Jordan Ellis scored three touchdowns, and Travis Bowers made big plays on defense and special teams to lead No. 7 Peachtree Ridge past No. 5 Mill Creek, 31-30, in a back-and-forth battle of Gwinnett County unbeatens.
Ellis’ third touchdown run put the Lions up 31-24 with 2:54 to play.
Mill Creek (3-1, 1-1 7-AAAAAA) answered with a 78-yard touchdown pass from Daniel David to DeVozea Felton with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter. Felton caught the ball at around the 40 yard line between two Lions defenders and raced for the score.
But Bryson King’s potential tying extra point was no good, allowing Peachtree Ridge (4-0, 2-0 7-AAAAAA) to escape with a big region win.
King had made 25 of 27 extra points, before the miss, and connected on a 41-yard field goal in the first half.
Ellis took over in the second half and finished with 143 yards on 29 carries. He carried the ball eight times on Peachtree Ridge’s go-ahead drive.
Bowers intercepted David’s first pass attempt of the game, setting up a 6-yard touchdown by Ellis. Bowers also recovered a muffed punt in the third quarter that led to an Ellis’ 2-yard touchdown run.
The second half featured four lead changes and two ties.
Mill Creek opened the second half with and 11-play, 89-yard drive, capped by a 9-yard touchdown run by Carter Governale. The Hawks ran 10 consecutive times on the drive and grabbed a 17-14 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Governale scored again to open the fourth quarter, a 21-yard burst that put the Hawks ahead 24-21.
Mill Creek hurt itself with 15 penalties for 115 yards.
David scored on a 16-yard run in the first half.
Myron Burton caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Chance Thrasher that put Peachtree Ridge up 14-10 at halftime.
Peachtree Ridge 7 7 7 10 — 31
Mill Creek 7 3 7 13 — 30
P – Jordan Ellis 2 run (Evan Pantels kick)
M – Daniel David 16 run (Bryson King kick)
M – King 41 kick
P – Myron Burton 11 pass from Chance Thrasher (Pantels kick)
M – Carter Governale 9 run (King kick)
P – Ellis 6 run (Pantels kick)
M – Governale 21 run (King kick)
P – Pantels 18 kick
P – Ellis 6 run (Pantels kick)
M – DeVozea Felton 78 pass from David (kick failed)
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