For Gainesville to earn a win as big as this one, even coach Bruce Miller can afford to celebrate every now and then.

Following a gritty, gutsy 24-14 road win over Loganville, a laughing Miller hopped into his players’ mosh pit in the visitors locker room and danced with his hands in the air.

“They’re all happy,” said wide receiver Martavious Smith, with his teammates bouncing behind him.

And why not? The Red Elephants (6-3, 6-2 Region 8-AAAAA) are currently in sole possession of the No. 2 seed, which would guarantee a home state playoff game.

Gainesville will still need to avoid defeat at home against Flowery Branch next week to be sure, but the win seemed concrete enough.

Chris Byrd scored two rushing touchdowns, Davis caught a scoring pass, and three Gainesville players grabbed an interception to ice the win at Red Devil Stadium in Loganville.

Loganville (7-2, 6-2) clawed back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game at 14-14, thanks to back-to-back scoring drives capped by touchdown runs from Darryl Giles (19 carries for 97 yards).

But Byrd (13 carries for 85 yards) ended a strong drive in the fourth quarter to tack on the game’s final touchdown. Kicker Chandler Staton shook off two previous misses to kick a 39-yarder that ensured the victory.

“It was a total team effort, the whole game long,” said Miller. “We answered when they tied us up, our defense did everything we needed them to do, our kicking game stood strong in there. I’m so proud of these boys for everything, for fighting and fighting.”

The Red Elephants exacted an early blow on the first play from scrimmage when Toddrick Turner picked off Red Devils quarterback Cameron Perkins. The offense needed just four plays for Byrd to bowl his way into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Gainesville’s next blows were self-inflicted. Staton stumbled on a 37-yard attempt after Dorsey was sacked on third-and-14. On the next Gainesville drive, senior right tackle Cole Handte was ejected by the officials after a shoving match with a Loganville player. Handte will miss the Flowery Branch game, but should return for the postseason.

Chris Lyles, who suffered a fractured left arm just a month ago, went full extension to complete a stunning one-handed interception for Gainesville in the second quarter, but the offense wasn’t able to capitalize on the remarkable play.

But it was Davis (4 receptions for 99 yards) who provided the biggest punch Friday. With 1:06 left in the first half, Dorsey (11 of 20, 176 passing yards, 1 TD) threw back-to-back darts to the receiver, the second of which Davis took to the house from 25 yards out.

Gainesville’s defense held Perkins to just 9 passing yards in the opening half.

“Anyone out there who talks about us (defensive backs), we’re still here,” Hunter Sims said.

Loganville’s run-heavy style finally caught fire late in the third quarter. Perkins linked up with receiver Shy Kim for an 18-yard reception before Giles rumbled in from 20 yards out to cut the Gainesville lead in half on a drive that spread seven plays over 3:03.

The Red Devils doubled up on their very next drive. Giles ran free to reach the end zone from 21 yards, completing a seven-play, 75-yard drive that spanned two quarters and tied the game.

“I was thinking, ‘I have to help us out and get the momentum back,’” Davis said. “We believed in each other.”

That he did, securing a tidy grab for 42 yards on Gainesville’s ensuing possession that kept the drive alive just when it looked like Dorsey was running out of space. Byrd ran in from 9 yards to earn the lead.

And Staton redeemed himself by knocking home his final effort.

As if that wasn’t enough, senior Demichael Borders high-stepped off the field when he stepped in front of a Loganville receiver for Gainesville’s final interception of the night late in the fourth.

For every score, pick and kick Gainesville made Friday night, Miller let loose and danced. So did his players.

Red Elephants 24, Red Devils 14

Turning point: Dorsey's big toss and catch with Davis for 42 yards finally woke up a stagnant Gainesville offense in the fourth quarter. The catch put the Red Elephants on the Loganville 19. Chris Byrd finished off the drive from there, putting Gainesville up 21-14. The Red Devils had no answer. 

Game Changer: Martavious Davis made just four catches, but they were crucial. He linked up with Dorsey twice in a row on a first-half drive to give Gainesville a 14-0 lead. 

Stat that matters: 3 interceptions. Gainesville picked off Loganville quarterback Cameron Perkins three times. The Red Devils had been picked off nine times all season heading into last night's game. 

Next up: Gainesville finishes the regular season with a home game against rival Flowery Branch, while Loganville next travels to play Clarke Central.