HOMERVILLE, Ga. — Irwin County pulled up to Donald Tison Field and punched Clinch County in the mouth Friday.

Seeking to avenge a home loss in the Class A-Public state championship game nine months ago, the Indians forced three turnovers and held the Panthers to 165 yards of offense en route to a 21-3 victory at The Boneyard.

No. 1 Clinch County (2-1, 0-1 Region 2-A) took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter and carried it into halftime, but once No. 4 Irwin County (3-0, 1-0) struck in the third, the Panthers were unable to answer.

“I like where we’re at at halftime; we’re up three to nothing, we’re at home, and we’re getting the second half opening kickoff,” said Clinch coach Jim Dickerson. “One thing I thought, I thought they were in better shape than we’re in. I thought that you could look at our guys at halftime, and even though we were sitting in good shape, we were gassed. We were falling out in the first half.

“We’ve got to get in better condition. I know there’s an excuse of it’s the hottest night ever in mid-September, but it was hot on their sideline too. They’re just a better football team than us, better conditioned right now, but this is one battle.”

Neither team was able to find the end zone in the first half, the Panthers twice fending off their foe inside the red zone, and the Indians holding their rival to a field goal after facing first-and-goal from the 5.

The slugfest continued into the third quarter as both teams were forced to punt on their first possession of the second half.

As the clocked wound to under five minutes in the third, Clinch made the first costly error of the contest. Facing second-and-14 following a one-yard run and a delay of game, Trezmen Marshall dropped back to pass, and in a clear miscommunication, fired a pass to Irwin County corner Jamorri Colson in the flat as receiver Jeremiah Johnson sprinted down the sideline.

Colson returned the interception for the first touchdown of the evening for either team to give Irwin a 7-3 lead with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter.

Looking to answer the score, the Panthers handed the ball to Marshall on three of their next four plays, on the third of which he broke into the open field for a moment before putting the ball on the turf, where the Indians jumped on it at their own 34-yard line.

On the first play of Irwin’s ensuing drive, it took a deep shot to Colson, who made an over-the-shoulder catch and raced into the end zone for a 66-yard touchdown and a 14-3 advantage.

Trailing two scores, the Panthers were unable to muster the necessary firepower to mount a comeback and the Indians tacked on another long touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to hand Clinch its biggest defeat since a 24-8 loss against McIntosh County Academy in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 playoffs.

Irwin had an opportunity to add to its lead, but Clinch continued to fight, and forced a quick punt, to the delight of its head coach.

“I was proud of our guys, because we could have laid down, we could have quit,” Dickerson said. “We had guys that went out there and tried to finish the drill. When it was 21-3, they had a chance, again, to stick another one in there, and we had a three-and-out on defense.

“I don’t think losing builds character. I think losing can reveal your character, and there were some guys, we have to work on, but I thought for the most part our guys finished with all they had.”

Though no team wants to drop a game, especially one that will knock the Panthers from their perch atop the poll in Class A, Clinch is following the blueprint for building another state championship contender with a loss to Irwin.

The Indians defeated the Panthers in both the 2015 and 2017 regular season en route to region championships, but each time, Clinch responded with 10 straight wins to close out the season, including victories against Irwin in both state title games.

“Every team is different,” Dickerson said. “Obviously, you got to ’15 and ’17, and those teams responded. I hope this team does.

“It was a wake up call, and maybe we needed a wake up call. Now, will this team answer the bell? I guess the rest of the season will answer that.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.