Perhaps the most significant result to come out of Class AAAA this weekend was St. Pius going on the road to defeat rival Marist 17-0, marking the historic series’ first shutout in 49 years. St. Pius held a 3-0 lead as the second half got underway and behind a senior-laden offensive line marched down the field to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Michael Benefield. After an interception, St. Pius marched down the field once again and senior fullback DJ Mitchell took an 11-yard carry straight up the middle to grow the lead to 17-0. St. Pius fell 35-13 to top-ranked Blessed Trinity to open the season, but in the four games since, the Golden Lions are showing outstanding defense and a physical running game that will likely only continue to get better.
Elsewhere in the classification, 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 and a 46-20 win over Midland Valley (SC) this Thursday. 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.
Tahj Gary dazzled his way to four touchdowns in three different ways as host Woodward Academy overwhelmed Henry County 52-7. 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 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 of the Tigers’ 37-20 win over Callaway. 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.
Host Cartersville dominated the first half against Class AAAAAAA Cherokee, taking a 21-0 lead and outgaining Cherokee 138-0 in total yardage in route to a 28-10 victory. 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.
Starr’s Mill led 14-7 before visiting Sandy Creek’s 48-0 run spurred a 55-21 victory.. 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.
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