North Gwinnett bests Peachtree Ridge

By Todd Callahan

For the AJC

The fourth time is the charm for the third-ranked North Gwinnett Bulldogs

Having been relegated to region runner-up in three consecutive seasons, the Bulldogs (10-0 overall, 8-0 in 7-AAAAA) have a banner to hang, winning the program’s first Region 7-AAAAA championship in 52 years on Friday with a 21-7 triumph at home over No. 8 Peachtree Ridge (8-2, 7-1).

“I wasn’t here for the first 48 years of the program,” North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire said. “I don’t want to put a damper on it, but I won a whole lot of regions in 21 years of coaching. I am just tickled to death because these seniors are the ones I have had for four years.”

With the game tied at 7-all with 10:33 left, North Gwinnett went on an 85-yard march. Brantley Raahmil broke off a 60-yard run, and an injured CJ Uzomah, who battled through a thigh injury, connected on a 30-yard pass to Cordero Dixon with 6:39 left to produce the game-winner.

It was the lone touchdown for Uzomah, who completed 10 of 17 pass attempts for 95 yards. Dixon led the receivers with four receptions for 57 yards.

However, sparking the Bulldogs was the defense, which held Peachtree Ridge to one touchdown in seven trips inside the 35-yard line. The Bulldogs also stopped the Lions on three fourth-down plays and blocked a field-goal attempt.

“Our defense has played great all year,” Sphire said. “I felt very comfortable even when we were in poor field position because of the way they played all year. I got concerned a little bit there because it seemed we were playing Russian roulette with the field position, but the defense rose to the occasion.”

It also was a defensive play that iced the game for the Bulldogs.

With the Lions, who saw their seven-game win streak snapped, trying to tie the game in the final minute, North Gwinnett senior Will Compton stepped in front of a pass by Nick Lombardo and ran it back 47 yards for the final score.

It was a Peachtree Ridge miscue that led to the opening score of the game.

The Lions, who tallied twice as many offensive yards in the first half than the Bulldogs, opened their fourth possession of the game at the 36-yard line, but a fumble recovery by North Gwinnett’s Conner Kannaley on first down gave the Bulldogs the ball back with 10:22 left in the second quarter.

Six plays later, sophomore Joe Jones scored on an 8-yard run for a touchdown.

The Bulldogs, making their sixth straight appearance in the state playoffs, became the 22nd team from Gwinnett County to finish with an unblemished perfect season. North Gwinnett also has won 10 or more games each of the past four years.

Peachtree Ridge is making its fourth consecutive trip to the postseason.