It was a memorable Friday night for Class AAAAAA Region 8 and it all started with Central Gwinnett. Making his first-ever varsity start, sophomore quarterback Nick Partlow ran Central Gwinnett's game-winning touchdown with 7:20 left to upset North Gwinnett 12-9. Host North Gwinnett, the top seed in Class AAAAAA Region 7, led 9-0 at the half after a 39-yard Brad Harvey field goal and a three-yard touchdown run from senior Jordan Weddington. Nigel Adams ran in Central’s first touchdown from nine yards out and finished with a game-high 63 rushing yards on 19 carries. Central recorded five sacks and held North Gwinnett to 160 total yards of offense. Central made it a clean sweep for Region 8 as Grayson beat Mill Creek 24-6, Dacula knocked off Peachtree Ridge 17-14 and Archer ran past two-time defending state champion Norcross 38-22.
Archer 38, Norcross 22: Archer led just 21-14 halfway through the third quarter, but a Gabe Tiller touchdown pass to Dylan Singleton with 10:29 in the fourth quarter and a Singleton run with two minutes remaining sealed the home victory. Tiller was 18-of-26 passing for 289 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and rushed for a score. Randy Nails had six receptions for 173 yards and a score to go along with 75 yards rushing and a touchdown while Jamyest Williams added 62 yards receiving and 30 yards rushing for Archer.
Langston Hughes 42, North Cobb 28: The host Panthers outscored the Warriors 21-7 in the second half as it was led by a three-headed rushing attack. Demetrius Whitmore stood out as he totaled 200 yards, including 160 on the ground, and scored four touchdowns in the contest. Senior Donovan Johnson chipped in offensively for 97 yards and a pair of scores. Warrior quarterback Tyler Queen was held in check during the contest. The senior was intercepted twice and was sacked three times.
McEachern 23, East Coweta 3: After a slow start, McEachern pulled away from a tough East Coweta team. Quay Holmes scored the only touchdown of the first half for home standing McEachern on a 12-yard touchdown run. Entering the second half, the score was 7-3 and remained that way until the fourth quarter. Tyler Smith returned a punt 46 yards and Allen Cooper added a safety to move McEachern ahead 16-3. Bailey Hockman hit Devonne Boyce for a 48-yard score to finish the scoring. Hockman finished with 148 yards passing.
Milton 37, Northview 0: Austin McLeod was 13-of-16 passing for 148 yards and three touchdowns, and Micco Brisker rushed 20 times for 115 yards and a 2-yard touchdown to lead host Milton. Obe Fortune had 62 yards receiving and caught touchdowns of 21 and 12 yards, and Nathan Cranor had a 22-yard touchdown reception. Chris Turner added 62 yards rushing and a 20-yard touchdown run for the Eagles, who led Northview 21-0 at halftime.
Newton 27, Valdosta 14: Ramario Johnson passed for three touchdowns, including two in the all important third quarter when Newton took control of the game, to lead the Rams past Valdosta. Johnson completed touchdown passes of six and 11 yards to Jeremiah Holloman and 14 yards to De'Andre Huff. Huff also scored on a 20-yard interception return early in the second quarter. After leading 14-7 at halftime, Newton took control of the game by scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter. Valdosta got touchdowns from Tim McClain on a three-yard run and Ricco Ramsey on a one-yard pass from Seth Shuman. Newton gained 302 total yards of offense and held Valdosta to minus-27 yards rushing. Johnson completed 21 of 33 passes for 189 yards. He also led the Rams in rushing with 60 yards on 13 carries.
Tucker 31, Tift County 29: Tucker held off Tift County after a 31-yard field goal from Camri Shakir pushed the score to 31-23, and a failed two-point conversion left the visiting Blue Devils two points short at Hallford Stadium. Garrett Rigby was 4-of-8 passing with two touchdowns, one each to Joshua Vann (49 yards) and Elijah Sullivan (67 yards). Delvin Weems had 18 caries for 107 yards and a touchdown. Sullivan added 77 yards on 12 carries.
Westlake 41, North Paulding 13: Justin Broughton ran in a 19-yard touchdown and Dakota Rocker tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Malik Willis before Broughton's second rushing score put host Westlake up 21-0. North Paulding kicked a field goal and Ronnie Blackmon returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a Westlake touchdown. Rocker threw a touchdown pass to Jamauri Elliott in the fourth quarter and Hasaan Patterson iced the game with an 80-yard touchdown run to make it 41-13.
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