Etowah withstands Starr’s Mill late charge

By GLENNIS CURRY

For the AJC

Etowah shook off early rust and withstood a late Starr’s Mill charge Saturday afternoon in the first game of the 18th-annual Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome. A fourth-down sack of Adam Holley by Josh Weot preserved the 21-14 win for the Eagles.

Holley and Starr’s Mill took possession with 3:35 left after Etowah’s Kyle Riordan missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt. Holley gained 28 yards running along the right sideline on the first play. The Eagles defense stood tall on the next four downs and Weot brought down Holley at the Panthers’ 43 with 1:15 left to play.

The Eagles offense overcame 12 total yards in the first quarter and three early defensive penalties to defeat Starr’s Mill for the second consecutive year. Last year’s victory also was in the Kell opener, 47-24, Etowah’s only other appearance in the Kell Classic.

Braden Nolan accounted for 161 yards offense and two touchdowns for Etowah, the defending 5-AAAAA region champions. The senior quarterback completed nine of 12 passes for 121 yards and ran for 40 yards on 18 carries.

Starr’s Mill broke the scoreless tie early in the second quarter when Derek Brown scored on a 1-yard plunge off left tackle, the first of his two touchdowns. The Panthers drove 46 yards on seven plays after an Etowah punt, aided by 26 yards rushing from Zach Laskey and a third-down conversion inside the Etowah 15 by Holley.

Etowah countered with a 14-play, 82-yard scoring drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nolan to Taylor Majors. Nolan rolled left and threw a ball that was tipped by another receiver and hauled in with one hand by Majors.

After Holley was intercepted by defensive back Jason Holdway at the Panthers’ 46, Etowah took the lead when Nolan ran in from 19 yards. Holdway put Etowah ahead 21-7 with a 34-yard run early in the third quarter.

Starr’s Mill drove 94 yards in 12 plays, capped by Brown’s second score from four yards out. Etowah aided the effort with two 15-yard penalties.

Holley ran for 55 yards on 17 carries overall, and Brown added six solo tackles on defense.