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Prep Zone: High School Sports

POY Watch: Jones retains top spot after second 300-yard game

7:00 am September 5, 2012, by GHSF Daily

Tyren Jones, the Walton running back who has rushed for more than 300 yards in each of his first two games, maintains his lead this week in GHSF Daily’s Player of the Year Watch.

Jones is on pace to rush for 3,175 yards in the regular season alone. The state record for rushing yards in a season, counting playoff games, is 3,172, set by Daccus Turman of Washington-Wilkes in 2000.

New to the POY Watch this week are Wilcox County quarterback Makail Grace, Norcross running back Alvin Kamara and Newnan two-way star Tray Matthews.

Out for now are quarterbacks Josh Dobbs of Alpharetta and Deshaun Watson of Gainesville, whose teams lost their openers, and Dooly County defensive lineman Montravius Adams.

1. RB Tyren Jones, Walton: Jones rushed for 332 yards and four touchdowns on 47 carries in a 37-35 victory over McEachern. Jones, who has committed to Alabama, has rushed for 635 yards and nine touchdowns. Walton is ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAAA.

2. DE Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson: Nkemdiche made three tackles, recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown in a 35-3 victory over Miami Central, which was held to 17 rushing yards. For the season, Nkemdiche has rushed for 56 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries and made seven tackles, one for a loss. Grayson holds eight top-10 national rankings and is No. 1 in Georgia’s Class AAAAAA.

3. QB Eddie Printz, Lassiter: Printz was 20-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-29 victory over Hillgrove. Printz, who is committed to UCLA, passed for 3,350 yards in 2011. Lassiter is ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAAA.

4. WR Demarcus Robinson, Peach County: Robinson scored all three Peach County touchdowns in a 21-14 victory over Perry. One came on a 95-yard reception, another on a 35-yard interception return. He had four catches for 131 yards. Robinson, committed to Clemson, had 1,027 yards receiving. Peach County is ranked No. 1 in Class AAA.

5. HB/DB J.J. Green, Camden County: Green rushed for 40 yards on four carries, caught a pass for 17 yards, made two tackles, one a sack, and broke up the only pass thrown his way in a 53-7 victory over Vanguard (Ocala, Fla.). Green has 125 yards rushing on 12 carries, four receptions for 54 yards, four touchdowns, four tackles and a forced fumble. Camden County is ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAAA.

6. QB Taylor Lamb, Calhoun: Lamb was 27-of-38 passing for 284 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-35 victory over Ridgeland. He also rushed for 56 yards on seven carries. Lamb, who has committed to South Alabama, threw the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds after a 68-yard drive that started with a minute left. Lamb led the state with 3,638 yards passing for the Class AA championship team in 2011. Calhoun is ranked No. 1 in Class AA.

7. Makail Grace, Wilcox County: Grace was 19-of-27 passing for 407 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries in a 43-39 victory over Wilkinson County. He scored the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard run with 46 seconds left. Grace threw for 2,778 yards and 35 touchdowns last season. Wilcox County is ranked No. 2 in Class A.

8. S/WR Tray Matthews, Newnan: Matthews had four catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over LaGrange. Matthews has 11 catches on the season for 236 yards. He has rushed for 41 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He has 11 tackles at safety. Matthews, rated as one of the top 10 safety prospects by Rivals and Scout, is committed to Georgia. Newnan is 2-0 but unranked in Class AAAAAA.

9. Alvin Kamara, Norcross: Kamara rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries and had four receptions for 11 yards in a 35-20 victory over South Gwinnett. Kamara, rated by some as the No. 1 running back prospect in Georgia, was held to 10 yards in the first half as Norcross trailed 14-6. Norcross is unranked in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Class AAAAAA poll.

10. QB Malcolm Parrish, Brooks County: Parrish was 16-for-41 passing for 206 yards in a 21-18 victory over Monroe. He threw a 55-yard TD pass in the final minute for the game-winner. In two games, he is 31-of-63 passing for 404 yards and has rushed for 216 yards on 33 carries. He’s thrown four touchdown passes and run for three. Brooks County is ranked No. 3 in AA.

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12 comments Add your comment

tide roll

September 5th, 2012
7:55 am

There must be something you fail to see in Anthony Jennings. In his 1st game vs. Tray Matthews and Newnan, Jennings had over 350 yards total offense, not including a 25 yard touchdown reception. Newnan’s Coach said he’s the best QB in the state, bar none. In his 2nd game, he accounted for nearly 300 yards toal offense, rushed for two scores and passed for two more. But what really jumps out at you is that after his 1st pass fell incomplete, he completed his NEXT 18 STRAIGHT! He didn’t through another incompletion until there were two minutes left in the 3rd quarter! He’s an LSU commitment, and Les Miles considers him the top dual threat QB in America. Of course Richt and Booboo don’t offer the kid, even though he grew up a UGA fan and his father played there! Unbelievable but true! These types of decisions by Richt and Bobo are one of the main reasons they should be replaced.

Todd Holcomb

September 5th, 2012
9:01 am

Thanks for pointing out Jennings. I’d like to see his stats.

As for his inclusion this week, keep in mind that Player of the Year is not purely ‘best player,’ or ‘best stats.’ It’s largely the impact the player is having on the state as a whole. Players of the Year typically play for contenders. Marietta needs to win some big games for Jennings to be viewed as a legit Player of the Year candidate, IMO.

BamaBornDukie

September 5th, 2012
9:12 am

I agree with you Todd. Jennings is a very good prospect but you don’t win the [high school] Heisman when you are a QB [the 1 position that can impact wins/losses more than any other] and you lead your team to a .500 record (ex. 5-5).

OMacG

September 5th, 2012
10:14 am

Valid point, bama. Jennings is definitely one of the better 2013 quarterbacks in this state- I watched that Marietta/Newnan game from the cramped visitor stands of Northcutt and there’s no question about his big-time arm and running ability…even the equally talented Tray Matthews was juked out of his socks by Jennings on a QB draw play. What tide roll failed to note was that though the Blue Devil QB made plays to allow his team a chance for victory, he also made several costly mistakes in that same game that contributed toward Newnan leaving with the W.

Jefferson

September 5th, 2012
11:48 am

Taylor Lamb is the best QB in the state. Between his ears lies the edge he has over the others. The guy is a coach.

Camden74

September 5th, 2012
2:52 pm

It’s too bad J.J. Green will never have, or the opportunity to have, the stats of the other POY candidates. You will hardly ever see a Camden Player with overwhelming stats. Hence the mantra, “Your role is not as important as our goal”! But J.J. is one heck of a player! :-D

Todd Holcomb

September 5th, 2012
4:27 pm

I think JJ Green could win POY if Camden wins state and he has makes some game-breaking plays in the playoffs, or even in that region. Greg Reid didn’t have super stats for Lowndes, although I don’t know if JJ is in that category yet.

Todd Holcomb

September 5th, 2012
4:28 pm

I read recently that Lamb didn’t even play QB prior to coming to Calhoun. He was a WR in South Carolina. When his father, Bobby, lost the Furman job, they came to Calhoun, where he was moved to QB.

Jimmy Ward

September 5th, 2012
5:31 pm

What about the kid from Cedartown? Nick Chubb, he ran for over 300 yards last week against Rockmart.

Camden74

September 5th, 2012
7:46 pm

I was told J.J. is not 100 percent right now . Hopefully, he will be totally healthy by the time the Region 1 schedule kicks in……Maybe then he’ll get more touches. :-D

westlakealumni

September 14th, 2012
1:25 pm

Shaquille Wiggins in the best cornerback in Georgia. he is ranked the number 6 cornerback in the nation, playing in the under armour all -american. Not only is he not a player to wacth but not even a super 11 selection. The most important factor is that he is going to UGA. We have to do a better job prasing and pubbing our kids who stay in college to go to school. This help Georgia programs to be better and giving them there own column weekly will help!!!

cenicienta imagenes

September 16th, 2012
5:13 am

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