AAAAAA scouting report: Lovejoy’s gambling defense vs. Norcross’ explosive playmakers
Class AAAAAA Title Game (8:30 p.m)
Lovejoy (13-1) vs. Norcross (14-0)
Overview: Neither school nor head coach has won a state title. Lovejoy, which opened in 1990, made the state final in AAAA last year and lost to Tucker. Norcross, which started football in 1957, will be playing in its first state championship game. Lovejoy coach Al Hughes (109-80) and Norcross coach Keith Maloof (129-59) are in their 17th seasons as head coaches.
Lovejoy: The Wildcats returned most major figures from its AAAA runner-up team but were ranked only No. 7 in preseason because of the move to a higher classification. They lost their second game at Colquitt County 14-7 before dominating weak 2-AAAAAA, winning their six region games by an average score of 53-2. They’ve beaten Tri-Cities (51-13), Marietta (36-15), No. 4 North Gwinnett (21-6) and North Cobb (63-42) in the playoffs.
Norcross season: The Blue Devils were unranked in preseason largely because of their first-round exit in 2011 but were expected to contend. They beat three-time region champion North Gwinnett 31-21 in the third game and kept rolling. Norcross can become the first team in the highest class since 1986 Valdosta to defeat all 15 opponents by eight points or more. Norcross has beaten Chattahoochee (34-7), South Gwinnett (27-7), No. 5 Camden County (34-20) and No. 10 Colquitt County (41-27) in the playoffs.
Lovejoy strength: Lovejoy has a 2,000-yard rusher in Travis Custis and a 2,000-yard passer in Alejandro Bennifield. The defense thrives on tackles for losses and turnovers.
Norcross strength: Norcoss has a 2,000-yard rusher in Alvin Kamara and a 2,000-yard passer in Joseph Wilbur. Myles Autry is a tremendous weapon as rusher, receiver and returner.
Loveoy top players: Custis and receiver Jumichael Ramos have committed to Georgia Tech. Other top recruits include NT Norwood (Jacksonville State), TE Arshad Jackson (Auburn), DE Veion Robinson (Middle Tennessee), DE Zane Fields (uncommitted) and Bennifield (uncommitted).
Norcross’ top players: Kamara, who is uncommitted, is rated among the top five running backs nationally by three recruiting services. CB Shon Akins has committed to California. DE Lorenzo Carter and DB/WR Autry have several SEC and ACC offers as juniors.
On Lovejoy: ‘’Their defense is what’s unique. Their ability to play tight man-to-man coverage with no high safeties and put seven in the box, you don’t see a lot of that in high school. It’s difficult to pick up the tough yards in the run game. Most teams would be really rolling the dice to give up a big play, but they don’t because they put tremendous pressure on the quarterback.’’
– North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire, whose team lost to Lovejoy 21-6 on Nov. 30.
On Norcross: ‘’They may be the one team in Georgia to actually break down Lovejoy’s defense because they are extremely explosive on offense with Kamara and Autry. Kamara’s ability to stretch the field horizontally before he cuts vertically makes it tough to load the box. But if Autry isn’t healthy [he tweaked a knee in semifinals], that plays into Lovejoy’s hands.’’
– North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire, whose team lost to Norcross 31-21 on Sept. 14.
AJC pick: Norcross 27, Lovejoy 20
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274 comments Add your comment
Grayram
December 16th, 2012
12:13 am
57 cat. Couldn’t resist
FridayNightLightsFan
December 16th, 2012
12:14 am
@ Norcross – congrats, and with the quality of the teams you beat you deserve the championship. There is no doubt you are the #1 team this year.
jvillebil
December 16th, 2012
12:14 am
One thing you can’t argue with, is the state of Georgia produces some great athletes.
Suwanee 0wns
December 16th, 2012
12:15 am
Congratulations Norcross! Well fought game by both teams.
While Maloof only called the play twice, Kamara had the speed to turn the corner on the sweep. Lots of coaches saw this game, and the Lovejoy defense is not going to be a mystery in the future. Wing T probably would have done well against the Lovejoy D. Maloof was also able to make the “bunch” passing set work very well. Lovejoy seemed confused and missed their coverages. Autry was wide open for a short pass out of the bunch.
Excellent game and fun to watch. I prefer watching a good High School game to almost any other game of football. You just never know who will step up or what might happen.
GwinnettDad
December 16th, 2012
12:18 am
@jvillebil – I know what it’s like to return back from Valdosta on the short end of a 49-7 loss with a team that had been previously undefeated. That was 2005. Sometimes you win, other times you lose. And occasionally you get the shaft.
GwinnettDad
December 16th, 2012
12:24 am
We’ll see if the victor ‘The Cross’ makes his victory lap here or if the bridesmaid Sportsnut make an appearance to provide his commentary.
jvillebil
December 16th, 2012
12:30 am
Well GHSA football playoffs are the best. You would think that the NCAA football powers that be could understand the fans all want and need at least an 8 team playoff, you could actually take teams 9-24 and set up an National Invitation Tournament like they do in basketball and it would generate revenue and tremendous fan support because you would actually be playing for something. Well it’s been a great season I look forward to doing it all over again next year.
GwinnettDad
December 16th, 2012
12:33 am
One last postscript. I have read some pretty nasty things about LJ showboating etc. This game, however, I didn’t see anything of the sort, even when they were up by 11 points. Thought the sportsmanship was overall more than acceptable.
Grayram
December 16th, 2012
12:34 am
I agree gwinnettdad
Marietta fan
December 16th, 2012
12:38 am
It was a great postseason for AAAAAA. Who would’ve thought we would beat Lowndes and Lassiter would blow that lead in the first round. Who would’ve thought North Cobb could make it to the semis, and Colquitt going north every week to make the semis. Congrats to Norcross, I didn’t think they could win at Camden but they proved me wrong, and they also beat Lovejoy when it looked bleak. I can’t wait for next season! I hope I can see my team in the dome at some point
The Cross
December 16th, 2012
4:16 am
I have finally come down from cloud nine long enough to write a post.
I want to first congratulate Lovejoy for a great season and playing a great championship game. This game truly could have gone either way. The Lovejoy fans and players showed a lot of class after the game. The Clayton County community should be proud of this group, going to back to back Dome appearances is impressive. Sportsnut, Your boys were as advertised and play GOOD hard nosed football.
Now I want to congratulate my Blue Devils. I graduated from Norcross in 1985 and we made the playoffs the three years that I played Varsity but never made it out of the second round. My son who is a senior was able to help make history and I am so proud of him for a great season and giving me so much joy in his high school career. What a way to end your senior season…I was able to get down on the field with 1:30 left and I was there to catch my son coming off the field after the last snap and his tears of joy as he lifted me up was the greatest feeling…a moment that was overwhelming. I am proud to be associated with the program and what football has given my son from a leadership perspective and a driver of his maturation is awesome. Team sports teach these young men a library full of life lessons. Well done Coach Maloof and staff!!! You guys deserve this moment. Fortunately I have one more week of high school football as he was honored with making the Gwinnett all-star game.
I also want to tell you guys how much I have enjoyed debating, sparring and the overall goofiness that goes on in these posts/blogs. I know I have annoyed some and hopefully entertained some. It has been literally a perfect season.
The Cross
GwinnettDad
December 16th, 2012
4:59 am
@The Cross – thanks for keeping the trophy in Gwinnett! Congratulations!
The Cross
December 16th, 2012
9:37 am
Thanks GwinnettDad!
3 in a row!
The Cross
December 16th, 2012
9:37 am
The Cross
Lovejoy#1
December 16th, 2012
1:11 pm
First, I would like to thank our kids for great game and a great season. Both team played very hard. This game came down to coaching. Kamara wasn’t a major factor. Nor was Custis. Both defenses were good both team got a little exposed in there secondary. I don’t think Norcross expected the speed that they faced. And Lovejoys play calling in the last eight minutes was very suspect. Norcross got away with waving off a punt and running for 18 yard. I don’t know how that many ref. missed that twice. But we don’t cry over spill milk we go on. Congrats to Norcross great group of kids.
skjohn
December 16th, 2012
1:25 pm
Was at the game. It was an awesome game with a lot of talented kids out there. Norcross came back in the 4th to win it. Wilber threw a picture perfect pass to Kamara to take the lead. Something they will remember for the rest of their lives. Way to go Norcross, 15-0, 6A Champions!
Blue Devils
December 16th, 2012
2:49 pm
Well the cream comes to the top….Hell of a game.. 14-3 going into the 4th quarter… 3 unanswered TD’s in the 4th Quarter..21-14 NORCROSS FINAL….. That’s what champions are made of…. How Bout them Devils!!
Blue Devils
December 16th, 2012
2:52 pm
Yes, I have to agree…Lovejoy had them on the ropes for 3 + quarters…. Great Season to the Lovejoy team and fans…
L. J FOOTBALL 1956
December 17th, 2012
12:01 pm
COACH HUGHES are you serious you couldn’t lead the team out of a burning building if one exit was blocked you cant figure out you need to do something different to get out. FIRE YOURSELF !!!!!!!!
L. J FOOTBALL 1956
December 17th, 2012
12:05 pm
HOW MANY TIMES YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DOME TO FIGURE IT OUT THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF CANT CALL PLAYS, PLAY THE RIGHT PLAYERS ON THE FIELD,AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHEN NEEDED. YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE THE WORST.
Fred
December 17th, 2012
1:09 pm
@L. J FOOTBALL 1956 – I’m not a Lovejoy fan and even I find your comments offensive! If you want to see something different, why don’t you get your teaching certificate, get hired and work to make the team better. Lovejoy did better than 61 other teams in 6A this year and that is pretty dad-gum good!
Flyer
December 18th, 2012
9:00 am
@The Cross– Congrats on the big win, but I think your memory of your Norcross HS successes are a little overblown.
sportsnut
December 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
I am here. There is not much to be said other than Congratulations to Norcross for winning a hard fought game. Well played by both teams. Never mind those haters. They will always be around. It was a great year of football. I enjoyed all the banter back and forth. Everyone of you made this good. Many knowledgeble football fans and many with no clue. I appreciate all the inside info. The things that I learned about certain players, coach’s and fans. Even travel to new places. It was a blast. I look foward to next season and Lovejoy getting right back on that bike and ride some more. Thanks to all of you who had positive things to say. To those that downed Lovejoy all the way, I hope you are on the schedule next season. If not and we make the playoffs, may we meet then and you get your chance. Lovejoy lost. They lost to a good team. They were however, in it to win it. Did not happen. Lovejoy will be back and expect them to contend.
@ 74 == I must address you. You were right. Lovejoy did not win the title. They came pretty close though. I still don’t know what I said to make you despise Lovejoy but I will start next season off now by saying Lovejoy is better than Camden. (LOL) Just kidding. I hope you learned something. I did.
sportsnut
December 19th, 2012
6:36 pm
@ FNLF == You have nothing to say. You got that arse spanked. Same as a year ago. The year before that too. Hate all you want. It won’t change anything. Not one single thing. You are really pathetic. Full of resentment. Give it a break. You have been at it with me and Lovejoy for 2 years now and you still have no argument. Your team did not factor last season and Lovejoy was on your mind in a negative manner in class AAAA. Now, here it is another year in a different class, AAAAAA, not even yours and you are still hating on Lovejoy. Please find yourself a hobby and and rest your mind. There is another season up-coming and your team will have another shot at it just as everyone will. Lovejoy will be back to try again, will your team ?