Matt Hamilton/The Daily CitizenMurray County High School quarterback Dominick Genitempo picks up a block and runs for a touchdown during Thursday's game against Southeast Whitfield.

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — After two shutouts and fewer than 100 yards surrendered total through two games, Southeast Whitfield High School’s defense looked nearly infallible. But on Thursday night, the Murray County offensive line thought differently and challenged the team to do what it does best — run the football.

The Indians rose to that challenge and then some, running for 287 yards and three touchdowns behind a stout offensive line to win 28-7.

“We wanted to show everybody what we are capable of,” Murray County senior offensive lineman Hunter Sosebee said. “We were told nobody could run the ball on them. So we came out on a mission and we scored three times running the ball.”

Murray County (2-0) quarterback Dominick Genitempo ran the ball 13 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those carries yielded 135 yards, including runs of 25 and 50 yards on his two scores. Junior running back Tucker Gregg added 17 carries for 104 yards and had a 52-yard touchdown.

Genitempo and Gregg were each quick to credit the offensive line, as was coach Chad Brewer.

“They’re the backbone, the foundation, the heartbeat of this team,” Brewer said. “We will go as far as they take us. We work them and ride them to death, but it showed tonight with how we ran the football. We challenged them to go out and run the ball and they took it personally.”

Southeast (2-1) started the game by forcing the Indians into a three-and-out, but their drive stalled at the Murray County 47-yard line and the Raiders were forced to punt. Starting at their 16-yard line, the Indians went 84 yards in nine plays, all runs, and scored on Genitempo’s 25-yard carry.

The Raiders failed to convert on fourth down on their second drive and punted near midfield again on the third drive. Gregg then broke lose for his score with four minutes left in the first half to give the Indians a 14-0 lead.

The Raiders once again drove all the way to the 10-yard line, but were stopped on fourth-and-one on the Indians’ 10-yard line.

“They made the big plays and that was the difference,” Southeast coach Sean Gray said. “We’ll go back to the drawing board. Their quarterback impressed the heck out of me tonight with a lot of physical runs.”

Southeast started the second half with a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Genitempo struck on the ensuing play with a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Braden Weaver to make the score 21-0.

Meanwhile, the Raiders were having to overcome more than just the scoreboard. After losing projected starter Jacob Cloer in the preseason, the Raiders suffered another injury on the offensive line in last week’s win over Gordon Central, with senior tackle Chandler Ferralin likely out for the season. Two more starters on the offensive line were hurt in the first half against the Indians and did not return to the game.

“We are hurting up front,” Gray said. “I have been coaching 20 years and I have never seen a line get hit like this. Murray played well and made the big plays and that was the difference. We got into a situation where you have three guys on the offensive line who aren’t used to playing there and that limits your playbook. But hats off to Murray, I thought they were physical and a really good team.”

Southeast didn’t lay down, however. They recovered an onside kick attempt and a 33-yard pass from quarterback Landon Eaton to Porter Johnson set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Taylor Shirah to make the score 21-7.

The Raider defense then forced consecutive punts and the Raiders got the ball twice with a chance to make it a one score game again, but the results were a punt and an interception by Murray County’s Preston VanMeter.

On the first play after the interception, Genitempo rumbled 50 yards down the left sideline for a powerful touchdown run. John Reed added a second interception for Murray County late in the game as the Indians forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks in the victory.

“I have to give it to the defensive line,” Genitempo said. “They helped the secondary and linebackers a lot. They sacked the quarterback and got tackles for a loss and that was what helped us win the game.”