SANDY CREEK 54, EAST COWETA 35

Sandy Creek rolled up 469 total yards behind quarterback Cole Garvin, who completed 12-of-18 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Delvin Weems rushed for 121 yards and Eric Swinney added 87 rushing yards while scoring four total touchdowns.

All of that offset a 208-yard passing performance by East Coweta quarterback Bryce Gemmel, who connected for three touchdowns. E.J. Ransom caught four passes for 119 yards and a pair of scores.

East Coweta, which beat Sandy Creek 28-27 in double overtime to open the 2009 season, was forced to play catch-up early. The Indians (1-2) twice pulled within two scores but never solved Sandy Creek’s offense.

The Patriots took a 7-0 lead on their second possession. A 39-yard run by Weems gave them first-and-goal from the Indians’ 2-yard line, and Swinney stepped in on the next play.

Sandy Creek turned two interceptions into touchdowns to go up 21-0. Micah Solomon’s interception and return to the Sandy Creek 46 set up the first, a 57-yard screen pass from Garvin to Swinney.

Two plays later, the Patriots’ Brian Miller grabbed a tipped ball at the East Coweta 40 and sprinted down the middle for the score.

A 33-yard punt return by Demarre Kitt set Sandy Creek up at the East Coweta 38, and Garvin found Justin Sumpter down the right sideline for another touchdown with 1:01 left in the first period.

East Coweta got on the board with a nine-play, 54-yard drive, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Gemmel to Jacob Bergstrom.

Markell Boston’s 36-yard punt return pulled the Indians within 28-14, but Sandy Creek drove 89 yards in 11 plays to extend the lead to 34-14.