North Gwinnett tests No. 1 Byrnes

North Gwinnett led the nation’s No. 1-ranked team at halftime, but Byrnes (S.C.) stormed back for a 36-21 victory in the nightcap of the Progressive Football Challenge.

The upset bid looked promising when Cordero Dixon returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown, giving the hosts a 14-9 lead at the break.

But the Rebels scored four straight touchdowns in just more than a quarter.

Byrnes is brimming with Division I talent, and the crowd of 8,000-plus saw it in full effect after halftime.

Justin Bright intercepted quarterback Michael Tamburo and raced in from 15 yards.

Marcus Lattimore broke loose for a 48-yard scoring run. Ricco Sanders took an end-around 17 yards for a touchdown, then caught a 37-yard touchdown pass.

Meanwhile, the Rebels befuddled North Gwinnett’s potent spread offense. Tamburo completed fewer than 50 percent of his throws and was intercepted twice.

The Bulldogs, who had to replace 10 defensive starters from last year’s state runner-up team, contained Byrnes’ stars for a while. North Gwinnett forced four straight punts to open the game behind defensive end John Gibson’s fierce pass rush.

But Lattimore eventually broke loose, running for 173 yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Chas Dodd started slow but finished 16-of-34 for 250 yards.

Thus the Rebels, who have won five state titles in the last six years, validated USA Today’s lofty ranking.