South Gwinnett defeats rival Brookwood

By Todd Callahan

For the AJC

For the Brookwood, there is no room for error if the Broncos are going to reach the state playoffs for an eighth year in a row.

Having suffered a 17-14 setback to South Gwinnett on Friday, the Broncos (4-5 overall, 4-3 in Region 8-AAAAA) have lost two straight and face a must-win game in the regular season finale with rival Parkview on Friday to earn a postseason berth.

“If we win next week, we will be the No. 4 team,” said Brookwood coach Mark Crews, whose team has lost three of their past four. “If we don’t, we go home.”

The Comets, who have already earned a postseason berth, clinched home-field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs with the win over Brookwood. South Gwinnett, which ended a five-game losing streak to its city rival, will finish in second place behind region champion Grayson in the region standings.

Sparking the Comets, who beat Brookwood for just the fourth time in their 27-year rivalry, was the passing of Kent Rollins, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, it was the running of Aaron Wimberly. The junior rushed for 146 yards on 24 carries and scored on a 5-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with 36 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Rollins, who played at Brookwood last year, completed seven of his first nine passes, including a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Krause early in the second quarter.

Krause was Rollins’ favorite target, hauling in five passes for 83 yards all in the first half.

His touchdown was controversial.

On the play, Krause appeared to drop the ball before he crossed the goal line. The referee called it a touchdown, and the Comets led 14-7 with 10:51 left in the half.

“The touchdown that was dropped down there was a huge play,” Crews said of the call.

“It’s 17-14, and they drop a ball and get a touchdown.”