Home > Hall Monitor > Archives > 2007 > September > 29
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Simply Amazing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Those were the first two words that popped into my head Friday night around 10 o’clock. It was a night in which many crazy things were happening. The Peachtree Ridge stands looked like a sea of black. I must say, the Blackout was very successful. I dont want to seem like i am bragging or anything, but my friend Adam and I planned the Blackout last week and honestly i wasnt sure about the response. But to see that many people wearing black really made me happy. I mean it wasnt only students. Many parents dawned black clothing. I felt very accomplised. Anyways back to the game. I don’t think that anybody was expecting Peachtree Ridge (4-1) to do what they did to Norcross (4-1) Friday night. The final score was 26-14 but that makes it look closer than it really was.
The Lions had to burn their first timeout before they could even snap the ball. I began to get worried. After that though, they got off to a quick start, from a 43-yard Greg Johnson FG. After stopping Norcross on their first drive Peachtree Ridge marched the ball down the field until Ronnie Smith picked up a 14-yard TD making it 10-0 Lions. That 10-point lead didn’t last long as Alex Napper took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the house for the Blue Devils. The teams then swapped possessions with turnovers and the Lions then got another FG. The biggest drive on the night came in the 2nd quarter when Asher Clark led the Lions down the field for nearly seven minutes. Clark ended the drive on a 10-yards TD run. He finished the night 11 of 18 passing for 159 yards and 83 yards on 18 carries. The Lions went for a fake FG, but the pass was incomplete making it 19-7 at halftime.
Norcross got the ball to begin the 2nd half and fumbled on the first play. Brandon Davis scored 3 plays later on a 13-yard TD run. In the third quarter Norcross finally got their offense to be somewhat productive. Brice Butler got his only two catches on the night in the same drive and Norcross eventually scored on a 1-yard TD run by Thinh Ho. And that was all that Norcross could manage anymore. The 4th quarter was basically highlighted by Peachtree Ridge running and punting and Norcross giving us turnovers.
The Lions simply dominated the game; there is nothing more to it. The Lions defense really stepped it up in such a big game. Here is an astonishing stat for you: In the first half, the Lions had 214 yards of total offense compared to Norcross’ 12 yards. Now, it comes to down to the North Gwinnett-Peachtree Ridge game to determine the Region 7AAAAA Championship. (That is of course unless some crazy upsets occur.) Now I guess Norcross is still in the running but they will have to get some help. Two weeks from now will be one crazy matchup in Suwanee. My next question is who is #1? Your guess is as good as mine. GO LIONS!
-Logan McElroy
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Peachtree Ridge
Blackout on Norcross
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few of my friends at the game (on the Peachtree Ridge side) told me that they have been dreading the Norcross-Peachtree Ridge game for weeks now. I mean, everyone knew it was going to be THE game of the season; it was a showdown of two very distinguished 7AAAAA teams! Peachtree Ridge was named co-state champions last year (along with Roswell), but they were about the face off with the team who was currently named No. 1 in the state after Roswell’s loss last week. Fans of both schools were very ecstatic about this game; because both schools both represent the color blue, everyone decided that Devils would wear white (the whiteout team) and the Lions would wear all black (the blackout team). With the anticipation at great heights for this game, everyone hoped for the best, and that the best team would came out victorious. However when the game ended, both teams had learned a lot about themselves; the Blue Devils suffered their first loss of the season at 14-26.
I don’t about anyone else, but I didn’t see such a bad loss coming our way. We were 4-0, and the Lions were 3-1, beaten by the Grayson Rams (which we had destroyed a few weeks back). Yes, the Lions are great team, and they were deemed champions last year. This game will hopefully be a wakeup call on the Blue Devils.
Right at the start, the Lions hit the ground running with a three-point score. Before we knew it, the Lions had us 10-0. We, however, quickly answered with Alex Napper’s 99-yard kickoff, reminding the Lions that we were number one. The Lions, who were determined to win, picked up the pace after our touchdown. Most of the action took place in the second and third quarter, with the score not moving much at 14-26 near the end. With just a few minutes on the clock, time was not on our side; we realized we had lost even before the game had ended.
“They played great and we didn’t play well, and when you don’t give your quarterback time to throw you’re not going to get it to your big guys,” said Norcross coach Keith Maloof.
“We were up for the challenge,” Lions coach Bill Ballard said. “We knew it was going to be a big challenge tonight because they were ranked No. 1 and they’re a great team. They’ll rebound from this, I’m sure.”
But other teams, beware, after the lions tore down our title as number 1 in the 7AAAAA rank, we learned a lot. This will most likely be our first and last loss. After all, we are still one of the highest ranked teams out there. We WILL make it to the playoffs this year. As said in the movie Batman Begins: “Why do we fall? So we can learn how to pick ourselves up.” Never give up on your team, and that WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN THE REST OF THE GAMES THIS SEASON!
Fact Sheet:
PEACHTREE RIDGE 26, NORCROSS 14
Norcross 7 0 7 0 — 14
Peachtree Ridge 10 9 7 0 — 26
GO NORCROSS BLUE DEVILS, 4-1!!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Norcross
Devils ‘Cutt Down (HHS 45, MHS 18)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After winning their first 4 games against teams who were a collective 5-10, Marietta got their first real test at Northcutt against a Harrison team that had a really impressive win at Lowndes earlier, and also played my # 2 team in the state North Cobb. Marietta went out appearing ready to play and drove down the field before stalling out at the 12-yard line. Chase Morgan was just short on the kick, that gave Harrison momentum that they would never relinquish. They scored three consecutive touchdowns to go up 21-0. Try as we might we just couldnt stop the offensive balance Harrison showed through Christian Burnett, Darvin Adams, and Robbie Godhigh. Stanley Jennings and Jeremy Hill had great games; Stanley going 15-21 for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns and Jeremy grabbing two interceptions. Harrison exposed Marietta in many ways, but its not the end of the season… I still see Marietta as the third best team in the region. However, I believe that Harrison and North Cobb are two of the best teams in the state. Playoffs are still a strong possibility and we are a good football team, unfortunately, we are in a region with two great ones. Also, can anyone give us an update on Kelsey Turner’s ankle? I was impressed with the heart that Greg Franklin ran with and he excites me regarding our future, but Kelsey Turner is a huge part of this football team. I was glad to see the crossing patterns we employed in the passing game as opposed to throwing a majority of go routes (where the receiver runs straight down the field.) I am not discouraged, but I expect to see them rebound at McEachern next week.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Marietta
