North Paulding fell behind 6-0 after fumbling on the second play from scrimmage but dominated the rest of the way, routing Creekview 55-20 Friday in the opening game of the Corky Kell Classic at McEachern.
D.J. Owens’ fumble after a short gain on the Wolfpack’s opening possession gave Creekview the ball at the North Paulding 36, and the Grizzlies capitalized two plays later on a 31-yard pass from Kyle Wilkie to Chandler Wold. It was all North Paulding the rest of the way.
The Wolfpack scored on nine of its next 10 possessions to take a 55-13 lead before Creekview scored a late touchdowns after the outcome had been decided.
North Paulding’s Kyle Banks was outstanding in his debut as the starting quarterback. The junior completed 22 of 29 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns and had a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Banks is taking over for Chase Noonan, who graduated after being named the Region 5-AAAAA offensive player of the year last season. North Paulding has moved up in classification and is playing this season in Region 4-AAAAAA, which includes top-ranked McEachern.
Banks was 8-for-9 for 163 yards passing in the first quarter alone as the Wolfpack scored 24 unanswered points to seize control. North Paulding outgained the Grizzlies 207-21 in the period after Creekview’s opening touchdown. Banks came out of the game with 3:18 to play in the third quarter with a 55-13 lead. North Paulding outgained Creekview 466-303 for the game.
“Banks did an outstanding job, but it wasn’t really anything we didn’t expect,” North Paulding coach Scott Jones said. “He’s been doing that for two years for us, but he’s just been waiting in the wings for his turn.”
Meshach Mays rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and caught three passes for 28 yards and another score. Owens was the Wolfpack’s leading rusher with 64 yards on 13 carries.
Creekview’s best drive came midway through the second quarter when it went 68 yards on seven plays, cutting the lead to 27-13 on Wilkie’s 7-yard run. Wilkie finished with 148 yards and one touchdown passing and 37 yards and two touchdowns rushing. B.J. Smith rushed for 77 yards.
Creekview – 6-7-0-7 – 20
North Paulding – 24-17-14-0 = 55
C – Chandler Wold 31 pass from Kyle Wilkie (kick failed)
N – Adam Dixon 34 field goal
N – Dylan Martin 6 pass from Kyle Banks (Dixon kick)
N – Meshach Mays 3 run (Dixon kick)
N – Mays 6 run (Dixon kick)
N – Dixon 44 field goal
C – Wilkie 7 run (Lalo Pena kick)
N – Mays 8 pass from Banks (Dixon kick)
N – Brad Swann 20 pass from Banks (Dixon kick)
N – Banks 5 run (Dixon kick)
N – Justin Chauvin 20 pass from Banks (Dixon kick)
C – Wilkie 3 run (Pena kick)
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