In the final game of the 18th edition of the Corky Kell Classic, the Walton Raiders took on the Norcross Blue Devils. While on paper the game wasn’t the best matchup of the day, it turned out to be one of the best games in Kell Classic history as the Raiders came up with the upset win over the Blue Devils, 28-27 in overtime.
The action started when Walton quarterback Joey Windler scored on a 3-yard touchdown run after Walton recovered a Norcross fumble on the opening kickoff. The Blue Devils were able to bounce back as Ronald Rose threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Geremy Davis to tie the game after the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Walton as Windler scored two more touchdowns and gave the Raiders a 21-7 lead. Norcross, however, was able to cut the lead to seven before the half as Rose threw a 31-yard touchdown bomb to Davis before the half.
The Norcross defense was able to keep the Raiders offense in check in the second half as no points were scored by the Raiders. But Walton had their chances as kicker Tim Ruesseler missed two crucial field goals that could have iced the game for Walton. Norcross made one final push in the fourth quarter as Rose threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dominique Mason to tie the game at 21. The Blue Devils were able to get the ball back with less than a minute left in regulation but Walton’s Jacob Blaeser intercepted Rose’s pass to put the game in overtime.
In overtime, the Blue Devils got the ball first and Rose was able to punch it in with a 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead. But the play of the game was the next one, when Conner Hawk missed the extra point.
Next, Walton punched it in thanks to Windler’s 2-yard touchdown run, and Zach Miller converted the extra point.
This was the first game as head coach for Walton’s Rocky Hidalgo, as he took over for the departed Ed Dudley, who went down to Ware County to take the head coaching spot. This is also the second year in a row that the Raiders have won their opening game at the Kell Classic, as they beat Brookwood 14-9 last year. Their next game is at Kell on September 4.
As for Norcross, this is the second consecutive year they have lost in the Kell Classic, losing to Camden County 21-6 in 2008. Their next game will be at home against South Gwinnett on Friday.
Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.
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