Game 3: Norcross vs. Camden County
When a highly touted football team starts a season it wants to start off with a bang, and one way to do that is to play and win against a team that is also talented and highly ranked in the state. The Norcross-Camden County matchup provided both teams that chance. There were stars all over the place as the Blue Devils were led by quarterback Charles King, running back D.J. Adams and Division I recruit Prince Kent. The Wildcats are also a talented bunch with running back Greg Baker, who is considered one of the best in the state, and a host of other dynamic athletes. Both teams feature defenders that know how to fly to the football.
The game started off with both defenses flexing their muscles as the game was scoreless after one quarter. Camden was started to find a rhythm as their Wing-T offense was able to find holes against an athletic Norcross defense. Greg Baker drew first blood as he scored on a three-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead. Baker scored again in the third quarter off an 11-yard touchdown run and in the fourth, quarterback Christian Milstead sealed the deal with a 44-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats the 21-6 victory.
For Camden, after a tough loss in the semifinal game against Lowndes last year, they look as if they are past that and ready to have a great ‘08 season. Norcross did not get off on the right foot, but they have plenty of talent to win the rest of their games and they may face Camden County again this year if things go their way.
Game 4: Grayson vs. McEachern
The final contest of the night was an intriguing matchup, because McEachern was playing their first game under new head coach Kyle Hockman. It’s no easy task to replace longtime head man Jim Dorsey, who had been the head coach since 1984. Grayson is a team on the rise, as they came into the matchup as Score Prep’s No. 10-ranked team, and surprised everybody last year by reaching the state quarterfinals only to lose to Camden County. With Hockman coming to McEachern, fans got their first look at the spread offense led by quarterback Matt Collins. Grayson runs a ground-dominated offense using the Wing-T formation. Quarterback Tyler Horne, running back Ean Pemberton and fullback Greg Zellner are expected to carry the load this year.
The Rams got the scoring started, as they used a healthy dose of Zellner during a drive which led to his 13-yard touchdown run. The Indians were able to hold their own as Quenten Martin answered with a 13-yard touchdown run of his own to tie the game in the second quarter. But that was as close as the Indians got as they struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the second half. The Rams took advantage as Horne, Pemberton and James Earl Jones (seriously, that’s his real name) all scored rushing touchdowns en route to a 31-21 victory.
Despite the loss, this was a good test for the Indians to see where they stand and what they need to work on to become an elite team in the state once again. The Rams, on the other hand, proved that they belong as one of the best teams in the state, simply because they run the ball so well and play such sound defense. Don’t be surprised if they go further than they did last season (quarterfinals) in the playoffs.
Jones can be reached at bjones@scoreatl.com.
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