If the distractions of the past few days were weighing heavily on North Gwinnett, it didn't show much Friday night.

The specter of sanctions from the Georgia High School Association for the use of an ineligible player seemed to bring out the best in the state's top-ranked team, which vented on Region 7-AAAAA rival Peachtree Ridge.

Jason Getz/Staff (ENLARGE)

Peachtree Ridge running back Chris Douglas (1) gets stopped by North Gwinnett's D.J. Troughton (26) and Marquese Quiles (36) on a kickoff return in the first half of their game at Peachtree Ridge Friday night in Suwanee. North Gwinnett (7-0) travels next week to South Forsyth.

The visiting Bulldogs, who will find out Tuesday if they will be forced to forfeit one or more games, unloaded their frustrations in the Lions' Den, rolling up 323 yards of total offense en route to an easy 38-20 throttling of their rivals.

"They got 48 minutes just to play football," coach Bob Sphire said. "If it's burning in their guts, they got the chance to just go out and vent."

Sophomore quarterback Michael Tamburo accounted for most of the damage for the winners, passing for three touchdowns and running for another to keep his team undefeated on the field at 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the region.

He completed 16 of 21 attempts without an interception for 201 yards on the evening. Senior receiver Ryan McDaniel was his favorite target with seven catches for 101 yards and a score.

"From Day One, our kids have been resilient," Sphire said.

The Lions, who are idle next week before traveling to Mill Creek on Oct. 27, were their own worst enemy with five turnovers, two of which led to a pair of first-half North Gwinnett touchdowns. Peachtree Ridge's costly miscues also included a punt blocked and two touchdowns called back on penalties.

That was more than enough for the focused Bulldogs, who took the lead for good at 10-7 on a Chad Gross 24-yard field goal with 3:38 left in the first half, the start of 17 unanswered points.

Quarterback Zach Graham passed for 210 yards for the Lions, but threw three interceptions.

North Gwinnett 0 17 14 7 — 38

Peachtree Ridge 0 7 7 6 — 20

NG — Michael Tamburo 5 run (Chad Gross kick)

PR — Chris Douglas 1 run (Drew Butler kick)

NG — Gross 24 FG

NG — Tyler Jarry 11 pass from Tamburo (Gross kick)

NG — Ryan McDaniel 47 pass from Tamburo (Gross kick)

PR — Brandon Davis 3 run (Butler kick)

NG — Jarry 6 run (Gross kick)

NG — Brandon Rodd 8 pass from Tamburo (Gross kick)

PR — Derrick Bryant 43 pass from Zach Graham (pass failed)