Exhausted, sweaty and emotionally drained, coach Matt Kemper emerged from a raucous Johns Creek post-game locker room and perfectly summed up a back-and-forth high school thriller.
"There aren't too many things better than that," Kemper said after his Gladiators stunned Alpharetta 42-39 on Friday in a massive upset in Region 6-AAAAAA.
Alpharetta, the two time defending region champion, had won 23 straight region games. The Raiders had never lost to Johns Creek. They have now.
The Gladiators were 1-21 dating back to the start of the 2013 season. Computer projections had them listed as 36-point underdogs to unbeaten Alpharetta. The Raiders were expected to cruise. Johns Creek had other ideas.
The Gladiators (1-2) returned two of their three interceptions for touchdowns, and freshman quarterback Zach Gibson threw three touchdowns in the second half, including a clinching 79-yard touchdown pass to Miles Clay late in the fourth quarter.
Alpharetta (2-1) won each of its first two games with last-minute comebacks, and, for a while, it looked like the Raiders were going to do it again. Third-string quarterback EJ McGill sparked Alpharetta in the second half, throwing three touchdowns, two to wide receiver Carlos Carriere, who finished with 10 catches for 187 yards and the two scores.
With seven minutes to play, Alpharetta's Darryl Bivens took a screen pass from McGill and broke free on an 85-yard touchdown that put the Raiders ahead 32-28.
But Johns Creek defensive back Cole Neuber jumped in front of a screen pass on Alpharetta's next possession and raced 35 yards to put the Gladiators back up, 35-32, with 4:55 to play.
Minutes later, Gibson sealed the victory by lofting a pass just out of the reach of multiple Alpharetta defenders and finding Clay behind the defense for the winning touchdown.
Alpharetta scored with a minute left on a Davis Kelly 20-yard touchdown scamper, but the Raiders' ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful, giving Kemper his first victory at Johns Creek.
"Those young men have suffered long and hard," said Kemper, who took over at Johns Creek after seven seasons at Pope. "We haven't caught one single break, and we have worked and worked. It finally showed tonight."
Alpharetta jumped out to a 7-0 lead and was threatening again inside Johns Creek territory in the first quarter, when Myles Myers picked off Alpharetta starting quarterback Matthew Downing and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. Downing suffered a broken finger on the play, according to Alpharetta coaches, and did not return at quarterback. The Raiders weren't the same without him.
Like any giant upset, there was a bevy of heroes for Johns Creek:
- Matt Kriteman returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Alpharetta 24-yard line. Two plays later, Gibson connected with Jeremy Disher for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Kriteman also caught a touchdown pass from Gibson in the first half.
- Safety Jack Somers had an interception in the end zone that thwarted an Alpharetta opportunity in the third quarter.
- Zach Williams caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Gibson that put the Gladiators up 28-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
- Kicker Jake Friant was perfect on six extra points.
But now comes the challenging part: Building on the big win, without having a letdown. The Gladiators host region opponent Northview next week.
"We're not a football team that can afford to do that," Kemper said. "We've had to walk out of that locker room with our heads held high after a loss. Now, lets do it again with class after a huge win for the program."
Alpharetta 14 0 6 19 -- 39
Johns Creek 7 7 14 14 -- 42
A -- Nolan Edmonds 9 run (Davis Kelly kick)
JC -- Myles Myers 70 interception return (Jake Friant kick)
A -- Nick Carlton 3 pass from Matthew Downing (Kelly kick)
2nd
JC -- Matt Kriteman 4 pass from Zach Gibson (Friant kick)
3rd
JC -- Jeremy Disher 8 pass from Zach Gibson (Friant kick)
A -- Carlos Carriere 19 pass from EJ Magill (Kick blocked) 20-21
JC -- Zach Williams 31 pass from Gibson (Friant kick) 20-28 3:34
4th
A -- Carriere 32 pass from Magill (Kick blocked)
A -- Darryl Bivens 85 pass from Magill (Pass failed) 32-28 7:33
JC -- Cole Neuber 37 interception return (Friant kick) 32-35 4:55
JC -- Miles Clay 79 pass from Gibson (Friant kick) 32-42, 2:44
A -- Davis Kelly 20 run (Kelly kick) 42-39 37.6
