Collins Hill tailback Charles Perkins fumbled for the first time this season in a 14-10 win over North Forsyth on Friday.
It could have ruined the perfect season for the unranked Eagles (5-0). With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Collins Hill was running out the clock when Perkins fumbled on his own 39-yard line after a 14-yard gain.
Fortunately for Perkins, North Forsyth gained only 3 yards on the next four plays and turned the ball over on downs to end the game.
"I felt bad about it," Perkins said. "It was my mistake, but our defense saved us."
Perkins, who has committed to Georgia Tech, has 137 carries for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Around the state
Burke County is one of the darkhorse candidates for the Class AAA championship. The Bears defeated Brunswick 36-26 to reach 4-0 for the first time since 1991. All four of the wins are against schools in larger classifications.
Burke County's Terrell Brigham had 321 yards of offense and four touchdowns. "We put up a lot of points ... this wasn't a bad football team," Burke County coach Eric Parker told The Augusta Chronicle.
*Troup sophomore wide receiver Eric Hutchinson had three catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Northside-Columbus. Troup lost 48-6 to Washington County last week.
"We were great in all phases of the game," Troup coach Bubba Jeter told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. "I am so proud the way my kids bounced back from the tough game last weekend."
*Gainesville, ranked No. 1 in Class AAA, scored on all seven possessions in the first half in a 56-13 win over West Hall. Quarterback Blake Sims completed 7 of 9 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another score. He did not play in the second half.
"We were hitting on all cylinders on offense," Gainesville coach Bruce Miller told the Gainesville Times.
*Northeast Macon won 22-21 in a last-minute thriller over Howard.
Northeast's Calvinaugh Mitchell sprinted 85 yards for a touchdown with four minutes left, and Mike Palmer threw to Travis Sherman for the two-point conversion.
"Any time you still have seconds on the clock, you have a chance to win ... luckily we found a way to get it done," Northeast coach Bruce Mullen told the Macon Telegraph.
Looking ahead
Lowndes (5-0), ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA, will have its toughest challenge of the season when it goes on the road to play at No. 4 Northside-Warner Robins (4-0). Lowndes hasn't come close to losing since dropping a road game against Grayson in last year's state quarterfinals. Northside warmed up for the showdown with a 42-7 win over Houston County. Northside's Shaquille O'Neill rushed for 97 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles improved to 12-0 in the series between the two schools. However, Northside got some bad news: Kicker Devon Pike broke his arm while trying to make a tackle. His status is unknown for the rest of the season, Northside coach Conrad Nix told the Macon Telegraph.
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