Archer trounced Norcross on the road, scoring all 37 points of the 37-0 final in the first two quarters behind a stellar performance by junior quarterback Carter Peevy and big plays by the Tigers defense and special teams. Solomon Zubairu got the scoring onslaught started with a sack for a safety, and Andrew Booth returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to put the Tigers up 9-0. Peevy connected with Semajé Banks on an 8-yarder, and Emmanuel “E-Man” Michel grabbed a punt off the foot of the Blue Devils punter in the final moments of the first for a 30-yard return and a 23-0 Archer lead. Peevy was responsible for both second-quarter Tigers touchdowns, the first coming on a 30-yard pass to Braylen Weems and the second on a 1-yard keeper.
Class AAAAAAA
Parkview 31, Tift County 28
Parkview mounted an 11-point comeback in the second half to steal a win on the road against Tift County Friday night. The Blue Devils scored first on a passing touchdown from Patrick Felton to Tylier Ajiero. Parkview returned a Felton fumble for a touchdown late in the first then ended the quarter with a FG for a 10-7 lead. Ajiero and Felton connected for another touchdown to give the Blue Devils a 14-10 lead in the second quarter. Parkview used some trickery on its next possession—a direct snap to Malik Washington—to take a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter. The Blue Devils responded with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Mike Jones. A Parkview fumble set up Felton to throw his third and final passing touchdown of the night, to Jameson Turner, in the closing seconds of the first half. Malik Washington scored his second touchdown of the night on a goal line dive late in the fourth quarter to narrow Tift’s lead to 28-23. Parkview converted a successful two-point conversion then recovered an onside kick and added another rushing touchdown from Cody Brown a minute later to sneak away with a 31-28 win.
West Forsyth 28, Peachtree Ridge 7
West Forsyth Senior tight end Garrett Woodall put the Wolverines on the board in the first with a tough touchdown reception. Peachtree Ridge unveiled a 40-yard touchdown run to tie the game midway through the second, but that would prove to be all the scoring the Lions could muster on the night. With 6:00 left in the third, Junior quarterback Blake Whitfield dashed three yards into the end zone for a second Wolverines touchdown. Rickey Zacholski snagged a pick with just over five minutes to play that led to a 40-yard rushing touchdown by Stephon Bland that extended the Wolverines’ lead to 21-7. A last-second attempt by Peachtree Ridge to make something happen was picked off and returned to the house to seal the Wolverines victory.
Hillgrove 35, Etowah 3
A quick pick-six by Senior Lance Wise put Hillgrove up 7-0 in the first, and the Hawks struck again with a rushing score by Senior Trevor Smith later in the quarter. After a scoreless second, Etowah managed to put points on the board with a field goal but would fail to score again. A second touchdown by Smith paired with a rushing score from Tre Walker put the Hawks well ahead of the Eagles. Junior running back Isaiah McCray ended the scoring spree with a touchdown of his own to help seal the deal on the Hawks fourth win of the season, keeping them undefeated.
Kennesaw Mountain 48, North Forsyth 47 (OT)
Kennesaw Mountain’s last two games have been decided by two points total. The Mustangs lost the last one against Cherokee, but emerged victorious over North Forsyth Friday night. Both teams traded scores from start to finish (neither led by more than 7 the entire night), but in the end it was a missed PAT in overtime that cost North Forsyth the game. Mustangs star RB Keyon Brooks had four rushing touchdowns on the evening, including the game-winner in overtime, while two-sport star Ryland Goede threw a touchdown pass and caught another one in Kennesaw Mountain’s wild win. Honus Wagner and Carter Mullikin each had a pair of touchdown runs in the loss.
Lowndes 51, Lincoln (FL) 15
Lowndes allowed Lincoln the first touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Christopher Beard to Ryan Hall in the first quarter before the Vikings scored 38 unanswered-points to blow the game open. Gary Osby gave Lowndes the lead on a 55-yard run and two-point conversion with 10:34 in the second quarter. In the third, Lowndes pushed the lead with 30 consecutive-points from Travis Tisdale (70-yard run, 54-yard run), Jaccari Brown (5-yard run), Ashton Musgrove (42-yard field goal) and Jalen Rowe (18-yard pass from Brown). Sage Ennis cut into the Vikings’ lead on a 1-yard run with 7:44 left in the game but Lowndes answered with touchdown runs by Isreal Mitchell (38-yards) and DeShawn Taylor (5-yards) to maintain control.
Class AAAAAA
Centennial Knights 69, Cambridge Bears 35
After a tight first quarter, the Centennial Knights dominated for the remainder of their road game against Cambridge for a 69-35 victory. Cal Dickie had an explosive second quarter for Centennial, scoring three touchdowns to give the Knights 35-14 lead at the half. Centennial kept its momentum going in the third with another 20 points, including a 75-yard kick return from De’Amare Chambers.
Harrison 21, Sprayberry 14
Justin Jones gave visiting Sprayberry its first lead of the game (14-13) with a 4-yard rushing score early in the third quarter, but Harrison’s David Roberts provided the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard handoff, resulting in the only points of the final quarter. Harrison quarterback Gavin Hall found James Ziglor for a 53-yard touchdown pass on the Hoyas opening drive, but Sprayberry’s Aaron Bibbins evened it up 7-7 with a 1-yard rushing touchdown before the end of the frame. Harrison’s Alex Raynor built the lead to 13-7 with field goals of 28 and 23 yards before Jones’ third-quarter score.
Alpharetta 26, Pope 14
Alpharetta’s’ road victory over the Pope Greyhounds gave head coach Jacob Nichols the most wins in Raiders history. The contest was close throughout, with the score tied 7-7 at half and again at 14-14 with a Pope touchdown midway through the third. The tie held until 5:14 to go in the game, when the Raiders scored off a 92-yard pass from Will Gerdes to Austin Frazier. The Raiders’ final touchdown came from Dylan Merrel.
Northview 35, Dunwoody 7
The Northview Titans strung together a 28-point first half while keeping Dunwoody out of the end zone to coast to their third win of the season. Beau Lark hit his Senior wide receiver Christian Watson to gain an early 7-0 lead over the Wildcats. Soon after, Senior running back William Caylor dashed 17-yards into the end zone for the Titans second score of the night. Lark connected twice more for scoring plays to Samuel Babadele and Watson once more to extend their lead to 28-0 at the half. Lark ended the scoring spree in the second half with a quarterback sneak into the end zone to solidify the region win.
Dacula 40, Central Gwinnett 6
On the first play of their opening drive, Junior running back Trenton Jones exploded for a 64-yard rush into the end zone for a Falcons score. Dacula tacked two more points on the board when Central Gwinnett snapped the ball over their kicker’s head for a safety. Late in the quarter, Central Gwinnett Senior quarterback Justin Fomby cut into the Falcons lead with a touchdown pass to Senior receiver TJ Ellis. An interception by Jalen Perry set up a touchdown pass from Jarrett Jenkins to Chris Scott to take a 16-6 lead at the half. Jones found pay dirt again in the third with a huge 70-yard rush on a 3rd and 35 play. A pair of rushing touchdowns by Kyle Efford and Jones again kept the Falcons well ahead of Central Gwinnett for the remainder of the game. The Dacula defense ended the night with three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Class AAAAA
Buford 54, Newton 27
Buford got off to a slow start in its 54-27 victory over Newton, scoring for the first time with just over a minute left in the first. Junior running back Elijah Turner opened the floodgates with his 2-yard trip to the end zone, however; Buford quarterback Aaron McLaughlin connected with senior receiver Xyre Wilson 1:15 into the second and the Wolves tacked on field goal and a 39-yard rushing score by Derrian Brown to go up 24-0 at the half. Newton was first to find the end zone in the third, but a pair of second half scores from Turner and another touchdown from Brown kept the Wolves lead out of reach of the Rams.
Woodland-Stockbridge 26, Paulding County 21
Paulding County grabbed a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Smael Mondon and Austin Herrell’s fumble recovery and 73-yard return. Woodland quarterback Titus Jones returned both Paulding County kickoffs for touchdowns, but while they were both called back for flags, his night would still prove unforgettable. Woodland capped off a 14-play drive with a Justice Carter 1-yard touchdown and then Demarcus Williams evened it up 14-14 in the third quarter with a 1-yard score. Paulding County’s Mondon rushed for a 37-yard touchdown to reclaim a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Carter, who finished with a game-high 205 yards off his 28 carries, answered with his second rushing touchdown of the night with 2:43 left in the game. Woodland’s missed PAT, however, kept them trailing 21-20. Ronny Ramirez’s onside kick was successful and Woodland regained possession on the Paulding County 25-yard line. Jones, who was named Homecoming King at the half, ran in the game-winning touchdown from nine yards out with just 54.7 left. Woodland won the game without completing a single pass and improved to 4-0 for the first time in the program’s 21-year history.
Rome 65, Carrollton 51
Rome’s stars Jamious Griffin and Xavier Roberts combined for eight touchdowns as Rome outlasted Carrollton at Barron Stadium. Griffin scored on touchdown runs of 41, 30, 13 and two yards. Rome quarterback Knox Kadum scored on a 3-yard run and connected with Xavier Roberts on touchdowns passes of 80, 58, 24 and two yards. Kadum also caught a 2-yard pass from Roberts for a two-point conversion. Alonzo Rodriguez added a 24-yard field goal for the Wolves. Carrollton had the lead following the first quarter (16-7) before Rome answered with a 28-13 second quarter to take a 35-29 lead into the locker room. After adding a touchdown in the third quarter while holding Carrollton scoreless, Rome steadily held the lead and matched the Trojans with a 23-22 edge in the fourth quarter.
Class AAAA
Richmond Academy 46, Midland Valley (SC) 20
Richmond Academy’s Torri Taylor rushed for five touchdowns and 217 yards off his 15 carries to lead the visiting Muskateers to the program’s first 5-0 start since the 1975 season. Taylor gave Richmond Academy a 14-0 lead with touchdown runs of 8 and 21 yards midway through the opening quarter. Midland Valley quarterback Harper Puckett answered with a 58-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Pearson to cut the lead to 14-7, but Taylor found the end zone on a 65-yard run before the end of the frame. Pearson ran in a 28-yard Midland Valley touchdown early in the second quarter, but Taylor answered with a 15-yard score and teammate Imanuele Rowe added a blocked punt and 30-yard return for a touchdown to put Richmond Academy up 32-14 at the half (the Muskateers failed three straight PAT’s). Clydell White provided Richmond Academy’s only points of the third quarter with a 33-yard touchdown run and Taylor rushed for his fifth touchdown just nine seconds into the final quarter on a 64-yard handoff to grow the lead to 46-14. Puckett connected with Brian Staley Jr. with 6:34 left on a 20-yard touchdown pass and the Mustangs missed the PAT.
Woodward 52, Henry County 7
Tahj Gary dazzled his way to four touchdowns in three different ways as host Woodward overwhelmed Henry County. Gary had two touchdown receptions (a 73-yarder to begin the scoring and another in in the first quarter from 10 yards out), a 68-yard punt return to the endzone, and an 85-yard touchdown run. He finished with 117 yards on eight carries and 83 yards on two catches. Mike Wright completed 13 of 19 passes for 174 yards. Cross Patton added a 25-yard scoring run for the War Eagles, who led 21-0 after one quarter and 35-0 in the third before the Warhawks finally got on the scoreboard with a Jaylon West one-yard plunge.
Troup 37, Callaway 20
Troup quarterback, and 4-star Auburn receiver commit, Kobe Hudson threw four touchdown passes before his 1-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter marked the final tally. Hudson connected with Jamari Thrash for a 63 and 5-yard touchdown in the first half and Callaway’s Jacob Freeman found Nathan Sapp for a 35-yard touchdown to to make it 14-7. Callaway’s Qua Hines tied it up 14-14 with 9:14 left in the third quarter on a 17-yard run, but a bad snap on a Callaway punt the next Cavaliers possession resulted in a safety and Troup went back up 16-14. Hudson found Mark-Anthony Dixon for a 7-yard touchdown before the end of the third quarter and again early in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard pass to push the lead to Troup lead to 30-14. Cartavious Bigsby ran in a 30-yard Callaway touchdown before Hudson iced the game with his 1-yard rushing score.
Cartersville 28, Cherokee 10
Host Cartersville dominated the first half, taking a 21-0 lead and outgaining Cherokee 138-0 in total yardage. Sunni Moorehead provided the Purple Hurricanes their first points with a blocked punt and fumble recovery touchdown early in the first quarter. Marcus Gary rushed for a pair of touchdowns and 89 yards off 13 carries in the opening half. Cherokee cut the deficit to 21-10 with a field goal and the first touchdown scored on the Cartersville defense this season. Moorehead intercepted Cherokee minutes later, however, and set up Gary to clinch the game with his third touchdown run.
Sandy Creek 55, Starr’s Mill 21
Starr’s Mill led 14-7 before visiting Sandy Creek’s 48-0 run put the Patriots up 49-14 at the half and 55-14 before Starr’s Mill’s Jalen Lazenby ran in a 12-yard touchdown late in the final quarter. Sandy Creek’s Matt Williams threw touchdown passes to Dealo Parson (20) and Jaquille Lee (29) and also added a 16-yard rushing touchdown in the opening quarter. Kalen Simons ran in a 64-yard touchdown and Rashad Amos rushed for three touchdowns (1, 73, 62) during Sandy Creek’s explosive first half. Jamal Lewis threw a 38-yard touchdown to RJ Howard Kasi Cost was also the recipient of one of the Patriots’ eight touchdowns.
Class AAA
Greater Atlanta Christian 42, Thomson 14
Jake Floyd scored three touchdowns to lead Greater Atlanta Christian to a convincing road win over Thomson. Floyd opened the scoring with a 22-yard run late in the first quarter before hauling in scoring strikes from both Josh Rose and Jackson Hardy. Rose also connected with Ty James on a 25-yard touchdown. The Spartans got three-yard touchdown runs by Tyler Bride and Montae Bailey, while Bride also contributed by blocking a Bulldogs field-goal attempt. Thomson found itself tied at 7-7 in the second quarter but two TDs on the ground from Damekus Taylor, including a 78-yarder, were not enough for the home team.
Class AA
Douglass 33, B.E.S.T. Academy 0
Douglass quarterback Juan Powell had another spectacular performance, taking 18 carries for 187 rushing yards and scoring all five Astro touchdowns in a shutout against visiting B.E.S.T. Academy. The East Carolina cornerback commit and 3-star prospect put host Douglass up 14-0 at the half and put the Astros ahead 27-0 heading into the final quarter. With the win, Douglass has opened its season 4-0 for the first time since 2006.
Class A
Mount Paran Christian 42, King’s Ridge Christian 7
Niko Vangarelli accounted for four touchdowns in the second and third quarters alone to lead visiting Mount Paran Christian past King’s Ridge Christian. Vangarelli threw three scoring strikes and also rushed for a 19-yard touchdown, while Jack Allen added a 39-yarder on the ground for the Eagles. John Robert Sess was on the receiving end of two scores, including one from 30 yards out, and Jackson Manning had a 20-yard touchdown reception from Vangarelli. The Eagles led 7-0 after one quarter, 35-0 at halftime, and scored all 42 of their points prior to the fourth. Braxton Chadwick had a late 35-yard TD scamper for the Tigers
Wesleyan 48, Our Lady of Mercy 0
J.C. French rushed for two touchdowns and also threw for two scores as visiting Wesleyan blanked Our Lady of Mercy. French found the endzone from eight yards away and 27 yards out on the ground while throwing a 48-yard scoring strike to Micah Smith and a nine-yarder to J.D. Kavel. Andrew Lore added two touchdown runs in the first half, both of at least 40 yards. The Wolves jumped all over the Bobcats early and often, leading 13-0 after one quarter, 27-0 at halftime, and 41-0 going into the fourth. Griffin Caldwell capped off the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run.
Eagle’s Landing Christian 48, Holy Innocents’ 14
Keaton Mitchell opened the scoring with a 73-yard touchdown run and found the endzone twice more in the second half as Eagle’s Landing Christian pulled away from visiting Holy Innocents’. Braden Rush accounted for four total touchdowns, throwing two and adding two on the ground. Devon Dorsey scored on an 11-yard screen pass and Rush also tossed a 61-yarder to Justin Robinson. The Chargers broke open a brief 7-7 tie by leading 14-7 after one quarter and 28-14 at halftime before dominating the second half by a 20-0 margin. Jack Felton and Michael Cox had touchdown runs for the Golden Bears.
Mount Vernon Presbyterian 13, Trinity Christian 12
Trinity Christian scored 12 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to take a 12-7 lead over visiting Mount Vernon Presbyterian, but having to settle for two field goals and failing to go for two following a late touchdown proved to be the Lions’ undoing. Ethan Aldridge kicked a pair of short field goals and Zach Jones rushed for the go-ahead touchdown from 49 yards out with eight minutes left. The Mustangs answered by scoring the winning touchdown with 32 seconds remaining on a nine-yard screen pass from Blake Kytle to John Watson. Mount Vernon Presbyterian scored its first touchdown on a 16-yard wide receiver reverse pass to Andrew Douglas.
