The defending state champion Norcross Blue Devils have taken their share of lumps this season. Perhaps that served them well Friday night, as they beat the previously undefeated and ninth-ranked Collins Hill Eagles 28-0 in a showdown that helped shake up Region 7-AAAAAA.
The No. 8 Blue Devils (5-2) improved to 4-1 in 7-AAAAAA to stay in a tie for second place with Peachtree Ridge and Collins Hill, who also have one region loss. North Gwinnett rallied to defeat Mill Creek 50-47 on Friday after trailing 41-28.
Blue Devils quarterback A.J. Bush accounted for all of Norcross’ scoring, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for another. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 190 yards, had rushing scores of 11, 13 and 20 yards and didn’t turn the ball over.
Josh Boyd led Norcross with 116 yards on 17 carries, and AJC Super 11 defensive end Lorenzo Carter had three sacks to lead the Blue Devils defense to its first shutout of the season.
Norcross jumped to a commanding lead by scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions to take a 21-0 halftime lead. That would have been the game’s final score had Bush not found the end zone with his third touchdown run, which came with 58.4 seconds left in the game.
The Eagles — off to their best start since 2009 — appeared to be outmatched. The Blue Devils racked up four sacks and an interception, while the Eagles only saw the red zone once. That lone opportunity came on their second possession and ended in a missed field goal.
The Eagles’ first possession in the second half began on Norcross’ 27, but a run for a 9-yard loss and a sack forced a three-and-out and they didn’t get better field position the rest of the game.
For the Blue Devils, the season is turning around. They opened with a 55-0 loss to Miami’s Booker T. Washington, then two weeks later suffered a 36-17 loss to North Gwinnett. Now the Blue Devils are right back in the mix for another playoff run.
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