SHINBONE RIDGE — Home-standing Gaston defeated Gaylesville 33-13 in a hard-fought game here Friday night, effectively beginning the race to make the playoffs in Class 1A Region 7.

Both teams got monster nights from their premiere, workhorse running backs. Gaylesville's David Sanford rushed for 183 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, while Gaston's Jordan McCartney finished the night with 167 yards on 15 carries and a pair of scores.

The recurring theme of the game was Gaylesville's costly mistakes and Gaston's ability to capitalize. On the opening drive Brian Clowdis' team drove into Gaston territory. On third-and-8, Gaston's Eddie Hamilton picked off an errant Trojan pass and raced 56 yards for a touchdown. The PAT made the score 7-0.

Later in the same quarter Gaston quarterback Shai Ogle found Jackson Bogle on a 14-yard screen pass that increased the Bulldog lead to 13-0.

Gaylesville had its most impressive drive of the night on their next possession, covering 57 yards in seven plays, with Sanford slamming into the end zone from the 7-yard line.

McCartney raced 46 yards on the first play of the next Bulldog possession. Two plays later, he scampered 25 yards for the TD to make the score 19-7.

Late in the third quarter, with score 25-7, Gaylesville looked to have an opportunity to get good field position after Gaston punted from deep within its own territory. But Gaylesville muffed the punt and Gaston recovered at the Trojan 44. Three plays later Braxton Collins raced around right end from 25 yards out to extend the lead.

With eight minutes left in the game, Sanford took the handoff from quarterback Cole Murphy and ran over two Bulldog defenders on his way to an 80-yard touchdown.

Next week, Gaylesville (0-2) travels to winless Woodville. Gaston travels to Collinsville, home of Alan Beckett's Panthers, who ran their 2011 season record to 2-0 with a 41-25 win over Spring Garden Friday night.