Chris Griffin cracked a smile when he closed out the huddle following Flowery Branch’s 41-6 rout of Apalachee Friday night at Falcon Field.

Why not? His Falcons (5-3, 4-3 Region 8-AAAAA) had wrestled control of their own destiny heading into the last three weeks of the regular season.

“It’s outstanding,” said Griffin. “But this team’s level-headed, and they’re not going to get too overexcited or too down on themselves.”

Senior running back Trey Wilcoxson (15 carries, 86 yards) picked up three rushing touchdowns in the win and quarterback Kory Graham threw for two first-quarter scores in the space of 11 seconds to give the Falcons an early 14-0 lead.

Apalachee’s Stephen Massillon (22 carries, 89 yards) scored on an 18-yard rush through the middle to pull the Wildcats (0-7) within eight in the second quarter. But Wilcoxson and Malik Drayton (7 rushes, 76 yards) combined for four unanswered scores to close out the lopsided win.

Flowery Branch’s win, combined with Gainesville’s 44-7 loss to Clarke Central in Athens, shakes up the region standings with just three weeks left to play before region seeds can be determined.

The Falcons next host Salem (4-3, 3-3) on Oct. 30 before travelling to City Park Stadium to play Gainesville (4-3, 4-2) on Nov. 6. A Flowery Branch win over either team could help secure a playoff seed in a crowded race for the postseason.

Graham said he felt relief hearing of Gainesville’s loss over the loudspeaker at Falcon Field.

“It took a lot of the stress off of us,” he said. “We feel like if we play the way we know we can play, we can get it done over the next couple games.”

The Falcons’ win was never in doubt. Graham found Cortez Davis on a check down pass in the middle of the field midway through the first quarter, which allowed Davis (2 catches, 70 yards) to race home 66 yards for Flowery Branch’s opening touchdown.

The Falcons then recovered their own ensuing kickoff to take over from the Apalachee 25. Graham used his first play from scrimmage to find Drayton on a similar play through the middle before he shrugged off two tackles for a 25-yard score.

The Wildcats (0-7, 0-6) were able to take advantage of a Flowery Branch fumble when Massillon finished off a 1-minute, 43-second drive inside Falcons territory with his long run early in the second quarter to make it 14-6.

But Apalachee would never threaten the lead. Drayton’s 31-yard rush down the right sideline eventually set up Wilcoxson for a 5-yard score two drives later that would end the half at 21-6.

Wilcoxson hadn’t completed a rushing touchdown in the seven weeks prior to Friday’s game, where he picked up the first three of his senior year.

“It was definitely one of my better games,” he said. “I couldn’t have done anything without my line working for me. They were producing, and I had to produce.”

He scored on back-to-back drives early in the third quarter. The senior rushed in from 16 yards to end a three-play, 28-yard drive in the Falcons’ opening possession of the second half. Flowery Branch then blocked Apalachee’s punt on the next drive before Wilcoxson scored on a direct snap from 9 yards out to make it 35-6.

Drayton’s 28-yard rushing score to finish off the third quarter provided the cherry on top of a satisfying win in front of a jubilant crowd.

Flowery Branch has won each of the last six meetings between the teams dating back to 2010. The Falcons will now be able to regroup with a bye week before taking on the Salem Seminoles, who lost Friday night to Loganville.

“Our kids aren’t going to be looking ahead to anything,” said Griffin. “This win can pretty much put us in control of our own season now.”

Falcons 41, Wildcats 6

Stat that matters: 2 of 13. Flowery Branch’s defense was able to hold Apalachee, and the Wildcats’ standout running back Stephen Massillon (22 carries, 89 yards) to just two converted third down opportunities.

Game changer: Malik Drayton. Drayton picked up a late touchdown, but was instrumental at pushing Flowery Branch’s rushing attack when Trey Wilcoxson took a snap off.

Turning point: Wilcoxson’s 5-yard rushing score to put the Falcons up 21-6 took the air out of Apalachee’s comeback attempt midway through the second quarter.

Up next: Flowery Branch has an upcoming bye week, while Apalachee next hosts Heritage (Conyers) Friday.