CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — The numbers that jump out regarding Jacob Groce’s performance in Gordon Lee’s 20-13 win over Region 6-A rival Trion on Friday night were 16 carries, 140 yards and three touchdowns.

Big numbers, important plays, but a play he made on the other side of the ball may have been the difference.

With Gordon Lee leading 7-0 late in the first quarter, Trion’s Trace Bethune took a 10-yard pass from Daniel Prince, eluded a tackler at midfield and took off for the goal line with no one in sight. Until, that is, the speedy Groce came flying up from behind and made the tackle at the 7. The Bulldogs were subsequently held out of the end zone, resorting to a field goal.

That effort caught the eye of Trojans coach Kevin McElhaney.

“Chasing that kid down lke that, it just raised the spirit of the entire team and it was the reason we held them out of the end zone,” McElhaney said after his team improved to 3-2, 1-0 in the league. “We stopped them again right after that, and those plays put some doubt in their minds about running the ball.”

Groce, who was limping on a sore ankle after the game, didn’t see what the big deal was about his play.

“I just started chasing him and did the best I could,” he said. “I didn’t want them to score like that. I guess it was a big play because we held them out.”

Moments after the big stop, Trion (2-4, 1-1) was threatening again after a Gordon Lee punt attempt went awry, turning the ball over at the 18. The Bulldogs reached the 1, but consecutive sacks of Prince by Daniel Staub and Tyler Armstrong forced another field goal and maintained a 7-6 Trojans lead.

On the next offensive play, Groce, who earlier scored on a 42-yard run, broke off left end and went 59 yards untouched for his second touchdown and a 14-6 lead Gordon Lee would take into the fourth quarter.

A 59-yard drive, sparked by Brad Culbreth’s 20-yard pass to Austin Goodlet and culminated by Groce’s 1-yard run, made it a two-touchdown game. The Bulldogs put together their own long scoring drive to get to within seven with 2:30 to play and had a shot to tie it, but Culbreth intercepted a pass at the Gordon Lee 30 to end the emotionally charged game.

“Playing in this game is indescribable,” Groce said of the rivalry that reached 60 consecutive years Friday. “This is the game we look to even before the year begins. When it’s Trion week, there is nothing like it.”

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