Off to its best start since 2003, No. 10 South Gwinnett’s high-octane offense was stymied for a quarter Friday before pulling out a 35-21 victory at Dacula.
Coming into the contest averaging 41 points per game, the Comets (5-1, 3-1 8-AAAAA) had their offense on the sideline for the majority of the game.
While Dacula (2-3, 1-2) won the time of possession, South Gwinnett quarterback Kent Rollins, who was 13 of 21 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and his offense came up with the big plays .
Behind wide receiver Jonathan Krause, who hauled in seven receptions for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the Comets had to rally from a seven-point first-quarter deficit before taking control of the game and amassing 455 yards of total offense.
The Comets’ first big play came when Aaron Wimberly, who led the Comets with 112 yards rushing on 13 carries, hit Krause in the end zone on a 39-yard halfback pass to tie the game with 9:50 left in the first half.
South Gwinnett took the lead six minutes later, as Trevon Walker capped an 84-yard drive with a 3-yard dive. The Falcons, looking to upset the Comets for a second year in a row, tied the game at 14 following their opening drive of the second half, but the Comets answered quickly, moving 80 yards in five plays. Krause and Rollins connected on a 31-yard pass play and finished the drive with an 18-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead.
After forcing the Falcons to punt, the Comets once again struck quickly, going 74 yards in five plays to ice the game. Rollins completed a 27-yard pass to Chad Ross and capped the drive with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Adegoke.
The Falcons closed the gap to a touchdown with 8:56 left when Darien Lane, on back-to-back option plays, capped a 13-play, 67-yard drive, with a 6-yard touchdown run.
The Falcons also had a chance to tie the game when defensive lineman Robert Harvy picked off a Rollins’ pass at the Dacula 17-yard line with 5:40 remaining in the game.
South Gwinnett forced a punt, but Dexter Walker was unable to convert .
South Gwinnett took over, and six plays later, Wynton Cannady clinched the game with a 1-yard plunge for a 35-21 lead.
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