Here’s a look at the weekend that was.
Wright takes the reins at No. 1 ELCA
Four-time defending private champion and preseason private No. 1 (Private) Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy has a new quarterback for the first time in three seasons. Senior Gabe Wright (5-11, 178) has taken over for Brayden Rush, who was 41-1. Wright is now 1-0 after leading the Chargers to a 55-13 season-opening win over Class AAAAAA Morrow. It was a stellar debut: 16-of-20 passing for 223 yards and four touchdowns, and 89 yards rushing on 11 carries. Wright beat out junior Phillip Massengale, who will be the primary backup and play other positions.
“[Wright] just worked his butt off in the offseason,” ELCA head coach Jonathan Gess said of what Wright did to win the job. “He got stronger and better over the summer and you could see it. He’s very intelligent, and has the ability to check in and out of plays, depending on what he sees. I’m excited to see what he can do.”
No. 2 (Private) Athens Academy starts 1-0
No. 2 (Private) Athens Academy’s only loss last season came in the private title game to ELCA. The Spartans, took the first step toward a rematch with a 35-7 win over No. 7 (Private) Savannah Christian. Player of the Year candidate RB/LB Len’Neth Whitehead ran for 124 yards and four touchdowns on just nine carries, while RB/DB Kurt Knisely led the defense with 11 tackles, three for loss. In fact, Athens Academy held senior RB Marquell Brown to just 35 yards for most of the game, before he ruined the shutout with a 60-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
No. 2 (Public) Irwin wins first game after Nobles’ cancer announcement
No. 2 (Public) Irwin County rolled to an impressive 42-7 win over Class AA Berrien County. The week of the opener, head coach Buddy Nobles announced that he has cancer (he and his family travelled to Atlanta on Monday for an appointment at Emory to discuss treatment). Also, the team announced that Player of the Year candidate RB/LB DJ Lundy will be out with an injury until at least midseason. But the team soldiered on as Irwin’s running back-by-committee approach piled up 225 yards on the ground while senior QB Zach Smith was an efficient 8-of-10 passing for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Irwin held Berrien to just 51 yards total before the JV team finished the game in the fourth quarter.
Mitchell loses a shootout
No. 8 (Public) Mitchell County lost to Class AA No. 8 Brooks County, 63-50. The Eagles loss despite 546 yards of total offense. QB James Thomas had 252 all-purpose yards — 85 passing, 122 rushing and 45 receiving. But he struggled throwing, competing just 5-of-20 passes. Quentavious Hunter was 6-for-6 passing for 148 yards.
Other notable performances (courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily):
Christian Heritage RB Gage Leonard rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries in a 27-6 victory over Riverside Military.
Gordon Lee junior RB Cade Peterson had 181 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 20 carries in a 28-16 victory over Dade County. He had seven tackles on defense and intercepted a pass.
Pelham QB Kendrick Patterson was 19-of-30 passing for 273 yards and four touchdowns, three to Cameron Bailey, who had four catches for 122 yards, in a 32-6 victory over Macon County.
Prince Avenue Christian WR Zach Dyer had 216 all-purpose yards, including 112 receiving with two touchdowns, and returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score in a 54-28 victory over Mount Vernon Presbyterian.
Tattnall Square FB/LB Elmo Daniels had 10 carries for 159 yards and a 53-yard touchdown in a 54-21 victory over Our Lady of Mercy. Daniels also had four tackles.
Walker FS/RB Keon Smart had three solo tackles, four assists, a fumble recovery, 118 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 35-18 victory over Athens Christian.
Holy Innocents' offensive line of center Conor Swennumson, guards Charlie Hawk and Hall O'Neal, tackles Blake Dobbs and Mac Mitchell and tight end James Gleeson cleared the way for 430 rushing yards in a 28-0 victory over Mount Pisgah Christian.
About the Author
