Three touchdowns in one game is a good night for any football player. But when a player scores one each on offense, defense and special teams — like Lumpkin County’s Ian McIntosh did in a 35-0 win over Riverside in Dahlonega — then it’s a historic night.

“I’ve called seven or eight people asking if it’s been done before (at Lumpkin County), and I can’t find anyone who remembers that happening in at least the last 25-plus years,” said Tommy Jones, in his fifth season as Indians coach.

McIntosh scored on a 32-yard fumble recovery in the first quarter, a 25-yard reception in the second quarter and a 55-yard punt return in the fourth quarter for the unique trifecta.

“For us to be successful, Ian has to be successful in all phases of the game,” Jones said. “Obviously, we don’t count on him scoring in all phases of the game. That was an added bonus.”

In addition to McIntosh’s performance, Logan Moye filled in amicably for the injured Taylor Guthrie at quarterback. Moye, a junior, completed 3 of his 5 passes for 80 yards and an interception while rushing for 56 yards on 13 carries.
Jones said Guthrie, who practiced without pads last week while nursing a broken pinkie finger in his non-throwing hand, is questionable for next week’s game at Union County.

TOUGH START TO THE SEASON FOR JOHNSON: With 10 seconds left in the first half, Jackson County scored a touchdown to pull ahead of the Knights 14-8.

On the ensuing kickoff, Christian Dixon returned the ball to the Panthers 35. On the next play, with 3 seconds left in the half, Cedric Harris caught a pass from Luke Gilleland and ran 32 yards before being stopped at the 3 as time expired.

As it turned out, that would be the final play of the game, which was called due to lightening. The start of the second half was delayed two hours before the decision was made.

“We talked a lot during halftime about making adjustments, because we had plenty of time,” Knights coach Paul Friel said. “Who knows what would have happened. It’s frustrating, especially when nothing is clearcut. It was lightning in the first half, but it wasn’t a problem then.

“I asked the referees if they were going by the index, or by their eyes, and they said, ‘Both.’”

Friel said the fact the game was a non-region contest factored into the game officials’ decision to call the game after one half. Had it been a region game, Friel said, it would have resumed Saturday.

POWER SHIFT IN COMMERCE-JEFFERSON RIVALRY: The Dragons edged the Tigers 17-14 for their fourth-consecutive win in the historic rivalry that dates back to 1947. Though Jefferson has had the edge in recent years — Commerce is ahead 39-19-5 in the all-time series — it was unclear how this year’s game would play out with both sides losing significant talent at the skill positions.

But the Dragons had a number of players that stepped up.

On offense, junior RB Drequn Sewell’s 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put Jefferson ahead 10-0. Sophomore QB Bryant Sherrifs completed 10 of his 13 passes and scored on a 2-yard keeper. Senior receiver Joe Boyd and junior Will Puckett — who Dragons coach T. McFerrin said has never played before — each made key catches on third down. Senior RB/LB Chris Jackson had a pair of 30-yard runs.

On defense, senior strong safety Jason Demos, who didn’t play last season, and junior linebacker Carson Newman each had 12 tackles.

LACKEY’S BACK: Senior running back Dylan Lackey’s 2009 season was cut short after the fourth game when he suffered a knee injury. At the time, he had rushed for 450 yards for an area lead that lasted weeks after he went down. In his first game back on Friday against Social Circle, he rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-14 Leopards win.

“He’s about 96-97 percent,” Leopards coach Blair Armstrong said. “He looked real good though.”

Armstrong said Lackey will continue to wear a brace for the next few games while Lackey regains confidence in the knee.

OFF TO A WINNING START: For the first time in the program’s three-year history, Lakeview Academy has a winning record after shutting out Fellowship Christian 29-0. The Lions totaled one victory each in 2008 and 2009 — both coming in the second game of the season — and lost the remaining games to finish 1-8 both years.

“It feels great to get off to a winning start,” Lakeview coach Matthew Gruhn said. “We executed well and there were hardly any breakdowns.”

This is the Lions first year playing a non-region schedule after spending the past two seasons playing 8-A competition.

WHOA, SLOW DOWN: After Flowery Branch went three-and-out on its first two possessions on Friday against Madison County, Falcons coach Lee Shaw decided to switch gears to a no-huddle offense that moved so quickly and efficiently, it not only threw off the Red Raiders’ defense, it confused the chain crew and game officials.

The Falcons moved 39 yards in two minutes before failing on a fourth-down conversion at the 26-yard line. But when the chain crew left the down marker on fourth and the officials didn’t signal a turnover on downs, the Falcons offense stayed on the field to run another play.

Red Raiders coach Randell Owens was forced to call a timeout and, after officials talked for more than five minutes, it was decided the Falcons had indeed turned the ball over on downs.

The Red Raiders were given their timeout back.