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DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Remembering top high school football individual performances
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Football is a team sport, and you won’t find anyone at Take Ten willing to argue against that. But every once in a while the Friday night stage gives us an individual performance worth talking about beyond the next home game. Toney Williams provided us with that a week ago. It would be impossible to remember every game-changing performance by legends like Herschel Walker or Eric Zeier.
But here’s 10 of the best individual performances in the history of Georgia high school football:
10: Toney Williams vs. Chattahoochee (2008) - If you’re a program looking to turn a corner, it doesn’t hurt to have your Division I quality tailback blowup on your rival. Williams, who is committed to Tennessee and is one of the AJC’s Super Southern 100, rushed 40 times for 350 yards and six touchdowns. He caught another TD for seven total in Milton’s 51-49 victory.
9: Keith Henderson vs. Cass (1984) - It was just a season opener but a state record at the time. Henderson began his assault on the Cartersville school rushing record with 423 yards on just 23 carries. Not a bad way to start the season.
8: Washaun Ealey vs. Clinch County (2007) - Ealey is already Take Ten’s touchdown king. Last year in the Georgia Dome, he was the master of clutch. Ealey tore up Clinch County for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the state semifinals. Said Ealey at the time: “I thought, I hoped I would be able to have a pretty good day today. I didn’t think it would be like this.” Good call. When we have a rocking day at Guitar Hero, we never see it coming either.
7: Brian Smith vs. Villa Rica (1994) - We would rate this game higher but the crackpot team at Take Ten was unable to find exact numbers for Pepperell’s Smith who allegedly carried the ball 53 times in a 26-20 win over Villa Rica in the playoffs. If you have memories of that game, please email us. We suspect Smith iced his legs for a week.
6: Fedale Hall vs. Our Lady of Mercy (2007) - We like this one for two reasons: It was recent and it came by way of a sophomore. Mount Pisgah’s talented soph rushed 15 times for 382 yards, caught four passes for 74, returned five kickoffs for 197 yards and also nabbed an interception for 22. Hall scored six touchdowns and recorded a state record 675 all-purpose yards. The prize for his efforts? His team lost 63-62, a state record for points in a non-overtime game.
5: Herschel Walker vs. Everyone (1975-1979) - Look, we know how you all feel about HW. If we listed his efforts in the 1979 state final, you’d have 14 other examples of how awesome or great Walker was. Like that time a 14-year-old Herschel Walker rushed for 317 yards against the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers. Man, what a game.
4: Marques Ivory vs. Tucker (2007) - Here’s a case where the Gipper won one for the team. The AJC’s 2006 Class AAAA Player of the Year had the cast removed from a broken fibula just a week prior to Northside-Warner Robins’ semifinal matchup against undefeated Tucker in the Georgia Dome. Ivory didn’t even start the game. He entered in the second half down 21 points to a team that hadn’t allowed more than 14 the entire season. Ivory passed for three scores and led the Eagles on a game-winning field goal drive.
3: Jeremy Privett vs. Pierce County (2003) - We will acknowledge that this selection is sort of like picking a quarterback from Texas Tech for the Heisman. That being said, Privett tossed eight touchdown passes against Pierce County. It’s a state record he set earlier in the season against Brantley County with seven scoring strikes.
2: Wright Bazemore vs. Someone (Before the facemask was invented) - There is legend around the Take Ten offices of an 11 touchdown performance by the legendary Valdosta coach. It was in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Later the story changed saying it was 10 scores in two different games. This was sometime in the 1930s so Take Ten will leave this in the urban myth category.
1: Suqurey Pitts vs. Valdosta (1987) - Sometimes you have a good night. Sometimes your accomplishment echoes in eternity. Pitts, a linebacker for Carver-Columbus, fueled one of the greatest upsets in Georgia football history by catching two TDs, blocking a punt and adding five tackles for loss in the 21-7 win over No. 1 Valdosta. Consequently, after the game he finished the Panama Canal barehanded and delivered a baby while saving it from a burning house. He also stopped all production of New Coke.
Go on. Take Ten. What are the greatest individual performances that you remember? Were we way off base? Do you remember something better? Here’s your chance to shine light on the legends that matter.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By Shamrock Slinger
September 3, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Now this is the kind of Take Ten List I like. It has good memories, great humor and honors both myth, legend, fact and distortion. Good work!
By drock08
September 3, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
I watched Ivory performance on t.v. and that was the best individual performance I have seen under those conditions. He was a great high school quarterback.
By smyrna man
September 3, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Holy Smokes Toney 7 TDs. Can’t wait to watch you in Orange!!!
By Jimmy Payne
September 3, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
This was done by my son Travis Payne so I feel a little embarassed. But none the less, as a QB for Buford in 2000, I think it was, he was 14 out 15 attempts with 7 TD passses and 398 yards in a game against Lumpkin County. I watched him warm up at halftime and against air on the sideline he was 6 for 9.
By Glenn LaFollette
September 3, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
Jimmy,
Don’t be embarrassed. That’s a great story. What happened with that one pass? Was the man wide open? Those are video games numbers.
By drock08
September 3, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
One game that come to mind is the Lagrange vs E.Coweta game in 1998 which the final score was E.Coweta 67-41 and E.Coweta Marvin Smith and Lagrange Bruce Thorton put on a show like I have never seen before. One of the best individual performance I have ever seen was in 1988 when Newnan played against Morrow. Morrow Andre Hastings who is the best player I have ever seen in high school caught a pass over two defenders in the endzone for the go ahead touchdown. Andre put on a highlight show that night. People in Newnan who was there still talk about that performance.
By Todd Holcomb
September 3, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Bazemore played at Fitzgerald, by the way. Bazemore has been quoted as confirming the touchdowns, although I’m not sure whether he confirmed the 10 or the 11.
This subject has been discussed a few times over at the Georgia High School Football Historians site (www.ghsfha.com). Researchers there have gone through newspaper clippings from Fitzgerald and other papers on microfilm and haven’t been able to confirm or dispel the story, but the research suggests it is unlikely that it happened.
The strongest evidence that it did was Bazemore’s quotes, but my guess is that he might’ve been a part of 10 touchdowns (running and throwing).
Anyway, it’s one of the great legends of Georgia high school football history. But in any event, Baze is generally considered the greatest high school football in state history for his work at Valdosta.
Here’s a good story on him from Sports Illustrated:
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083577/12/index.htm
By davil
September 4, 2008 12:14 AM | Link to this
I saw the comeback that Carver/Columbus put on Chamblee while I waited for the start of the Tucker v. NORTHSIDE/WR game last year at the Dome. I have never experienced a day where I saw 2 incredible comebacks in person. Northside gave me a birthday present I’ll never forget!
By AJC Sports
September 4, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
Speaking as your Friendly Neighborhood ajc.com editor who went to high school (and junior high, too) with Andre Hastings at Morrow during the “glory days” of Mustang football, my guess is HE’s still talking about that play against Newnan as well, drock08. Just kidding, Andre.
Those were the days. MAN, we had a tough schedule to overcome in order to win the 1987 AAAA state title.
By Doom
September 4, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
I remember back in 1994 in which Morrow High School played Griffin High School. There was a player by the name of Willie Carter who single handily beat the Griffin Bears. He threw a touchdown, caught a touchdown, and ran for a touchdown. Morrow winning by a score of 21-9.
By camdenwildcat
September 4, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Champ Bailey ran for over 400 yards against Atkinson county back in 1995 and could have easily broken the state rushing record for a game but his coach pull him out early in the 4th quarter because Mcwhorter said he dint realize that Champ was even close to the record. he had 5 or 6 tds too!
By fayette fan
September 4, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
HEY GLEN, what about matt daniels from fayette county (now @ DUKE) in 2006 when he rushed for like 360 yards and 6 touchdowns against county rival mcintosh.
By draycoach
September 4, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
I covered the Charlton County-Pierce County game when Jeremy Privett tossed the eight touchdowns and passed for 452 yards in the 66-14 win. He was 23-of-34 that night as he went for the single season and career touchdown marks in the 2003 season finale. The feat was marred by the fact that he was still in the game throwing the ball midway through the fourth quarter and the Indians up by 40 points. Charlton was throwing on every down to get him the record and didn’t have that many offensive snaps because it seemed like the Indians scored about every third play. The only defender that stopped Charlton that night was the end line in the endzone. If my memory serves me right, I believe they had nine rushing attempts on the night.
By Norcross Devil '97
September 4, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Leon White of Norcross versus South Gwinnett in 1996. It was a Thursday night game, and he rushed for 363 yards on 18 carries (20.1 yds per rush) and 7 touchdowns. He tied a (then) state record for TDs in a game.
By Jimmy Payne
September 4, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Glen the one pass that was incomplete hit the receiver square on the numbers. But that same receiver made a running circus catch of a bad throw in the same game so it evened out. It would have been 8 TD’s but the TE caught a pass and while running all alone stepped out on the one.
By slalom1
September 4, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
I remember Andre Hastings very well. He was indeed the second most lethal player I have ever witnessed in GHS football. Took Morrow to the state title game in 1988, and won. (in Ga’s top classification). That was Coach Bud Theo docian’s final year as head coach at Morrow. My choice for the best to ever play in GHS football would be Rodney Hudson of LG. I believe that the great Billy Henderson and the late Nick Hyder would agree. Following the 1991 season, even the AJC, who named Hudson the “Player of the Year” stated that “when the game is on the line, no one is better than Hudson”. Unfortunately, Rodney broke his hip as a freshman at Miss St, and never completely recovered. Still had a nice career at UAB.
By drock08
September 5, 2008 6:05 AM | Link to this
I agree with slalom on Hudson he was great. He is number two on my all-time list 1. Andre Hastings 2. Rodney Hudson 3. Jasper Sanks 4. Derrick Stegall 5.Omar Elison from Griffin
By DeeDawg
September 5, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this
Please reinstate the ability for smack talkin’ blogs on the individual team pages!!
I agree with you that sometimes the comments got out of hand over the past couple of years, but for the most part it was good old heated debate and did no real harm. We are your readers and we want it back. I suggest that you spell out the rules of the blogs in advance, i.e. no personal insults, no profanity (or alluding to it with asteriks), no mean-spirited or demeaning remarks allowed. You have the power of the delete button and reserve the right to remove any comments that violate the rules. Otherwise, let the smack talkin roll. It was fun to read, participate in, and see what the other schools blogs are saying. Thank you kindly for your consideration, your readers.
By coach shep
September 5, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Quentin Cole of Dunwoody ran for 337 yards and 5 touchdowns on 16 carries vs Redan in 1998.
Awesome individual performance.
By swolf4810
September 5, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
You left out the 1990 AAA State Championship game Marist @ Cairo Syrupmakers. Cairo was a massive underdog…and spanked those Marist boys BIG TIME
By st. pius x fan
September 5, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Phillip Rogers Of St. Pius X(he later played for GA Tech) in 94 ran for 395 yards and 4 tds vs North Gwinnet. His td runs were crazy awesome. One was of 70+, 50+, and 40+. He had a spin move in the 70+ one that the defender is still looking for his jock. The guy was a man among boys his senior year…
By Joe
September 6, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Monte’ Williams should have at least one performance on there. You could pretty much take your pick on any of his games
By Joe
September 6, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Monte’ Williams should have at least one performance on there. You could pretty much take your pick on any of his games
By Joe
September 6, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Monte’ Williams should have at least one performance on there. You could pretty much take your pick on any of his games
By JACOB
October 13, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
ANTHONY FLANAGAN OF OLD SOUTHWEST ATLANTA HIGH, ROBERT HAYGOOD OF OLD RUSSELL HIGH IN EAST POINT AND A LESSER KNOWN PLAYER NAMED EDDIE GIBSON FROM ROCKDALE HIGH(CONYERS) WOULD GAME IN AND GAME OUT ROUTINELY PUT UP BIG NUMBERS FROM THE QUARTERBACK POSITION BY THROWING 5-6 TOUCHDOWNS AND RUSHING FOR 200 YARDS OR MORE THIS BECAME ROUTINE FOR THESE GUYS DURING THOSE DAYS(1971-73) I GUESS THEY KIND OF SPOILED US
By paul
October 15, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this
Gibson may have been lesser known during this time by the atlanta news media but people who witnessed him perform really got a treat this guy was a phenom he was a BO JACKSON before BO JACKSON he had a cousin named TRACI WAITES who was also from Rockdale who dazzled crowds on the basketball court during the early 80’s she was also something special
By hatapruf26
December 15, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
wassup wit stone mountain vs.heritage in 1998 that running back from stone mountain had a pretty nice game to as far as stats. Get your people to check it out!