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Triple threat sparks Lumpkins 35-0 victory
McIntosh scores 3 TDs three different ways to sink Riverside
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DAHLONEGA — Ian McIntosh can wear a lot of hats for the Lumpkin County High football team. On offense, defense and special teams, McIntosh, a junior, is a weapon wherever he may be on the field in positions designed for players with breakaway speed such as himself.

He also finds a way to make plays with the ball in his hands as well. In Friday's season opener for the Indians (1-0) against Riverside Military (1-1), McIntosh scored three touchdowns in a 35-0 win.

More specifically, McIntosh scored one touchdown each on offense, defense and special teams.

"Ian certainly has big-play potential and can make people miss when they try to tackle him," Lumpkin County coach Tommy Jones said.

"It never came to mind that I was going to be able to score a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams," McIntosh said. "I was just trying to do my best and help our team win."

Under normal circumstances, McIntosh's performance would be impressive enough. However, Lumpkin County was playing its season opener without the services of senior starting quarterback Taylor Guthrie, out with a broken finger and still questionable for next week's game.

In Guthrie's place junior Logan Moye, a starting defensive back, came in a kept the offense in line, even with the Indians' two turnovers. He made some key runs also, including a 12-yard run on a fourth-and-1 on the final play of the third quarter.

Michael Flanagan scored on the first play in the fourth quarter for Lumpkin County on a 13-yard run.

"Logan did an excellent job tonight and managed the game really well under adverse situations," Jones said.

McIntosh's first touchdown came via a 32-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 10:58 still on the first quarter clock. Then in the second quarter, the left-handed Moye hit McIntosh on a roll out pass and he ran 25 yards for the score to take a 14-0 lead with only 2:03 left in the first half.

In the fourth quarter, after taking a punt on one hop, McIntosh returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.

Defensively, Lumpkin County made big plays when Riverside started to move the ball downfield. The Indians held the Eagles to only 12 rushing yards and came away with five sacks, two by junior defensive end B.J. Dorsey to go with a forced fumble. Skyler Donovan had a sack and fumble recovery on defense for the Indians, and Trey Parker forced a fumble.

"Our defense did very well tonight and allowed our offense to sputter at times," Jones said.

For the Eagles, freshman quarterback Michael Gallup was finding success passing the ball in the opening quarter. Chris Davis, a senior, had pass receptions of 23, 15 and 18 yards for Riverside Military in the first quarter.

Lumpkin County stopped Riverside on an 11-play drive late in the opening quarter when on third-and-3, the ball was snapped over Gallup's head and was stopped by linebacker Lee Cagle to make it fourth-and-long.

Moye (56 yards) and Flanagan (45) were the Indians' leading rushers.

"We played great tonight as a team tonight," McIntosh said. "If we continue to play as a family and all stick together, I feel like we'll do well in this region (8-AAA)."

Lumpkin County visits Union County next Friday, and Riverside Military plays host to Banks County at Maginnis Field.

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