Marist beats Sprayberry in AAAA first round

By Todd Callahan

For the AJC

Trying to accomplish what no other team had in nearly 15 years -- go to Marist and win in the playoffs -- Sprayberry instead became an addition to a streak as No. 6 Marist won its 28th straight playoff game at home Friday 28-14.

The War Eagles, who have not lost a playoff game at Hughes-Spalding Stadium since falling to Tucker on Dec. 2, 1994, continued the win streak behind the play of quarterback Alex Perez and fullback Matt Connors.

Connors led the War Eagles with 104 yards rushing and scored a touchdown on 18 carries, and Perez scored the opening touchdown on a 4-yard run and completed five of nine pass attempts for 77 yards. His biggest pass was a 24-yard touchdown toss to Penn Davenport. Davenport also added a 12-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Sprayberry, making its third straight postseason appearance, lost in the opening round of the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Yellow Jackets, who have not won a postseason game since 1982, finished 7-4 for the second year in a row.

Sparking the success of the War Eagles was the ability to come up with the big plays on third down. Marist converted on five of six third-down opportunities in the second half.

“There is no doubt in that huddle,” said Connors, whose 27-yard touchdown run with 3:07 left in the game clinched the victory. “This was probably the best week of practice that we had all year. We knew we were ready. Sprayberry was a tough team, but we all stepped up.”

The War Eagles, who held the Jackets to eight yards of offense in the third quarter, marched 57 yards on their opening drive of the second half, converting three times on third down.

Perez had a 10-yard run to convert on the first third down, and he completed a 25-yard pass to Sam McNearny on third-and-8. Three plays later, Davenport, on third-and-11, took an end-around and scored for a touchdown for a 21-7 lead with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

“We were having a lot of success using the fullback,” Marist coach Alan Chadwick said. “When you have playoff games at home, you’re supposed to win these.”