Laskey's record-setting night sparks Starr's Mill
There was no gut check for Starr’s Mill this time.
The Panthers, who needed a big comeback to beat Brunswick in the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs, clicked from the start in the third round, getting another big night from fullback Zach Laskey in a 28-0 victory over East Paulding on Friday night.
Laskey passed Reuben Houston for the Starr’s Mill single-season rushing record, amassing 135 yards on 19 carries and scoring two touchdowns Friday night.
He entered the night with 1,325 rushing yards and set the record in the second quarter. Houston rushed for 1,410 yards in 2000.
“We talked about getting off to a good start,” Laskey said. “Really our offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage all night. We knew if we widened our splits, it would naturally open up running lanes.”
Quarterback Adam Holley added 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Starr’s Mill, surpassing 1,000 yards for the year.
The Panthers (13-0) earned their second appearance in the state semifinals. Behind Houston, the 2000 team went to the Class AAAA semifinals and lost to Harrison.
“We want to try to finish this one off for that 2000 team,” said Holley, who has also passed for 1,481 yards through 13 games. “We got in a really good rhythm early tonight.”
The Starr’s Mill defense stymied East Paulding from the start and recorded its fifth shutout, holding the Raiders (10-3) to 59 total yards in the first half. The Raiders finished with 216 total yards, most of them coming after the game was decided. East Paulding was unsuccessful on all four of its attempts on fourth down.
Sophomore running back Kamani Thomas, who had rushed for 272 yards in the Raiders’ previous two playoff games, finished with 99 Friday night.
Starr’s Mill recovered a muffed punt at the East Paulding 20 late in the first quarter and capitalized for the game’s first score, a 5-yard run by Laskey.
Laskey ripped off a 56-yard run up the middle on the first play of the second quarter for the Panthers’ second score.
Holley’s 2-yard run with 3:56 left in the second period made it 21-0, capping a 12-play, 53-yard drive, and his 9-yard run in the third period put the game out of reach.
