Peachtree Ridge hammers Harrison

By CHIP SAYE

For the AJC

Peachtree Ridge coach Bill Ballard said he wasn’t concerned that his Lions might be looking past Harrison and toward next week’s showdown at No. 1-ranked Lowndes.

Then his team, ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAA, went out and showed why he didn’t have anything to worry about. Despite falling behind 7-0 early, the Lions rolled to a 35-13 victory against Harrison in both teams’ season-opener Friday night at the Hoyas’ Bruce Cobleigh Stadium.

“These guys played us tough two games last year,” Ballard said. “It’s not like they don’t have a great tradition and a great program. All you’ve got to do is look in the end zone at the scoreboard where it says ‘State playoffs ’94 to ’08.’ I don’t think we overlooked them at all. We’ve got all the respect in the world for this program.”

Chris Sawdey led the way, rushing for 93 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior quarterback Nick Lombardo was 5-for-9 passing for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 48 yards on 10 carries.

“I was real proud of [Sawdey],” Ballard said. “He’s a senior, and he’s been working real hard. He’s a great kid and he just played his heart out.”

Peachtree Ridge broke the game open when Sawdey scored his first two touchdowns late in the first half for a 21-7 lead. He put the Lions ahead 14-7 when he scored with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter on a 1-yard run to cap a 13-play, 71-yard drive. He scored again a little more than two minutes later, running in from the 9-yard line. Brad Roby set up Sawdey’s second touchdown when he intercepted an Austin Cain pass and returned it 16 yards to the Harrison 18.

Harrison had opportunities in the third quarter. But despite controlling the ball for most of the period and reaching the Peachtree Ridge 20-yard line twice, the Hoyas had to settle for field goals and managed to cut just six points off the lead.

Peachtree Ridge answered quickly, scoring twice in the first 1:09 of the fourth quarter. Sawdey’s third touchdown, on an 11-yard run, made it 28-13. Harrison fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Lions scored on the next play on a 29-yard pass from Nick Lombardo to Roby.

Harrison and Peachtree Ridge split their two meetings last season. Harrison won the opener 13-3, and Peachtree Ridge won 17-7 in the second round of the playoffs.

PEACHTREE RIDGE 35, HARRISON 13

Peachtree Ridge 7 14 0 14 — 35

Harrison 7 0 6 0 — 13

H — Brendan Mlincsek 9 run (Darren Parkinson kick)

P — Austin Louchart fumble recovery in end zone (Justin Watts kick)

P — Chris Sawdey 1 run (Watts kick)

P — Sawdey 9 run (Watts kick)

H — Parkinson 37 field goal

H — Parkinson 35 field goal

P — Sawdey 11 run (Watts kick)

P — Nick Lombardo 29 pass to Brad Roby (Watts kick)

-- Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily