<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Fjvdh_0wDZMe6L00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Fjvdh_0wDZMe6L00" width="800" height="533" ><figcaption>RJ Knapp III hands off to Daylan Maxwell (21) for Jackson County. They pair helped lead the Panthers to a 27-10 win over Winder-Barrow on friday night.</figcaption></figure>HOSCHTON, Ga. — It's been 12 years since last Jackson County produced a winning season. Scratch that off the list of things to accomplish for the Panthers in 2024.Jackson County rode a tenacious effort Friday night by the defense to beat Winder-Barrow, 27-10, at Panther Stadium.Not only did the win for the Panthers (6-2, 3-1 Region 8-5A) clinch a winning season -- just their fourth ever in program history -- it gave them their longest win streak (now at 3) since opening 2017 with three straight wins. And there's more...The win moved them into second place in Region 8-5A and puts them back in the region title picture. They would need to win out and have Winder-Barrow beat Clarke Central by an exact amount of points, assuming all three teams continue to win.Jackson County jumped out to a 10-0 lead by halftime while the defense staged a pair of goal line stands. Twice the Bulldoggs (5-3, 3-1 Region 8-5A) got inside the 10-yard line on long runs by Class 5A leading rusher MJ Dowdy. But the Panthers denied Winder-Barrow both times, forcing a missed field goal and picking off a pass in the end zone.Winder-Barrow pulled within 10-3 early in the third quarter but Jackson County's Cooper Galley followed with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to push the lead to 17-3. Eventually the Panthers built a 24-3 lead by the end of the third quarter and then held off a late surge by the Bulldoggs for the victory.The defense forced four turnovers and held Dowdy, who came in averaging nearly 200 yards/game rushing, to just over 100 yards for the game and no rushing touchdowns. Dowdy did catch a touchdown for the their only score.Mason Allen recovered two fumbles and Ty Mobbs and Silas McDaniel each had one interception for the Panthers.Meanwhile, Daylan Maxwell had a huge day on the ground for Jackson County, rushing 28 times for 163 yards. Jayson Lee had a rushing touchdown as the Panthers ran for 202 yards on the night.RJ Knapp III was 10-of-18 for 162 yards passing with 1 TD and a pair of interceptions. Jacob Coombs had 5 catches for 49 yards and Robert Spry caught 2 passes for 62 yards, including a touchdown. Carson Odom kicked a pair of field goals.Next up for Jackson County is winless Loganville (0-7, 0-3 Region 8-5A) on the road next week. They will close out the season in two weeks at Habersham Central.</div></body>

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Football: Panthers clinch 1st winning season since 2012

HOSCHTON, Ga. — It's been 12 years since last Jackson County produced a winning season. Scratch that off the list of things to accomplish for the Panthers in 2024. Jackson County rode a tenacious effort Friday night by the defense to beat Winder-Barrow, 27-10, at Panther Stadium. Not only...