Walton 37, McEachern 35
Anthony Price kicked a 43-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining to lead third-ranked Walton, which got another outstanding effort from running back Tyren Jones, to a 37-35 victory over McEachern in the second game of the East-West Cobb Classic on Friday at McEachern.
Jones rushed for 332 yards on 47 carries and scored four touchdowns, including three in the second half as the Raiders (2-0) rallied from a 20-13 halftime deficit. Jones, an Alabama commitment who led the state in rushing in 2011, has run for 635 yards and nine touchdowns in Walton’s two games this season.
McEachern (0-2) had taken a 35-34 lead with 2:15 to play when Taj Griffin scored on a 23-yard run, and quarterback Tymashian Clemons scrambled to the right and ran it in for the two-point conversion. It was the third touchdown of the game for Griffin, who scored on a 22-yard run in the first quarter and a 99-yard kickoff return late in the first half. He finished with 124 yards on 10 carries.
Jones scored on runs of 67, 1, 16 and 32 yards.
Walton – 7-6-7-17 – 37
McEachern – 13-7-0-15– 35
M – Mike Sherman 4 run (Dennis Dominguez kick)
W – Tyren Jones 67 run (Anthony Price kick)
M – Taj Griffin 22 run (kick failed)
W – Price 22 field goal
M – Griffin 99 kickoff return (Dominguez kick)
W – Price 28 field goal
W – Jones 1 run (Price kick)
W – Jones 16 run (Price kick)
M – Tymashian Clemons 17 pass to T.J. Rahming (Dominguez kick)
W – Jones 32 run (Price kick)
M – Griffin 23 run (Clemons run)
W – Price 43 field goal
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56 comments Add your comment
Brian Smyrna
September 1st, 2012
1:56 am
That was a good game to watch. The ejection turned the game around and Walton seemed to be the better conditioned team. Coming out in the Third qtr and having a drive that lasted the entire qtr was impressive and a great way to set the tone. Good game by both teams.
Snoman
September 1st, 2012
1:58 am
Tryen is unbelievable! He sure would look good in UGA’s red and black. Way to go Raiders – keep up the good work!
westcobb5
September 1st, 2012
2:03 am
Ditto that Brian. Jones was phenomenal . . . again.
Observer
September 1st, 2012
3:07 am
the raiders are to weak on defense rebuilding year or not i expected more out of Hidalgo he needs to take the reigns on that defense and turn them into the hard nosed football players he has had in the past. and mceachern was absolutely explosive but its hard to hold a guy like Jones
Lamar
September 1st, 2012
3:15 am
IF Mceachern’s head coach don’t file an appeal with the referee association then he should be FIRED!! This HAD TO BE THE WORST CALLED GAME IN MY 45 YEARS OF WATCHING!! The way they PROTECTED WALTON’S PLAYERS, THEY SHOULD HAVE DRESSED THEM IN SKIRTS FOR THE GAME!! THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ON THE HITS, THE DEFENDER DID WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSE TO, SEPERATE THE GUY FROM THE BALL!! AND BOY DID HE!! I GUESS McEACHERN WAS TO ROUGH ON THE BABIES!! Anybody who watched the game should know that in the 3rd quarter walton was driving and they fumbled the ball and the ref signaled Mceachern ball, YET THE OTHER CROOKED REF GAVE IT BACK TO WALTON AND THEY SCORED A FEW PLAYS LATER!! THIS WAS THE MOST PATHETIC CALLED GAME I HAVE EVER SEEN AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE FIRED!! ENOUGH SAID!!
Observer
September 1st, 2012
3:29 am
Lamar,
Does talking in caps make you feel like you are getting your point across? Lets make a few points here. 1. helmet to helmet hits are illegal at any level of football which incidentally happened to be how more than a few of the Mceachern players decided to tackle 2. protecting the players is the job of the referee these are kids playing a game not grown men in a street fight which is what it started to look like from some of those hits coming from the Indians side 3. everyone complains about the referees when they lose but i bet if it was your child that just got in a helmet to helmet collision you would be in a different boat 4. and unfortunately i have to take a page from your typing style here but MCEACHERN HAD HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE so are you really serious in trying to tell me that the referees would side with Walton on Mceachern’s own field? Thats very asinine sir. It is a game grow up.
BamaBornDukie
September 1st, 2012
3:49 am
Lamar…….seriously dude?
BamaBornDukie
September 1st, 2012
3:56 am
Also agree that Walton is a 2 man offense. Tyren Jones and his bodyguard big Brandon Kublanow. Best offensive duo/tandem in the state. Besides DJ Smith, Walton’s defense isn’t very good.
McEachern is loaded with athletes and Taj Griffin is Tyren Jones 2.0x as we will be discussing Griffin as the best offensive player in the state at this time in 2014 just as we are with Jones now. Without Jones, McEachern beats Walton 50-7. Amazing that one player [that the other team knows is getting the ball] can dominate the way Tyren Jones does. With the athletes at Bama [where the defense can't key on Jones] and the offensive line play that they have….Jones will be scary in the Alabama backfield.
CoffeeC100
September 1st, 2012
5:10 am
I can’t sleep
dd
September 1st, 2012
7:42 am
Maybe McEachern will play an easy team soon so they can can win a game.
That’s a lot of money out there to be 0-2.
Nice band, though.
Roll Tide Roll
September 1st, 2012
7:50 am
@ BamaBornDukie
Jones and Mcloed will be scary in the Alabama backfield. Jones is nothing without Mcloed.
Lou
September 1st, 2012
7:51 am
Lamar,
What year did you graduate McEachern? There certainly is no bias on your part.
Groucho
September 1st, 2012
8:01 am
@Lou, BBD, DD, Observer. You will find a familiar theme when dealing with McEachern, before a game is played and/or when they win, they are world dominators and God’s gifts to sports. When they lose, they were cheated, the dog ate the playbook, they weren’t trying hard or someone had a toothache. Watch. Never will you hear “good game, we lost to a better team or they just got us today”
hs football fan
September 1st, 2012
8:03 am
A nail biter? Absolultely, creating insomnia? Definitely. Kept thinking I would turn the game off and go to bed but couldn’t bring myself to do it. After the first Helmet to helmet contact, I thought just a mis-hiy on the tackle, after the second, no accident there. It takes alot to bring Tyren down and pop the helmet. Watched the replays, over and pver, good calls, also the fumble recovery, a very good call by the refs, very clear on replay. McEachern is tough and they kept fighting, knew they would be a tough team based oon how they played Grayson. Walton’s D needs some work still as does the Center to QB hand-off, good perfomances by Jones, Kublanow, DJ Dmith, Blake Montz and Anthony Price……
Still proud to be a Raider fan, but also a fan of sleep, so lets opt out of these games that end in the wee hours of the a.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
dd
September 1st, 2012
8:09 am
well said Groucho
that’s what I thought when their coach made light of the illegal hits by his player
Tha U
September 1st, 2012
8:10 am
Walton is going to run T Jones into the ground, 47 carries is a lot
DeeDawg
September 1st, 2012
8:34 am
What a great game to watch on TV. Great performance Tyren Jones! I agree that it was riveting to watch despite the late hour it was played. Perhaps these kinds of multiple games should start earlier. Nevertheless, awesome game!
Fletch
September 1st, 2012
9:02 am
Great game Tyren! If anyone can handle the carries, you can. Did anyone else see him grinning and slinging water bottles after 40+ carries? He was just getting warmed up..haha! Please stay with Kublanow and “keep the band together” at the next level. Looking forward to some more records falling this year…great work!
80 Raider
September 1st, 2012
9:03 am
Lots of emotion in that game. Some observations from an old Raider. 1. McEachern was so fast on offense it was scary. Soph rbTaj Griffin will be an historic running back barring injury or ego. Their offense riminded me of Boise st vs Georgia last year…just so much quicker than Waltons D. 2. Walton’s QB had a pretty poor showing, and surely wasn’t helped by some very notable drops. I can tell you there is one player who should have walked home and thought about his game. 3. Sometimes these players are so good, you forget they’re just kids, and can be too critical of them (guilty). I felt really bad for the Walton defender who got caught in the neutral zone on 4th and 5 giving McE a new set of downs. Coach should have had them more aware of that. 4. The ejection…..I don’t know. I know you have to protect the kids first and formost, but after watching the replays numerous times, I did not see the kid lead with his helmet. It appeared that he was coming up the TE’s shoulder pads and ended up under his chin. He should have aimed a little lower on Jones, but then we might be talking about broken ribs instead of a bruised nose. It’s high school, so I probably have to side with the ref’s. I’d like to know what the Walton players think who were involved. I don’t know anything about the McE kids grades, but he’ll be playing on Saturdays no question…a real old school John Lynch type player. 5. Someone please tell the announcers that whenever the ball is out past the 10 yard line, it’s not first and goal. On at least 2 drives I heard one of them saying this. 6. My hats off to all these kids. What a gut check this game was with all the cramping up after such a long day. The team with enough time and the ball last was clearly going to win the game. What a great call going for 2 points by McE’s coach putting them ahead. 7. TJ is an amazing young man, I hope Walton can get some big leads to sit on in the weeks to come so this kid doesn’t burn out….45 carries is a lot to ask for week in and out. 8. Lamar…….C’mon man, you are blaming the Walton players for something they had nothing to do with. You don’t need to dress them in skirts or call them babies, because they are clearly not. McEachern is probably the best 0-2 team out there, so post like you live in a wood framed house and not an aluminum one. Actually, that’s too much of an insult to those folks too, sorry.
80 Raider
September 1st, 2012
9:14 am
Oh, I forgot the Raider kicker………….this kid was so cool he was laughing when McEachern called a timeout to ice him before the winning FG attempt. You see pro’s figeting around like a 3 legged cat trying to bury poop on a frozen pond on every Sunday….but Walton’t kicker looked like he knew it was over the whole time. You can’t coach that. He was even kicking from the right hashmark. What a great kick…..The Buffalo Bills and FSU would have changed history with this young man. He misses, and we’re not here celebrating.
Lifelong Georgia HS fan
September 1st, 2012
9:57 am
Lamar, the all caps thing has always been lame, and so is the blame the refs every time you lose excuse. Tell your beloved coaches to teach proper tackling and less showboating and acting like idiots, and your beloved McEachern team might earn some respect east of Highway 41. Glad Walton won, but not sure 47 carries is ever necessary for one back, no matter how good they are.
CemUp
September 1st, 2012
9:58 am
The hits were clearly illegal. It is not just a helmet to helmet argument. You cannot launch yourself t a defenseless receiver. Safety clearly wound up and launched himself at TJ above his shoulders.
Georgia Boi
September 1st, 2012
10:15 am
First off what a great hard fought game. Tyren Jones what a beast behind a very good offensive line. And the first hit by the McEachern player was illegal because he did lounge with his helmet first leaving his feet. But the second hit on Jones was totally legal he hit him with his forearm and shoulder. It was a great hit and when the coaches go back and look at film I’m pretty sure they will tell him to continue playing with the same aggression.
CemUp
September 1st, 2012
10:33 am
What hit did you watch? The second hit was also helmet to helmet. It broke TJ’s nose! The safety just tucked his head onto his forearm and shoulder when delivering the blow
mcmuffin
September 1st, 2012
11:12 am
Hey, mceachearn drones did any of you see the same game I saw? Lets talk about your coaches and players and fans blatent disregaurd for human life! Head to head in this day is criminal, and that kid coached to do what he did, applauded after the fact, NOT HIS FAULT! Live to play another day , there has to be serious repercutions, that should effect the coaches , school , and players that ignore what is a major topic in this day and age , BRAIN TRAUMA!…………!
Matt Indian Alumni
September 1st, 2012
11:32 am
I just have to say, Tyren Jones is the best High School RB I’ve ever seen. He absolutely carries Walton. Tough game for my Indians but they’ll bounce back. Can’t remember his name but that Sophomore #7 on the Indians will be the talk of the State of Georgia when he’s a Senior. That guy has some SERIOUS game.
only a matter of time
September 1st, 2012
12:18 pm
helmet to helmet on both. Ten or 15 years ago those hits would have been hilight material and #24 would have gotten the knockout award for the week. but knowing what we know now about the effects of head injuries, the refs did the right thing. If left in there #24 was going to kill someone. There was already one kid taken to the hospital on a backboard in the first game. On another note I saw Cobb County’s next best RB #7. CMR don’t wait till this kid gets on the radar and offer him too late because this kid can run.
atlaub
September 1st, 2012
1:06 pm
Lots of Opinions out there about how much Coach Hildago at Walton is using Jones, but the kid has had two hall of fame weeks in a row, and you have to ride that train if you have one on your team. Obviously the call at half, down 7 was to come out and knock McEachern’s rear into the dirt with straight up pounding football. A 70 yard, 10 plus minute drive with one pass, set the tone while littering the field with cramped up McE defenders. It was simply a physicality that McEachern could not handle. Walton won this game on conditioning and by staying level headed in a game that was heading for a street fight at the end of half one. And Jones was on the sidelines, 300 yards into his game looking relaxed, and like he had more in the tank. Why would you make it anymore complicated than it needs to be…..give Tryen the rock as long as he’s making guys miss like Barry Sanders.
And #7 for McEachern, wow. That kid looked like SwD’s Hason Graham back in the day destroying good tackling angles with raw talent (coming from experience being on the wrong side of it a few times). And only a soph.
Observer
September 1st, 2012
1:10 pm
atlaub,
agreed in all honesty Tyren trains for this kind of stuff constantly 47 carries was tough but he could certainly add more to it if need be the kid is a work horse. and that #7 is a freak of nature the kid has amazing talent the whole Mceachern offense does to be honest
uwillbtuckedaway
September 1st, 2012
1:25 pm
I love watching Tyren play. I agree that he’s getting too many touches!! Pray the kid makes it through the season!
hs_football_mom
September 1st, 2012
2:33 pm
this comment is coming from a football mom that loves an exciting game, but may not know all the ins and out of the game…. it was a great game. period. total nail biter. mc eachern may have talent, but they played dirty. i didn’t see one walton player throwing punches or acting like an twerp on the field. the only time a helmet is knocked off is when it’s deliberate. bad sportsman ship, mc eachern.
Heisenberg
September 1st, 2012
2:54 pm
The McEachern safety needs to be suspended for another 2 games (1 for each hit) for the bush league head hunting. Those are worthy of fines in the NFL. Launching yourself headfirst with legs almost parallel to the ground is way beyond what is to be tolerated. In both cases a shoulder into the midsection while wrapping arms around would have been both effective and appropriate. First game of the year, GHSAA needs to send a message this crap will turn you into a cheerleader.
B
September 1st, 2012
3:53 pm
Great Game!! Good Luck to both teams!!
C
September 1st, 2012
3:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Cobb Co. Parent
September 1st, 2012
4:52 pm
awesome game!!
BamaBornDukie
September 1st, 2012
4:57 pm
I also think the McEachern safety warrants additional games suspended. Not so much for the hits but for his actions (waving arms, celebrating like he’d just won a state championship while walking off the field AFTER he’d just been ejected). The parents on the McEachern side were no better as they were cheering him on.
I’m friends with the family of a player that played last nite and we follow each other on twitter…..Via his page/retweets I saw a tweet that had a video of a fight that took place at McEachern after their scrimmage against East Paulding 2 weeks ago. McEachern students were celebrating the disgraceful behavior depicted in the video.
SOMEBODY at McEachern needs to be a leader and curtail this repulsive behavior….. STAY CLASSY my friends.
bksmith14
September 1st, 2012
4:58 pm
jones is a beast…but neither one of these teams have a champiosnship caliber defense…….
hs football fan
September 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
Knowing Tyren, if the game had gone longer, he would have wanted to be in the hunt. He is a well disciplined and conditioned athlete. He trains, studies and loves the game. Keep in mind that he has an O-Line that helps him make the plays. Also, last year he didn’t play in the 4th quarter for the majority of the game, nor did he last week against Brookwood. Gotta love a kid with heart and Coach Hidalgo respects his players too much to take a chance at one getting hurt. Also, for the helmet ot helmet, the first player Mceachern’s #24 hit did not come back into the game. Tyren was pissed after the hit, he knew it wasn’t a shoulder lead but a helmet lead. Whoever posted to suspend the player for two games is correct, this kind of thug playing should not be tolerated at any level and a message should be sent to the player and the coaches who allow and downplay it.
hs football fan
September 1st, 2012
5:04 pm
@BamaBornDukie well said, it appeared that #24 almost looked like he was going to ignore the ejection. I did not see sny of the coaches talking to him giving him the “talkin to” he deserved, just pats on the back for a thug job well done. On a team with a coach that is a leader, when you do something to jeopardize a player or team, they set the player straight.
Dr Concussion
September 1st, 2012
7:07 pm
When Tyren goes down like Burrows did then no one will be happy. Tyren has a history of concussions. 70 carries with bone jarring hits is too much. Walton fans are selfish to think this young man is invincable. Congrats on the win. But at what cost are Walton Coaches paying with this young man’s future?
Observer
September 1st, 2012
8:21 pm
history of concussions? he has had 1 concussio in 4 years of high school and just so you know brandon went down during a practice in the spring that wasn’t even full pads so you cant even compare the two situations before you go making assumptions get your facts straight.
Observer
September 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
I went to the game, planned to get there on time to see the second half of the Lassiter-Hillgrove game, the the Walton-Mceachern match-up. I didn’t realize I would be there until 1:30 am, but what a great night of football. Hillgrove mounted a late comback, and it looked as if the Lassiter kids and coaches didn’t think they had to play the second half. Kudos to Hillgrove for not giving up.
As for the Walton game, and in particular, the 2 ILLEGAL hits, in a day when the NFL, and College football are instituting new rules to protect the players, it was very disappointing to see this happen. Especially the celebration by the player and the team after the fact. The coaches have a responsibility to address the situation with their teams, and should try and teach a little sportsmanship as part of their job. But in this case, I blame the Officials. It was very clear that #24 should have been thrown out after the first hit, and then the second hit on Tyren Jones would have never happened. Also, the officials should have called both coaches on to the field and had a conversation bout the hit after the first one, and then again after the second.
I look forward o watching TJ the rest of the season, and it will be fun to watch him play on Saturday’s in the SEC, he is a special talent. As for the Walton QB, I don’t get it. And, I do not think he will ever see the field playing for Alabama. Hopefully he will realize this, and choose another program in which he may actually get to play. He did make a couple of good throws, and his receivers let him down on two in particular; the sure touchdown to #30 I think, and the 35 yard pass down field to Smith was a real nice throw.
That’s enough for now, I’m just happy I get to see some great football every Friday night.
LTrojan Fan
September 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Getting the majority of touches is exactly why Tyren moved and wanted to play for Walton. He is getting what he wanted and is taking full opportunity of his situation. If he had stayed at Lassiter, he would not be getting all of this attention. Good for you Tyren. We are very proud of you!
Camden74
September 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
Tyren Jones is a 17-18 year old HS player, not a college or NFL player. IMO, 76 carries in two game is TOO MUCH! Add that to the touches he gets on pass plays and special teams, you’re playing with the kid’s future!
Cobb Co. Parent
September 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
HS football fan, you have no idea what the coach said to him?? Where you on the field?? Did you hear the conversation that any of the McEachern coaches had with him?? Where you in the locker room at half time or after the game?? NO!! Coach Hockman is a great leader and very well respected!! You are just assuming and making comments that you don’t know anything about.
Cobb Co. Parent
September 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
@ Life Long GA HS Fan, so there’s no respect from the east side?? Can guarantee you that the Walton staff has much respect for Coach Hockman and his staff and I’m sure the feeling is mutual. Coach Hockman is one of the most respected coaches in the state not just Cobb county. What I saw were 2 tough teams battling it out!!
Cobb Co. Parent
September 1st, 2012
10:40 pm
@ Mcmuffin for you to say that the kid was doing what he was taught insults the character and integrity of men who try and make a difference in the community. The staff is made of strong men who give alot of themselves and try to set an example. You probably have never even had a conversation with any of staff to make that type of comment
waltonfan
September 2nd, 2012
1:37 am
This game was ‘instant classic’ material for ESPN. Great, hard fought game by both teams. This workload will not continue for Tyren. Walton started off with 2 really tough games and they needed him to carry the load. As several people have already mentioned, he played sparingly in several 2nd halfs last season and he will have some games like that this year too. He did not play the final 9 minutes or so of the Brookwood game. The North Cobb game isn’t going to be a cake walk by any stretch either but they have a week off before that one so everybody can rest up and hopefully the younger players can get coached up during that time too.
Sometimes, I wonder if some of the people commenting on these blogs ever played the game. Those were great hits by Kell Parham ( I think that was his name). It’s tough to be in that situation at full game speed and decide exactly where to place your hit on the player especially when you have been coached all your life to lay the biggest hit you can and you get praised and cheered for when you do. I’m just glad no one was seriously hurt (hopefully the Hillgrove player is ok, the coach said during an interview that he had full movement). Also, anyone cracking on the Walton QB Parker McLeod definitely doesn’t know a damn thing about football or QB play. Do you seriously think Saban would even offer him if he wasn’t a player? He does not rack up big passing numbers because Walton is and always has been a running team. Why pass when you can run it as good as they can? He lost his top 2 recievers from last year and the replacements need a little more seasoning.
It’s going to be a great season of high school football here in Georgia and it’s already off to a great start. I agree, though, that if the refs were going to throw that kid out for those hits that they should’ve nipped it in the bud after the first one by meeting with both coaches and the player to let them know that it wasn’t going to be tolerated. Was there even a flag on the first hit on the TE? I can’t remember.
Camden74
September 2nd, 2012
1:57 am
IMO, neither hit was dirty!
RealTalk
September 2nd, 2012
8:16 am
I have to eat my words….he is the best in State, better than Kamara.
But 47 carries is way too much in my opinion, do Walton’s coached not understand the concept of play action?