Romario Johnson had been the best quarterback in Georgia that no one was talking about, until last week.
The dual-threat junior from Newton has thrown for 2,358 yards this season, but in only nine games. That's because two of Newton's games in the regular season were canceled because of lightning storms.
Johnson had another big game last week, leading his team to victory over third-ranked Valdosta. It was Newton's first postseason victory since 1987. Johnson has recruiting interest, but no reported offers.
"I think quarterback recruiting is a funny science," Newton coach Torrance Banks said. "His height being 6 foot is going to scare some teams off, but he is athletic enough to play DB for a major program or QB for a mid-major, top FCS school. He is a very smart kid [3.7 GPA], a great athlete and a good quarterback. He's completed 69 percent of his passes [150 of 224]."
Here are some of the best performances from the first round.
Top five
*Central Gwinnett DL Greg McPherson forced four fumbles, recovered two of them, and had seven tackles in a 12-9 victory over fifth-ranked North Gwinnett.
*Model RB Nakyle Watkins rushed for 360 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries in a 50-36 victory over Union County.
*Newton QB Romario Johnson was 21-of-33 passing for 189 yards and rushed for 82 yards in a 27-24 victory over Valdosta.
*North Oconee RB Kawon Bryant rushed for 360 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries in a 49-6 victory over Gilmer.
*Stephenson RB Ivonte Patterson rushed for a school-record 319 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in a 41-27 victory over Alexander.
Best of the rest
*Allatoona's Russell Halimon rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries in a 35-7 victory against Carver of Atlanta. Halimon is the leading rusher in Class AAAAA with 1,900 yards.
*Alpharetta DB Dejon Rowe had 7.5 tackles, broke up two passes and limited the state's leading receiver, Andrew Harris, to four catches and 31 yards in a 21-18 victory over Cherokee.
*Archer QB Gabe Tiller was 18-of-26 passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-22 victory over Norcross.
*Brooks County WR Exavius Medlock had eight catches for 177 yards and one touchdown in a 24-17 victory over Bacon County.
*Cedar Grove RB LeBron Morris rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 victory over Westside of Augusta.
*Colquitt County RB Sihiem King rushed for 162 yards and scored five touchdowns in a 62-12 victory over Rockdale County.
*Cook RB Jay Smith rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in a 42-14 victory over Central of Macon. Tavian Allen ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and Corey McCall had 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
*Creekside RB Tysean Carter rushed for 242 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries in a 44-27 victory over New Manchester.
*Etowah RB Tyray Devezin rushed for 204 yards on 25 carries in a 48-22 win against South Forsyth.
*Gainesville RB Mike Byrd rushed for 217 yards on 26 carries in a 42-37 victory over Creekview.
*Griffin QB Tylan Morton, a sophomore playing for injured starter Anforne Stroud, passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns in a 46-12 victory over Liberty County.
*Heard County RB/LB Duranta Dunson rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a 28-21 victory over Wesleyan.
*Hughes sophomore RB Demetrius Whitmore rushed for 160 yards on 26 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 42-28 victory over North Cobb.
*Lamar County LB Pippin Davis had 13 solo tackles, five assists and forced a fumble in a 28-14 victory over Swainsboro.
*Lee County QB Garet Morrell was 19-of-30 passing for 284 yards and threw TD passes to four receivers in a 44-6 victory over Lovejoy.
*Lovett QB Willie Candler was 9-of-9 passing for 172 yards and four touchdowns, two to Alex Sayles, in a 56-21 victory over Bremen.
*Macon County sophomore DL Joseph Journey had eight tackles, three for losses, in a 21-7 victory over Dublin.
*Roswell sophomore RB Sheldon Evans rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries in a 36-13 victory over Lambert.
*Sequoyah RB Trey Mitchell went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season (1,091) with a 141-yard effort with two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over previously unbeaten Lanier.
*Stephens County RB Desmond Wheeler rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-14 victory over Pickens.
*Thomson RB Keonte Grissom rushed for 139 yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries in a 35-34 overtime loss to Eastside.
*Vidalia QB Jordan Black rushed for 200 yards and five touchdowns on 16 carries in a 56-35 victory over Berrien.
*West Laurens sophomore RB Darius Bradford rushed for a career-high 210 yards in a 23-17 overtime victory over Bainbridge.
*Westlake DB Ronnie Blackmon intercepted three passes and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown in a 41-13 victory over North Paulding.
*Westminster RB Isaiah Malcome rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 89 yards in a 35-12 victory over Laney.
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