Harrison too much for North Cobb

Harrison’s Christian Turnipseed found redemption at the 30-yard line. His team found a new legacy.

The Hoyas edged rival North Cobb 21-14 behind three touchdowns from tailback Robbie Godhigh Friday night at the newly christened Bruce Cobleigh field. Pregame festivities honored the man that built the Harrison program.

Turnipseed assured there was a celebration after the game. North Cobb (1-1, 0-1 in Region 5-AAAAA) drove to the 50 with 90 seconds remaining. But Turnipseed, a junior defensive back, picked off Warriors quarterback Evan Hester, allowing his team to claim victory.

If there was ever a bittersweet interception, this was it.

“I felt great,” Turnipseed said. “I mean I really screwed up earlier in the game, so yeah, it felt good.”

Turnipseed was the centerpiece of an odd turn of events in the third quarter. With the Hoyas (2-0, 1-0) leading 21-7, Turnipseed fumbled the ball at midfield with 7:12 on the clock. North Cobb recovered only to see its offense sputter.

The Warriors faked a punt, rushed for a first down, then were charged with an illegal procedure penalty and forced to punt again. Turnipseed dropped back to return the ensuing kick.

He fumbled again and watched as North Cobb tailback Donatello Brown ran in for an 8-yard score.

“He’s young and still learning,” said first-year Harrison coach David Hines. “But you saw he recovered, and that’s the important thing. We bent, but we didn’t break.”

The fumbles were rare miscues for the Hoyas. Harrison rode Godhigh to 89 yards rushing and three scores, one coming by way of a 75-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

The return seemed dead at the 45. However, the 5-foot-7, 190-pound Godhigh burst out of a crowd of players to find the end zone and break the 7-7 halftime tie.

“That was just superhuman right there,” Hines said. “He outmanned his opponent.”

North Cobb broke a nine-game losing streak to the Hoyas last year, but Harrison remains 14-3 in the overall series.