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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Take 10: Top games of ‘07 (so far)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s almost Finals weekend. Heroes will be made. State football titles will be decided. Legends will be cemented. World peace will be declared.
OK, so maybe we went a little overboard, but we’re an excitable bunch at Take Ten. We can’t wait to see the sure-fire classics on Friday and Saturday to find out which ones we’ll all be talking about decades from now when we can’t remember much else.
But before we dive head-first into the finals, we thought we’d take a look back at the games that got us here. These are the games that didn’t have a state title on the line but might as well have. These are the 10 most memorable games of 2007.
10. Mays 23, Marist 17 OT (Week 10)
The game was memorable enough for its finish: going into overtime after a frantic first quarter turned into a stalemate for much of the game. Finally the Raiders secured the school’s first win over Marist.
When the game ended, Mays’ midfield celebration turned into a near-fight. It was tense for a few moments but didn’t amount to too much. The game did, though, giving Mays the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game.
9. Walton 13, Roswell 10 (Week 4)
The jury was still out on Walton at this point, and Roswell was the reigning champ, top ranked in the state, undefeated and expected to make a run at another title. Adam Shreiner’s 58-yard field goal in the first half was spectacle enough before Walton’s defense shut down the potent Hornets for much of the game. This game also set off the string of upsets No. 1 teams suffered in a crazy season for the top teams.
8. Wilcox County 34, Lincoln County 24 (Class A quarterfinals)
It looked like it might be over for Wilcox early. The team that appeared capable of delivering the school its first state title was behind 21-0 at home to Lincoln County and legendary coach Larry Campbell. But the Patriots came roaring back, closing the deficit to two at the half and pulling in front in the second half to move into the semis.
7. Walton 20, M.L. King 19 (Class AAAAA quarterfinals)
Shreiner strikes again. This time, he had actually missed two field goals before he lined up for a last-second shot to send the Raiders to the Dome. If he can hit one from 58, that last 36-yarder was nothing. It was the first loss for MLK, the highest classification’s last undefeated team. And it kept Walton’s dream alive to finally break Cobb County’s state title drought.
6. Our Lady of Mercy 63, Mt. Pisgah 62 (Week 8)
For any game, that’s an amazing score. For one that ended in regulation, it’s mind-boggling. Neither of these teams made the playoffs, so all eyes definitely weren’t on this one. But those who were there witnessed a shootout the likes of which this state has rarely seen. The big star of the game was Mt. Pisgah’s Fedale Hall, who rushed for 357 yards and four touchdowns, tossing in a 98-yard kickoff return for good measure.
5. Lovett 20, Thomasville 16 (Class AA quarterfinals)
It was a pretty good game even before the stupefying ending. Lovett falls behind 13-0 on the road and comes back despite struggling on offense most of the night before Thomasville quarterback Kendrick Dixon leads his team on an impressive 75-yard drive that ends with a 33-yard field goal and a 16-14 lead with 23.7 seconds left. Game over. Right? Lovett’s Andre Hicks had other ideas, taking the ensuing kickoff back 71 yards for a touchdown to stun the Bulldogs on their home field.
4. Chamblee 58, Stephens County 57 OT (Class AAA second round)
Chamblee didn’t get much attention most of the season, despite losing just one game. So when the Bulldogs entered their second-round game at Stephens County, most people figured this was the end of the road. But this turned into a pinball game, as the offenses combined for more than 1,100 yards. Chamblee’s Warren Norman ran for 291 yards and four touchdowns, and Chamblee eventually made it all the way to the Dome. The Dogs ended up scoring 170 points in their four playoff games.
3. Northside-Warner Robins 31, Tucker 28 (Class AAAA semifinals)
The Tigers were ready to slay the Northside dragon, which was riding a 28-game winning streak and had a second consecutive state title in its sights. Tucker used a suffocating defense and efficient offense to jump out to a 28-7 halftime lead and were 24 minutes away from the school’s first state finals appearance since 1963. But into the game walked Northside quarterback Marques Ivory, and everything changed. The Eagles charged back in the second half, and a late field goal did Tucker in.
2. Carver-Columbus 26, Chamblee 24 (Class AAA semifinals)
This one was over. Chamblee was dominating the game, up 24-6 with six minutes left. But Carver and its quarterback-receiver duo of DeRon Furr and Jarmon Fortson weren’t nearly done, scoring 20 points in the final 5:52. Fortson ended up with 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns, keying what was arguably the most stunning comeback in Dome semifinal history.
1. Roswell 23, Peachtree Ridge 20 OT (Class AAAAA second round)
The rematch of last year’s tied state final lived up to the advance billing. Roswell fell behind early and came back to force overtime, but the play that had everyone buzzing was the final one of the game. That was when the CSS telecast appeared to many viewers to show Roswell running back Alex Daniel fumbling the ball before he broke the plane of the end zone. But officials ruled it a score, one that gave the Hornets the victory and ended Peachtree Ridge’s season.
Go on. Take Ten. Were you at any of these games? Were they as memorable as we’re making them out to be? What else would you put on this list? Tell us all about it.
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