Roswell coach John Ford, freshly soaked from a celebratory water bucket bath, had three questions for his Hornets.
With fireworks going off in the end zone, Ford asked, "How does it feel to be undefeated? How does it feel to be region champions? How does it feel to be a No. 1 seed in the playoffs?"
The 10-1 Hornets roared in response.
Myles Blouin scored two touchdowns, and Roswell's defense shut down high-powered Etowah in a 24-7 win Friday at the Hornets' Nest.
The win give Roswell its first 10-0 regular season in more than 40 years and clinches the top seed out of Region 5. The Hornets will host the fourth seed of Region 8 in the first round of the state playoffs.
Ford, who was on the staff when Roswell went 0-10 in 2011, said he didn't want to think back to that season tonight.
"This is just a credit to these kids, this community and this coaching staff. They never quit believe that if we worked hard good things could happen here," said Ford, who has completely turned around the Roswell program in just three seasons. "At some point we'll think about that, but for now we're going to just enjoy being region champs and getting ready for the playoffs."
The Hornets will be on the opposite side of the bracket from No. 1 Colquitt County and wouldn't meet No. 2 Grayson until the semifinals.
Blouin opened the scoring on a quick hitch route. The diminutive speedster made the first man miss and was gone, down the sidelines for a 48-yard touchdown reception that put the Hornets up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Etowah tied the score on Quorealus Smith's 53-yard touchdown run on a stretch play off the right side of the Eagles' offensive line. But Roswell answered right back, with Sheldon Evans scoring on a 43-yard run on the Hornets' next possession. The Hornets tacked on a 40-yard field goal by Turner Barckhoff and went to the locker room up 17-7.
That was plenty for a defense led by linebacker Tre Lamar and safety Xavier McKinney. Both stars made big plays, helping limit an Etowah offense that entered the game averaging 40 points to just one touchdown.
"Phenomenal job by those guys and coach Tommy Gilstrap," Ford said of the defense. "They really bailed us out tonight."
With the defense keeping Etowah in check, Blouin sealed the deal with a 35-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep in the fourth quarter.
"My running back, Sheldon, and the whole offensive line was blocking," Blouin said. "I followed my blocks and ended up in the end zone."
Etowah (8-2) will be the No. 3 seed out of Region 5 and will travel to the No. 2 seed out of Region 8 in the first round of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs, which kick off Friday.
ETOWAH -- 0 7 0 o -- 7
ROSWELL -- 7 10 0 7 -- 24
R -- Myles Blouin 48 pass from Quintarius Neely (Turner Barckhoff kick)
2nd
E -- Quorealus Smith 53 run
R -- Sheldon Evans 42 run (Barckhoff kick)
R -- Barckhoff 40 field goal
4th
R -- Bluin 35 run (Barckhoff kick) 24-7 -- 5:28
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