From their opening drive, there were clues it would be the Johns Creek Gladiators’ night. Just yards away from their own goal line and facing third-and-forever, they completed a long reception that led to a scoring drive, and from there everything seemed to go their way in the first half, which guided them to a 42-28 win over the Northview Titans on Friday at Northview Stadium.
With the win, the Gladiators (4-1, 3-0 in league play) claimed sole possession of first place in Region 7-AAAAAAA over the Titans (3-2, 2-1).
The Gladiators scored on all four of their first-half possessions — and once on a Northview possession — to enter halftime with a 35-0 lead. Their good fortune first came following a Johns Creek 15-yard personal foul penalty that wiped out a 24-yard pass play on third-and-10. That pushed them to third-and-28 from their own 7, when Ben Whitlock completed another long pass, this one to Nicholas Willis for 49 yards.
“I felt like we were really well-prepared for this week and that play really set the momentum for the rest of the game,” said Whitlock, a senior.
Five plays later, Will Watson would punch it in for a touchdown on a 3-yard run, which was set up the play before by a Whitlock jump ball to to 6-foot-5 receiver Dontrell Robinson for 19 yards.
But the Gladiators were just getting started.
The Titans would attempt to respond on the next drive, using 11 -plays to move the ball 72 yards, only to fumble it away on the Johns Creek 2. The Gladiators would then drive 98 yards on 14 plays, with Tank Pritchett’s 2-yard run giving them a 14-0 lead with 8:23 remaining in the half. Highlights of their drive included a 42-yard pass play from Whitlock to Garrett Gauthreaux, and 9- and 20-yard receptions by Gauthreaux on identical plays — a screen pass to the sideline — to set up first-and-goal at the 2.
On Northview’s next possession, quarterback Beau Lark appeared to complete a 10-yard pass to Derek Flanary, but it went through Flanary’s finger tips, with him deflecting it into the hands of a charging John Stegenga, who returned it 40 yards to make it 21-0 with 5:49 left in the half.
“I saw the ball get tipped, went for it and hoped for the best,” said Stegenga, who would end the game’s last drive with another interception. “Coach (Matt) Helmerich always teaches us to capitalize on every opportunity and when we do that, it usually ends up in us winning.”
Northview threw another interception its next drive, and the Gladiators capitalized seven plays later when Whitlock heaved a jump ball 14 yards into the corner of the end zone to Robinson, who caught the ball by reaching over the defender’s back and stayed in bounds, falling backwards and maintaining possession.
For good measure, the Gladiators tacked on one more score after the Titans went three-and-out with 50.9 seconds remaining in the half, when Whitlock found Willis for a 14-yard touchdown pass, making it 35-0.
Though the Titans would outscore Johns Creek 28-7 in the second half, the game’s eventual outcome was never in doubt.
Whitlock finished the game 12-of-18 passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns to one interception, with Gauthreaux racking up 149 yards and a score on five catches. Robinson had three catches for 48 yards and a score.
Northview was led by Lark, who was 18-for-33 passing with 214 yards and a touchdown to three interceptions, also adding 68-yard touchdown run.
Johns Creek 7 28 7 0 — 42
Northview 0 0 14 14 — 28
J — Will Watson 3 run (Josh Huiett kick)
J — Tank Pritchett 2 run (Huiett kick)
J — John Stegenga 40-yard INT return (Huiett kick)
J — Dontrell Robinson 14 pass from Ben Whitlock (Huiett kick)
J — Nicholas Willis 14 pass from Whitlock (Huiett kick)
N — Marcus Godbey 1 run (Luke Bolton kick)
N — Patrick Hester 8 pass from Beau Lark (Bolton kick)
J — Garrett Gauthreaux 68 pass from Whitlock (Huiett kick)
N — Patrick Hester 8 pass from Lark (Bolton kick)
N— Lark 68 run (Bolton kick)
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