The following was published on AJC.com on Friday night and can be accessed here:
Peachtree Ridge 20, Norcross 10: Chris Sawney rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown as Peachtree Ridge (8-1, 7-0) defeated Norcross 20-10 to remain undefeated in Region 7-AAAAA.
Peachtree Ridge sprinted to an early lead as Nick Lombardo connected with Nasir Moore on a 33-yard touchdown pass to cap a six-play, 62-yard drive for a 7-0 lead. On the next Lions possession, Sawney ran 15 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 advantage early in the second quarter. Connor Hawk of Norcross kicked a 36-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-3 at the half.
In the second half, Peachtree Ridge’s Justin Watts booted field goals of 27 and 30 yards to extend the lead to 20-3. Norcross cut the lead to 20-10 on a 10-yard run by Kendrix Huitt midway through the fourth quarter, but Peachtree Ridge ran out the clock to preserve the victory. Peachtree Ridge travels to North Gwinnett next week for the Region 7-AAAAA championship.
– DAVID BROCK
Marietta 31, Harrison 24 (OT): Harrison and Marietta traded punches all night before the Blue Devils took their first lead of the game in the second overtime and held Harrison on its ensuing drive to prevail with a 31-24 road win.
Marietta running back Greg Franklin ran for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including a two-yard run in the second overtime that sealed the game. Franklin ran for 207 yards in the first half, including touchdown runs of 60 and 65 yards, but Harrison’s defense clamped down on the Division I prospect in the second half.
Harrison quarterback Sean Skradis connected with Christian Turnipseed for a 65-yard first-quarter touchdown to begin the game’s scoring. Both Skradis and Turnipseed also had rushing touchdowns, and Turnipseed shut down a Marietta drive with a second-quarter interception.
Harrison (4-5, 4-4 Region 5-AAAAA) closes the regular season hosting Etowah next week, while Marietta (4-5, 3-5 Region 5-AAAAA) travels to Kennesaw Mountain.
– BAILEY WEBB
Westlake 26, Pebblebrook 23 (OT): Charles Purnell ran 10 yards along the right sideline for a touchdown to lift Westlake past Pebblebrook in double-overtime.
Purnell ran twice for 15 yards in the final overtime period, capping a 15-carry, 181-yard performance.
The Falcons (5-4, 4-4 in 4-AAAAA) took a 23-20 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Felipe Naranjo before Purnell and the Lions (7-2, 7-1) took over in the period.
Purnell also had a touchdown run of 71 yards with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Emil Blackmon caught the ensuing 2-point conversion from Quenton Rucker to tie the score at 20.
In the first overtime, Naranjo missed a 40-yarder off the right post. Naranjo also had a 51-yard attempt blocked and missed an extra point in the third quarter.
Pebblebrook took a 14-12 lead into halftime after Darian Stewart set up a 2-yard Jarvis Nolan score on an interception late with 9:12 left in the second quarter.
The Lions had 290 yards of offense, including 277 on the ground. Aaron Appleby had 91 yards on 17 carries for the Falcons.
– BRYAN FAZIO
North Gwinnett 34, Duluth 0: Scott Hosch started in place of C. J. Uzomah and made the most of the opportunity, rushing for two scores and passing for another to lead the Bulldogs (9-0, 7-0 in 7-AAAAA) over the Wildcats.
Hosch put the Bulldogs ahead for good with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Justin Dickens late in the first quarter. After Cordero Dixon scored on a 53-yard punt return with 10:50 left in the half, Hosch added two 1-yard TD runs to put North Gwinnett ahead 28-0 at the half. Joe Jones added a 27-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter.
– STEVE SHELNUTT
Decatur 7, Blessed Trinity 6: Running back Quendarius Hall’s first-quarter touchdown run proved to be enough for the Bulldogs to edge out a road win.
Blessed Trinity trailed 7-3 early in the fourth quarter until the Titans threatened to take the lead thanks, in part, to a stingy defense that surrendered just 98 total yards. After forcing Decatur to punt, the running of Casey Joseph (12 carries, 56 yards) set Blessed Trinity up with a first-and-goal. But the Bulldog defense—aided by a rash of offensive penalties by Blessed Trinity—managed to hold the Titans to just a field goal.
Trailing 7-6 late in the final period, Blessed Trinity recovered a fumble inside Decatur territory. Again, the Bulldogs defense allowed nothing more than a long field-goal try and when Blessed Trinity’s 42-yard kick sailed wide left, the game was all but over.
– ADAM LAZARUS
Chamblee 14, Stone Mountain 0: The visiting Bulldogs forced Stone Mountain into nine three-and-outs in 12 possessions and limited the Pirates to four first downs in an upset at James Hallford Stadium.
Chamblee defensive back David Anderson had two interceptions and the Bulldogs (5-4, 4-4 in Region 6-AAAA) registered nine tackles for loss as Stone Mountain (6-3, 5-3) was shut out for the second consecutive week.
Chamblee quarterback Ronald Herndon scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and running back Khris Parks scored on a 12-yard run in the third quarter. Parks carried nine times for 100 yards in the final three quarters.
– DAVE PAUL
Carver 38, Therrell 0: Patrick Etuk scored three first-half touchdowns as Carver (5-3, 4-2) steamrolled over Region 5-AAA rival Therrell (1-7, 0-6) at Lakewood Stadium. Carver, which led 32-0 at the half, scored on its first six possessions without completing a single pass.
Brendan Johnson gained 48 yards on one run that set up Etuk’s first touchdown, and added a 30-yard TD run later in the first half. Orimpian Allen also ran for a 48-yard gain that set up a touchdown.
Robert Daniels kicked a 25-yard field goal and Shawnard New scored on a 39-yard run on Carver’s first drive of the second half.
Carver’s Maurice Roman had two interceptions to lead the defense.
– MONROE ROARK
Lovett 42, Avondale 14: Sixth-ranked Lovett stormed out of the gate, scoring four first-quarter touchdowns en route to a 35-0 halftime lead. Zach Wolfe scored Lovett’s first three touchdowns, the first coming on a 16-yard run with 11:10 remaining in the first quarter. Wolfe made it a two-touchdown lead for Lovett (8-1, 5-1 in 6-AA) less than a minute later with a 3-yard run at the 10:33 mark after Avondale (5-4, 3-3) fumbled away the ensuing kickoff.
Taylor Mack scored on a 25-yard fumble recovery and a 21-yard run for Lovett. Max Thompson rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns (60, 1) for the Blue Devils.
– MICHAEL PADEN
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