By S. Thomas Coleman
For the AJC
In a game where two of the state’s top running backs were mostly neutralized, other elements came to the forefront in Friday’s battle between No. 5 Woodward Academy and No. 2 Sandy Creek.
Those elements turned out to be stout defenses, a referee’s call and a coaching decision. Woodward took advantage of all three and the War Eagles (7-1, 3-0 in Region 5-AAAA) went on to stun the Patriots, 28-7 at the Battlefield in Tyrone. Woodward became the first team to defeat Sandy Creek (7-1, 2-1) at home during the regular season since Cartersville knocked off the Patriots 17-16 in 2007. It was the first home loss overall for Sandy Creek since a loss in last season's Class AAAA quarterfinals to eventual champion Griffin (32-26).
The win also moved the War Eagles one step closer to their first region championship since 1997.
Both defenses contained Woodward junior running back Elijah Holyfield and Sandy Creek’s Eric Swinney, for most of the game but each managed to find the end zone. Holyfield’s 1-yard run in the first play of the second quarter gave the War Eagles a 7-0 lead, and the Patriots tied the game on Swinney’s 4-yard run with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
The Patriots had seized the momentum, but the game turned on Woodward’s ensuing possession. Sandy Creek’s defense appeared to have held the War Eagles when quarterback Jes Sutherland’s third down pass fell incomplete at the Woodward 38-yard line. But Patriot linebacker Trent Sellars (committed to Georgia Tech) was flagged for roughing the passer when the official deemed he drove Sutherland into the turf.
On the next play, junior Mack Green, who is also the War Eagle’s back-up quarterback, faked a handoff to Holyfield to the right and sprinted around the left end for a 46-yard touchdown to give Woodward a 14-7 lead with eight minutes left in regulation.
After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots took over on their 20-yard line. The Woodward defense again made stifled Sandy Creek and forced the Patriots into a fourth-and-four from their own 36-yard line. In spite of the fact that there was still six minutes left in regulation and his defense had been playing well, Sandy Creek head coach Chip Walker decided to go for the first down instead of punting.
Patriot quarterback Trey Walker tried to hit senior Christian Branch deep down the near sideline, but War Eagle cornerback Antone Williams batted the ball down and Woodward took over on downs. Sandy Creek looked like it was about to get the ball back with about four minutes left when the Patriots’ defense forced the War Eagles into a fourth-and-four from the Sandy Creek 30 yard line. But Sutherland hit receiver Jacob Robertson on a short crossing route and the junior outran the Patriot secondary to give Woodward a 21-7 lead that essentially ended the game.
After Sandy Creek turned the ball over on downs for the second consecutive possession – this time on its 14-yard line after a sack by freshman KJ Phillips – Holyfield darted off left tackle and skipped into the end zone for the final points of the night.
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