MT. AIRY — It was billed as a classic offensive shootout. Instead, the White County and Habersham Central defenses stole the show.

The Warriors shut down the Raiders powerful ground game in the second half, including getting a pair of critical stops on fourth down, to help White County take a 28-21 win at Raider Stadium Friday night.

Habersham quarterback Joshua Pickett broke a 14-14 halftime deadlock on the opening play of the third quarter racing 60 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead. But the Warriors defense, which had been torched just two weeks earlier by Hart County’s ground game, stiffened from there.

The White County defense sacked Pickett on the Raiders’ next possession forcing a punt and after a more than seven-minute drive, twice the Warriors stopped Pickett and the Raiders, including once at the Warriors 5 to end the third quarter.