AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2005 > November > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThese memories won’t fade quickly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Anticipation met reality Friday in Stone Mountain. That mighty granite rock may still be quaking. High school football was made for games like this.
For teams that had never met, Parkview and Stephenson carried a lot of pent-up feelings into their playoff game. Mostly of the heavy-hitting kind.
Throughout this century, the Panthers and Jaguars seemed headed toward monumental collisions, only to have Stephenson fall to other teams twice in the quarterfinals and both go down in the third round on another occasion.
Finally, in front of 12,000 at Hallford Stadium and a CSS-TV audience, they got it on. Hope you set your TiVo.
Stephenson’s breakthrough 20-14 win over Parkview will be replayed for a long time coming. Even Panthers fans should relish seeing it again.
Caleb King, and his 2K legs, had carried Parkview into its 11th straight quarterfinal. A fine distinction, but for a program with four state titles — including three since 2000 — this is not the round that’s targeted.
Yet to make it to the Georgia Dome for the Class AAAAA semis, the Panthers would have to topple perhaps the most talented group of seniors in the state.
Most any state.
Marcus Ball, who plays where he wishes and does as he wills, is every recruiter’s dream. Lining up at safety, linebacker, running back and, yes, even punter, Ball commands opponents’ attention — and respect.
But against the talented Jags, tunnel vision will get you blindsided.
End Jermaine Cunningham can pick his next stop. Linebackers Perry Riley and Kelvin Sheppard are LSU-bound, and end Bruce Ervin and cornerback Mario Tynes also have BCS offers.
Oh yes, running back Andre Anderson has D-I assurances.
Whew! What would Parkview do?
Duh. Hand the ball to King.
Ball, though, would be the man of the hour.
Almost by his lonesome, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder turned a white-knuckle affair into the first semifinal appearance in the history of the vaunted program coach Ron Gartrell birthed just 10 seasons ago.
Ball’s 18-yard run led to his 1-yard, over-the-top TD in the first quarter. Then his 45-yard, coffin-corner punt buried Parkview (10-3) at the 1, and the Jags subsequently gained possession at the Parkview 38.
The Panthers forced Stephenson (12-1) into three plays and a punt. Or so most everyone thought. Ball and Gartrell had different ideas.
Ball took the deep snap, raced around left end, cut back, bowled over a teammate at the 5, spun around and dived in for the score.
With Stephenson ahead 13-0 at the half, it seemed that only a breakout from King of epic proportions would be enough to lift Parkview’s title hopes.
It almost happened.
Trailing 20-0 in the fourth, King broke off a 74-yard TD run. And after the Panthers were backed to the 11, out of timeouts and 2:22 to play, the junior rose once more. King’s 52-yard run got Parkview close, and his 14-yard TD catch made things very interesting with just 23 ticks on the clock.
Sheppard, however, recovered the onside kick, and Stephenson’s long postseason ordeal was done.
But, thankfully for us, there will be more Caleb King to behold.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: J.C. Clemons
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By Jaguars
November 19, 2005 05:29 AM | Link to this
These is a great story. Both teams played a great game.
By Fan
November 19, 2005 03:24 PM | Link to this
Ball is good, but your failed to mention his TWO personal fouls and lack of respect for the game and the other team, as well as his non-existent sportsmanship.
By mary marshall
November 19, 2005 08:30 PM | Link to this
larry campbell has no class
By Yo
November 19, 2005 08:44 PM | Link to this
Would these fearsome seniors have been juniors last year when they played the State Championship juniors who are now seniors of Lowndes High? All 15 starting seniors!! I’m excited for these Stephenson players and hope the best for them in their future college days, but if they plan on beating Lowndes it will be because of the contribution of the “rest of the team”. I’m sure the rest of the Stephenson team would appreciate a little pub from the AJC also, instead of these continual infatuations with the “stars” of Stephenson.
By JAGS
November 19, 2005 09:30 PM | Link to this
Fan…shut up, why are you hating? The kid is talented..he deserves his credit. It should not be taken away from him because of fouls. Im sure he was angry about some of the ignorant comments thay were made about him last week. Thats the way he plays ball, he scored three touchdowns he dominated the game… and you want to talk about what he did wrong..give me a break.Dont get mad because your teams talent together does not equal his!
By Yo
November 20, 2005 05:09 PM | Link to this
Quotes taken directly from the AJC article “Lowndes Hammers Central Gwinnett”.
The Region 8 No. 3 seed, Central (9-4) played Parkview and Brookwood, but Lowndes, Warren said, was the best team he’s faced. Central quarterback Trip Pognant said the team didn’t play its best game, but Lowndes had a lot to do with that.
“They were fast, and they were swarming to the ball,” Pognant said. “We couldn’t break many tackles on that team. Once they hit you ? they brought the wood. They hit you, wrapped up and you were pretty much going down.” Be wise and listen to those who know. Central’s coach and QB. Lowndes “D” is Bad to the Bone!!!!
By Tom
November 20, 2005 11:14 PM | Link to this
Good job Dacula!
By nyc
November 21, 2005 12:25 PM | Link to this
FAN, I hear you I’ve watched Ball play and he is an outstanding football player but his lack of self control will be his down fall. He’s the type of players that goes D-1 and then you hear and read about him with personal problems and embarrass the school. I hope he does well but this is so often the case with good athletes that are’nt humble. Hey JAGS chill out it’s H.S. football. You must be related to Ball. The games will be over soon and you can get back to living life.