Archive for October, 2011

By Score Atlanta

Carver-Atlanta 74, Lakeside-DeKalb 13: The Panthers clawed the visiting Vikings in a lopsided affair. Defensive end James Gray scored three defensive touchdowns – two interception returns and a fumble recovery. Dericko Smith caught 200 yards receiving with an 85-yard reception while Derrick Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns.

Chapel Hill 20, South Paulding 14: Allen Davis had an interception return for a touchdown and quarterback Quartez Walker ran in a 2-yard score as visiting Chapel Hill clinched the sub-region 5S-AAAA title and playoff spot. Blake Butler added two field goals.

Clarke Central 44, Rockdale County 0: Quenshaun Watson and Jalani Payne each ran for two touchdowns to lead Clarke Central. The visiting Gladiators also got a 16-yard scoring pass from Cameron Johnson to Torey Gartrell in addition to three Noah Welch field goals.

Douglas County 22, Paulding County 0: The host Tigers started the game with a safety. Running back John Willis scored …

Continue reading Class AAAA roundup »

By Score Atlanta

Allatoona 42, Gilmer 14: Miles Jones’ 222-yard outburst helped the visitors to victory. Jones scored on runs of 10 and 80 yards in the first half. T.J. Herron and Robert Johnson also rushed for touchdowns.

Eastside 39, Eagles Landing 0: The host Eagles picked off Golden Eagles quarterback Bradley Dewberry in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown and it was all Eastside from that point. Dewberry completed six passes all to Bill Teknipp, who had 80 yards receiving.

Flowery Branch 54, Salem 8: Quarterback Kanler Coker got things started early for the host Falcons with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Dilidili. Running back Casey Osborne then added a 5-yard touchdown run, as Flowery Branch rolled over the Seminoles.

Henry County 7, Drew 0: The host Warhawks won a defensive stalemate over Drew. The game was tied at the halftime before Chris Moody scored the only touchdown on a 63-yard quarterback scramble in the third quarter.

Sandy Creek 31, Fayette …

Continue reading Class AAA roundup »

By Score Atlanta

Blessed Trinity 28, South Atlanta 8: The host Titans took advantage of the sloppy weather by rushing for 257 yards. Jordan Denson rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns while Sam Roberts added 98 yards and a score. The defense also forced four turnovers.

Decatur 46, Clarkston 7: Freshman halfback Tommy Renfroe rushed eight times for 104 yards and a touchdown for the host Bulldogs. Sophomore quarterback Vito Antinozzi was 7-for-9 for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Terryon Robinson also scored on a 72-yard punt return for Decatur.

Westminster 21, Lovett 2: Harrison Butker kicked two field goals for Westminster, including a 50-yarder in the first quarter. The host Wildcats also recorded a safety via intentional grounding in the end zone and got second-half touchdown runs from Danny Catan and Shelton Collier.

Continue reading Class AA roundup »

By Score Atlanta

Darlington 54, Walker 12: Spencer Jones rushed for three touchdowns and also scored on a 45-yard interception return to lead Darlington. Brad Butler threw a pair of touchdowns for the visiting Tigers, a 46-yarder to Cedric Spivey and a 72-yarder to Nigel Matthews.

Eagle’s Landing Christian 72, Southwest Atlanta Christian 14: John Tatum rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns and Dalton Etheridge also scored twice on the ground for Eagle’s Landing Christian. Aaron Spratlin threw a touchdown pass to Scott Barlow as the visiting Chargers raced to a 48-14 halftime lead.

Holy Innocents’ 35, King’s Ridge Christian 21: Quarterback John Galloway led the Bears to a road win over King’s Ridge with equal parts pass and run. Galloway threw for 92 yards and rushed for another 110 yards.

Mount Paran 42, Mt. Zion-Carroll 7: The visiting Eagles amassed 354 total yards on offense. Running back Thomas Jay scored three times, twice on the ground and once through the …

Continue reading Class A roundup »

By MICHAEL ALPERT

For the AJC

In a defensive struggle for the Region 8-AAAAA championship Friday night, Grayson got precisely the defensive play it needed — just in time.

Kasey Gaines intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for the winning touchdown with 27 seconds left to lift the Rams over visiting Brookwood, 14-7. The interception occurred when Broncos quarterback Zack Moon was flushed from the pocket and attempted a shovel pass near the sideline.

The Rams’ third win in their last four tries against the Broncos gave them a third region championship in the last four years and relegated defending state champion Brookwood likely to the third playoff seed in region, behind Dacula. Still, the unbeaten Rams, ranked No. 2 in Georgia and No. 5 by USA Today, haven’t lost a regular-season home game since 2006 and continue to allow opponents only a touchdown a game.

“Winning is winning,” Grayson coach Mickey Conn said of now five of the teams’ last six meetings being determined by …

Continue reading Grayson 14, Brookwood 7 »

Class AAAAA

1. Camden Co. (9-0) def. Johnson-Sav. 55-0

Next week: at Beach (Savannah Memorial)

2. Grayson (9-0) def. Brookwood 14-7

Next week: at Central Gwinnett

3. Hillgrove (9-0) def. Kennesaw Mtn. 35-0

Next week: vs. Campbell

4. Stephenson (9-0) def. Newnan 35-13

Next week: at M.L. King (Hallford)

5. M.L. King (9-0) def. East Coweta 20-7

Next week: vs. Stephenson (Hallford)

6. Walton (9-0) def.Marietta 42-14

Next week: at Woodstock

7. McEachern (8-1) def.Harrison 31-14

Next week: vs. Kennesaw Mountain

8. North Gwinnett (8-1) def. Duluth 44-14

Next week: vs.Peachtree Ridge

9. Colquitt Co. (8-1) def. Coffee 38-14

Next week: at Valdosta

10. Peachtree Ridge (8-1) def. Mill Creek 35-20

Next week: at North Gwinnett

Class AAAA

1. Tucker (9-0) def. Lithonia 50-7

Next week: at Lakeside-DeKalb (Adams)

2. Northside-W.R. (9-0) def. Northside-Col. 38-12 (Thu.)

Next week: at Hardaway (Thu., Kinnett)

3. Flowery Branch (9-0) def. Salem 54-8

Next week: at Clarke Central

4. Statesboro (9-0) …

Continue reading How the Top 10 Fared »

In rolling to wins in their first eight games, No. 8 Northgate had not trailed by more than a touchdown and had only one game as close as 14 points, but in the middle of the third quarter Friday against Whitewater, the Vikings found themselves in a huge hole with nothing working.

So they rolled out the passing game.

Senior quarterback Bret Misutka completed 7 of 9 passes for 166 yards for Northgate which overcame a 17-0 third-quarter deficit and won 27-24.

The win secures the top spot in Region 3-AAAA Division B for Northgate (9-0, 6-0), meaning an automatic state playoff berth and an appearance in the region championship game next week.

Even Misutka seemed bewildered at the comeback.

“We’re 9-0,” Misutka said. “I can’t believe it.”

Misutka connected on touchdown passes to Payton Usher (36 yards) and Brandon Facyson (32) in a span of eight scoreboard clock seconds to jump-start the comeback, and his 53-yard pass to Kyle Kovacs set up the go-ahead score, which …

Continue reading Northgate 27, Whitewater 24 »

By Jeff Haws

For the AJC

Mays could move the ball plenty between the end zones. But due to a lot of penalties and a little misfortune, it was those pesky points that eluded the Raiders.

Led by quarterback Myles Willis’s game-high 155 rushing yards, Marist put together long plays and long drives while stiffening just enough on defense to win 24-0 and lock down the No. 2 seed in Region 6-AAAA. It’s the first time Mays has been shut out since a 15-0 loss to Westlake on Oct. 18, 2002.

Down 16-0, Mays (7-2, 7-2 in Region 6-AAAA) had a chance to get back into the game, marching from its own 20 to have a first down on the Marist 15-yard line with just seconds left in the first half, thanks in large part to a dropped snap that punter John Blasingame ran 29 yards for a first down earlier in the drive.

Receiver Chad Alexander caught a pass to the 9 with 4 seconds left, but the Raiders couldn’t get off another play as time expired in the half.

When Mays came back out for the second half, …

Continue reading Marist 24, Mays 0 »

It took Marietta four games to shake off a slow start to the season and play itself into position to challenge for a region championship, but it took Walton less than two quarters to take away any shot the Blue Devils had of winning the title.

The sixth-ranked Raiders completely dominated Marietta at home on Friday, scoring on all six of their first-half possessions and cruising to a 42-14 victory to capture the Region 5-AAAAA championship. It is the first region title since 2008 for Walton (9-0, 5-0), which will be the region’s No. 1 seed and host the fourth-place team from 6-AAAAA in the playoffs in two weeks. Walton will complete the regular season at Woodstock on Friday.

Marietta fell to 4-5 overall and 4-1 in the region. The Blue Devils, who started the season with four consecutive non-region losses to teams that will make the playoffs, will finish in second place in 5-AAAAA. Marietta closes the regular season at home against Cherokee next week.

“Our kids came out and …

Continue reading Walton 42, Marietta 14 »

Justin Sanderson’s inbox has been taking inspirational quotes and Bible verses from fans and friends for the past two months. Roswell’s first-year head coach says he’s read them all.

The good news is that fans are solidly behind him. The bad news is that traditional powerhouse Roswell is 0-9 for the first time in a proud football history that dates to 1950.

‘’If you were walking the hallways today or came to practice this week, you’d never know that we’re winless,’’ said Sanderson, a Roswell assistant from 2003 until getting the promotion this year. “The support is so strong and so ingrained in everybody. We’ve physically been outmatched in a couple of games for the first time in a while talent-wise, but the kids keep fighting. There’s no division, no dissention.’’

On a rainy Friday night, Roswell was overmatched again, losing to playoff-bound West Forsyth 35-14. Other times, it’s been a case of snake bite.

The Hornets have led in the fourth …

Continue reading Perspective: Fans stick behind Roswell, despite unprecedented 0-9 record »

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Here are the games you can find stories and photos from this weekend on ajc.com…

Photos: Marietta at Walton
Photos: Brookwood at Grayson
Photos: Mays at Marist
Photos: West Forsyth at Roswell

CLASS-BY-CLASS ROUNDUPS OF THIS WEEK’S ACTION: Summaries, scores & more

Class AAAAA | Class AAAA | Class AAA | Class AA | Class A

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL THURSDAYS ON WSB-TV

WSB-TV/Channel 2 and PlayON! Sports in cooperation …

Continue reading Weekend Forum: Georgia high school football scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE! »

North Hall running back Imani Cross, Marist offensive lineman Nick Brigham and Pope head coach Matt Kemper are the winners of the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s weekly awards.

Cross, the back of the week, rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 54-37 loss to Franklin County. Cross, who has committed to Tennessee, has had four games of 200 yards or more rushing this season. He has 1,475 yards and 21 touchdowns on 149 carries (9.9-yard average) on the season.

Brigham, the lineman of the week, was a lead blocker in Marist’s 42-12 victory over Lithonia. Marist rushed for 226 yards on 24 carries. Marist led 42-0 at halftime. Brigham has committed to Maryland.

Kemper, the coach of the week, led Pope to a 29-23 upset of No. 4 East Paulding. Pope now leads Region 5-AAAA in pursuit of its first region title.

The honorees will be recognized at noon Monday at the Touchdown Club’s weekly meeting at Fox Sports Grill in Atlantic Station. The speaker will be Georgia Tech …

Continue reading TD Club to honor Cross, Brigham, Kemper »

North Springs has lost 27 consecutive games, except for a forfeit in 2009. Now, first-year head coach Todd Powers believes it’s time to go down a different road.

The Spartans will play a non-region schedule for the 2012 and 2013 seasons and are looking for teams to play, Powers told GHSF Daily on Thursday.

“North Springs is looking for any schools interested in scheduling games on a two-year contract for the 2012 and 2013 seasons in what can hopefully be competitive games that will benefit both schools and provide building blocks that are vital to a dedicated program looking for a commitment of long-term success,” Powers said.

Only two other established schools with full senior classes above Class A play non-region schedules. Those are Jeff Davis and Cross Keys. Playing a non-region schedule allows programs to schedule any teams they want, but they cannot qualify for the state playoffs.

North Springs is a charter and magnet school in Sandy Springs that is growing in …

Continue reading North Springs to play non-region schedule »

Matthew Hardeman, the last all-state player in Avondale’s storied football history, was shot to death in Atlanta two weeks ago. Members of the Avondale Alumni Association and his former head coach want to make sure he is not forgotten.

Hardeman, 19, was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in the front yard of his home in southwest Atlanta on Oct. 15. No suspects have been named. Family members said Hardeman had defended his sister in a dispute days before the murder and that revenge was a logical motive.

“He was walking down the street and a car pulled up with four guys who surrounded him and shot him to death,” said Stacy Burnette, a friend and mentor and member of the alumni association. “He never used drugs. You couldn’t get him to drink or smoke. He was a good kid in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

A defensive lineman, Hardeman was a first-team all-state player for Avondale in 2009, which was Avondale’s first winning season in 20 years. The school, which produced …

Continue reading Former Avondale star Hardeman killed »

Sheldon Rankins, a defensive end from Eastside who has several major college offers and eight sacks in eight games, is out for the season with a broken leg suffered during Eastside’s open week last week, Eastside coach Rick Hurst told GHSF Daily on Thursday.

“Just a freak accident, a hairline break on the fibula,” Hurst said.

It’s another in a long line of injuries this season for Eastside (4-4), which started the season ranked No. 9 in Class AAA and played defending state champion Sandy Creek to a 13-10 decision.

Running back Alex Smith, the team’s leading rusher last season, was lost for the season on the first play of the first game to a broken arm. Starting guard Jared Floyd was lost in the third game to a torn meniscus.

In the fourth game, freshman running back Nick Broadwater tore an ACL. Place-kicker Cody Sandler is returning this week from a torn quadriceps muscle suffered in July.

“In 20 years of coaching, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Hurst said of the spate of …

Continue reading Rankins’ injury more bad news for Eastside »