Coming into Friday’s Class AAAAAA semifinal, Mill Creek’s defense was one of the stingiest in the state, having surrendered an average of less than seven points per game and not having given up more than 17 in any one contest.
Still, when asked if he saw during film study some areas where the Hawks could be exploited, Colquitt County receiver Kiel Pollard cracked a huge smile and said, “Yes.”
Pollard and his teammates on the Packer offense, particularly quarterback Chase Parrish, used big plays to humble the defensive unit of Mill Creek (13-1) en route to a 52-31 win, and an opportunity to defend their state title next week at the Georgia Dome.
Pollard finished with six catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. But his big night was dwarfed by his quarterback, Parrish, who had a record evening. The senior threw for a school record 431 yards and six touchdowns, while leading the Colquitt offense to a 565-yard output.
“The coaches made it real simple all week for us,” Parrish said. “The O-line gave me time, and our receivers got open and made plays.”
Pollard agreed.
“Our coaches did a great job of putting us in position to make plays,” Pollard said. “We just had to go execute.”
But it really wasn’t that easy or simple, as the final score belies the slugfest that took place for most of the game. But the contest turned on a pivotal call.
Early in the fourth quarter, Mill Creek cut Colquitt’s lead to 35-31, after a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cameron Turley capped a 33-yard drive, made possible by an errant snap to the Packers’ punter. Mill Creek’s defense seized the momentum and was poised to force a three-and-out on Colquitt’s ensuing offensive possession.
But on the punt, Mill Creek was called for running into the kicker – a dubious call at best – giving the Packers a fresh set of downs at their 32 yard line. An illegal procedure penalty moved Colquitt back five yards, but two plays later, Parrish flipped a quick screen to Pollard in the far flat, and the senior did the rest.
With recruiters from Auburn watching, Pollard picked up two key blocks from junior Sheronsky Sloan and senior Ty Lee, ran through two arm tackles and out sprinted the remaining Hawk defenders for a 73-yard touchdown that essentially put the game away with a little more than nine minutes remaining.
“I can’t, I won’t comment on it,” Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis said. “It’s a judgment call, so I can’t comment on it. But it was a big call. We had picked up some momentum. After that, we just couldn’t get it back.
“But I don’t want to take anything away from Colquitt County,” said Jarvis, who led the Hawks to their first undefeated regular season in school history. “We made too many mistakes to beat a team that good. They kept hitting us with big plays. At the end, we couldn’t answer.”
Jarvis’ counterpart, Rush Propst, was just as complementary of Mill Creek. Already known for his intensity and excitability, Propst, who has Colquitt on a 29-game winning streak dating back to last season, took things to another level in the first half when he split his forehead open head butting one of his helmeted players.
Watch: Propst headbutts player on sideline
“I’ll tell you what. That was a dad gum intense football game,” Propst said afterward. “That game was not for the weak or the young. That was big boy football right there. You saw a bunch of good football players out on that field tonight. We got ‘em and Mill Creek’s got ‘em, too.
“Now we got to get back home and get to work on Roswell,” Propst said of the Packers’ opponent in the finals, who stunned Grayson in the final seconds of the other AAAAAA semifinal contest. “The worst thing you can be is 14-1.”
Colquitt County 13 8 14 17 52
Mill Creek 7 10 7 7 31
MC – Joe Thomas 2 run (Brenton King kick)
CC – Isaiah Thomas 79 pass from Chase Parrish (Lou Martinez kick)
CC – Kiel Pollard 12 pass from Parrish (kick failed)
MC – David Milon 3 pass from Cameron Turley (King kick)
CC – Nathaniel Powell 9 run (Parrish pass from I. Thomas)
MC – King 37 fg
CC – Ty Lee 48 pass from Parrish (Martinez kick)
MC – Chase Turner 69 punt return (King kick)
CC – Ty Powell 78 pass from Parrish (Martinez kick)
MC – Turley 2 run (King kick)
CC – Pollard 73 pass from Parrish (Martinez kick)
CC – Lee 55 pass from Parrish (Martinez kick)
CC – Martinez 24 fg
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