to pull Jefferson within sight of the Blue Devils.

But it was short lived as the ensuing kickoff to Elbert County (6-1, 4-0) was scooped up by Davion Shackleford and taken to the end zone for a 64-yard kickoff return.

The Blue Devils would add a couple more touchdowns and a safety in the game to round out the scoring.

Jackson ended the game as the Dragons leader on offense with 16 carries for 93 yards and the lone touchdown. Cooper led the Blue Devils with nine carries for 113 yards and three touchdowns.

A scary moment occurred right as the first half was ending. As time ran off the clock to end the half, a Blue Devils player was hit a good two yards out of bounds.

With such little space on the sidelines in Elbert County, the player was shoved into the Jefferson band's xylophone and into a Jefferson band member.

The band member then hit the granite wall that lines the stadium and was carted off the field and into an ambulance where she was taken to the hospital.

The Elbert County player was a little shaken on the play but was able to get up with no problem. The accident delayed play for about 20 minutes.

Jefferson faces Jackson County at home next week, and McFerrin knows his team has nothing much more to play for than themselves.

"We're just gonna try to win the last three games, that's what we've got left," McFerrin said. "We're gonna play for pride now, there's not much left to play for."