Mill Creek (Ga.) at Norcross (Ga.)
Norcross holds the edge in number of highly-touted recruits, but when it comes to offensive power and pounding the football, Mill Creek can do it as well as anyone. The Hawks enter the game with a 3-1 record after a tough 31-30 loss to an undefeated Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) team last Friday. Mill Creek came in averaging 268 rushing yards per game, and following the blocking of junior Kaleb Kim and the cohesive group of linemen tallied 478 yards of total offense against one of the better defensive units in Class AAAAAA.
What cost the Hawks were 15 penalties for 115 yards, a muffed punt in the fourth quarter and a missed extra point on the would-be game tying PAT. Quarterback Daniel David is a veteran starter who runs an efficient offense which features a strong supporting cast. Running back Carter Governale rushed 14 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns and Daniel David rushed for 81 yards and a score last week.
The Blue Devils have lost two games this season and sit at 2-2, but the defeats came to the No. 1 team in the country (Booker T. Washington, Fla.) and the No. 1 team in Georgia (North Gwinnett). The defending Class AAAAAA state champions rebounded from the losses with a 38-3 win over Duluth on Friday and are starting to resemble the championship team that dominated competition a season ago.
The Blue Devils rang up 408 yards of total offense, and held Duluth to 106 total yards, including only 18 rushing. Five-star defensive end Lorenzo Carter is the top-ranked end in the nation, and at 6-foot-5, 232 pounds, he occupies a lot of attention from opposing offenses. Tennessee-commit Kevin Mouhon anchors the defense at linebacker and the speed of the unit is its strength.
On offense, Norcross quarterback A.J. Bush is a dual-threat passer who has settled down after a mistake-filled opening to the season. Running back Josh Boyd carries the offensive load and Miami-commit Chris Herndon is a dangerous weapon at tight end. Trent Jenkins is a 6-foot-4, 320-pound guard and Ryan Northrup is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound guard who Boyd and the offense use to dominate the line of scrimmage. Four-star Myles Autry is a versatile athlete who can make plays as a receiver and running back
Norcross won last year’s meeting 49-41 as Autry scored on a 13-yard reception and a 48-yard run. Mill Creek’s David scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and even threw a touchdown. The matchup between these familiar playmakers will be something to watch for.
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