By Robert Haddocks
Once the defensive end crashed, Chance Thrasher knew he could dash.
Running the read option, the Peachtree Ridge quarterback saw an opening and he took off, running untouched for a 57-yard touchdown in the third quarter. “I pulled the ball down and ran straight down the field. All I saw was open space,” said Thrasher, whose run put an exclamation point on a stellar night in which he also threw for four touchdowns.
The plan entering the game against Parkview was to “play fast,” Thrasher said, and he and his teammates did that in a 41-24 win over the Panthers in Class AAAAAA action. Thrasher ran for 82 yards and completed 17 of 25 passes for 250 yards. Receiver Tyler Campbell caught two touchdowns and ran for a third. Peachtree Ridge 2-0 plays McEachern on Friday.
The Lions took advantage of four Parkview turnovers and used their superior speed on offense to attack the Panthers (1-1).
Thrasher and Campbell did most of their damage in the first half as the Lions broke open the game and surged to 35-7 halftime lead. Peachtree Ridge turned two Parkview turnovers into quick touchdowns as Thrasher threw all of his touchdowns in the first half. Led by quarterback Jack Chambers, Parkview showed some spunk in the second half, scoring 17 points in the third period, but the turnovers, penalties – and an inability to stop Peachtree Ridge – sealed their fate.
After Parkview took a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, Peachtree Ridge scored 35 unanswered points. After recovering a fumble deep in Parkview territory, the Lions took a 13-7 lead on the following play when Thrasher threw his second touchdown, a 13-yarder to Campbell. Midway through the second quarter, Campbell capped a 91-yard drive, breaking three tackles on his way to a 27-yard touchdown run. Less than a minute later, after a Parkview fumble, the senior receiver was back in the end zone, on the receiving end of a 40-yard pass. Thrasher’s fourth touchdown came on a short pass to Malik Murray, who broke two tackles en route to a 50-yard score.
Parkview grabbed an early after recovering a strip sack by GG Robinson on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later Garrett Fowler caught a quick slant from Chambers for a 10-yard score.
PEACHTREE RIDGE – 13 – 22 – 6 – 0 - 41
PARKVIEW – 7 – 0 – 17 – 0 - 24
P – Garrett Fowler 7 pass from Jack Chambers (Eric Autry kick)
PR – Malik Robinson 15 pass from Chance Thrasher (kick missed)
PR – Tyler Campbell 13 pass from Thrasher (Zaniel Phillips kick)
PR - Campbell 27 run (Robinson conversion pass from Chambers)
PR – Campbell 40 pass from Thrasher (Phillips kick)
PR – Malik Murray 50 pass from Thrasher (Phillips kick)
P –Chambers 6 run (Autry kick)
PR – Thrasher 57 run (Phillips kick)
P – Chambers 6 run (Autry kick)
P – Autry 28 FG
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