Here’s a recap of key contests over the weekend:
No. 1 (Private) ELCA sends a message
The Chargers, the four-time defending Class A private school champions, put the state on notice that they are still the best bet to win another title in December, as they rolled over Pace Academy, ranked No. 6 in Class AAA, 49-0.
While it was far from a perfect game for ELCA – the Chargers committed 14 penalties – it was nonetheless a dominant win over a sure playoff contender two classifications higher. Pre-season Player-of-the-Year candidate senior RB Keaton Mitchell scored three touchdowns while new QB Gabe Wright scored as well.
No. 1 (Public) Irwin sends one, too
Irwin County dominated rival Fitzgerald, which had been ranked No. 4 in Class AA, 35-8 Friday, to mark the first time since 1998 that Irwin has defeated the Purple Hurricanes in consecutive years (Irwin won last season, 16-10). Five different players scored for Irwin, which outgained Fitzgerald 408-215.
Bowden snaps the losing streak to Bremen
Bowdon snapped a two-game losing streak to rival Bremen and returned the Sewell Cup home with a 20-7 win in their annual rivalry.
Cam’Ron Buchanan gave Bowdon a 7-0 lead with 7:46 left in the opening quarter with a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Robert McNeal found Ben Fortson for a 55-yard gain that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Lane Ackles late in the second quarter to grow the lead to 13-0. McNeal and Fortson connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass with just 1:28 left that gave the Red Devils a 20-0 lead before Bremen tacked on a late touchdown.
Holy Innocents’ upset No. 8 (Private) Hebron Christian
The Bears moved to 2-0 and avenged last season’s 38-14 loss with a 28-21 win over the Lions. Holy Innocents’ jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half on the strength of touchdown runs of 1, 20 and 44 yards by senior RB/DE Michael Cox. Hebron stormed back to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter after an 8-yard run by Winston Gassant. The Lions’ first two scores came on touchdown passes of 15 and 50 yards from Colton Gauthier to Alex Pinela. But Matthew Davis scored on a 37-yard touchdown run with a little over five minutes left in the game to provide the margin of victory for Holy Innocents’. Cox and the Bears’ offensive line dominated all night, as he finished with 225 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Blowout pushes Savannah Christian out of the top 10
The Raiders fell to 0-2 on the season, and out of the private top 10, after suffering their second consecutive blowout loss of the young season. Savannah Christian was trounced on Friday by Oceanside Collegiate, 49-7, one week after losing 35-7 to last season’s private runner up, No. 2 Athens Academy. It was a reversal from last year’s battle with Oceanside, located just north east of Charleston, when the Raiders defeated the Landsharks 54-14.
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