Sandy Creek made the semifinals in Class 4A in 2019, then dropped into Class 3A and was expected to be one of the frontrunners. Instead, 2020 turned out to be one of the Patriots’ worst seasons with just two victories, fewest since 1998, and four games canceled over COVID-19.
Friday night’s 44-14 victory over No. 7 Westminster - thanks largely to Geimere Latimer’s three touchdown passes, two to Miles Thornton - was a statement that No. 5 Sandy Creek (4-0 overall, 1-0 in Region 6-3A) is back and ready to challenge for the Class 3A title.
Latimer, a first-year starter, now has 10 TD passes on the season.
“They were in a lot of man coverage, and we have the better athletes, so we were able to exploit that,” Latimer said. ”We knew this watching film, and we took control of that.”
Sandy Creek coach Brett Garvin praised his junior quarterback, a former receiver and defensive back listed at 5 feet, 9 inches, 153 pounds.
“He’s smart,’' Garvin said. “He’s a good quarterback and a great game manager. He has a super football IQ. He has an offer right now as a wideout/defensive back, but he is really good at what we’re doing right now.”
Westminster had a great start to the game with an electric 70-yard run by Robert Clarke on the opening drive but was unable to muster much offense after that and fell to 2-2. It was the region opener for both teams.
Sandy Creek scored 34 unanswered points, dominating with its aerial attack, while Dorian Graham added three rushing touchdowns on consecutive possessions.
Westminster didn’t strike back until late in the third quarter on a 50-yard reception from Holden Staes, a Notre Dame commit, to score the Wildcats’ final points.
Sandy Creek’s defense was flying around, benefiting from three turnovers as Joel Reid forced a fumble and Kaleb Cost intercepted two passes.
“Our defense did good except the first play of the game,” Garvin said. “We have to work on that. There were a lot of missed tackles on that play. ... You have to make the team earn everything they get.”
Sandy Creek is the first team to score more than 28 points vs. Westminster since 2018, and the first to score more than 40 at Westminster in a regular-season game since 2015, when Elbert County - led by Mecole Hardman, now in the NFL - beat Westminster 44-38.
Sandy Creek will be at home next week to face Douglass, and Westminster travels to Greater Atlanta Christian.
Sandy Creek 14-13-14-3 - 44
Westminster 7-0-7-0- 14
W- Robert Clarke 70 run (Josh Brockman kick)
SC- Miles Thornton 11 pass from Geimere Latimer (Dylan Apo kick)
SC- Thornton 36 pass from Latimer (Apo kick)
SC- Dorian Graham 1 run (kick failed)
SC - Graham 1 run (Apo kick )
SC- Graham 1 run (Apo kick)
SC- Kaleb Cost 23 pass from Latimer (Apo kick)
W- Holden Staes 50 pass from Kent Perkins (Brockman kick)
SC- Apo 25 FG
