Tyler Cone accounted for five total touchdowns, Good Hope’s defense made a few second-half adjustments and the Class 4A No. 5 Raiders took down Dora 47-28 on Friday night to claim the program’s first region title since 2007.
Good Hope improved to 9-0 (7-0) following the win.
“I’ve got to give God the glory first,” Good Hope coach Alan Scott said. “He’s taken care of us this season and brought a great group of young men and coaches together. I can’t say enough about how much of a team this is. It’s going to take a minute to soak in, but this was one of our goals. Dora has a great team, so I’m just so proud of these guys.”
The teams duked it out during a competitive first half as the Raiders led 28-21 at halftime.
Cone threw touchdown passes to Mason Drake and Carter Rutherford before adding a scoring scamper in the second quarter. Landon Bagwell’s touchdown run later in the half capped the offense for the Red and White.
A fumble recovery, Good Hope’s third of the clash, set up a short touchdown toss from Cone to Tucker Screws late in the third quarter. Cone then connected with Rutherford once again after his squad forced a turnover on downs a possession earlier to put the Raiders ahead 42-21.
“Our offense has been very potent this year, but we’ve just done what we’ve needed to do to win,” Scott said. “When this turned into a shootout early, those guys answered the call and took care of business.”
Dora found the end zone with 10:43 left, but a Robert Rodriguez field goal and safety eliminated any possible comeback by the Bulldogs.
“(The defense) responded well in the second half,” Scott said. “They scored on a halfback pass but got nothing else.”
Good Hope hosts 5A No. 4 Fairview next week in a battle of unbeaten teams.