Georgia targets shine in STA-Byrnes game on ESPNU

It’s not often in this hyperbolic sports world that we live in that any event can live up to expectations. But somehow the St. Thomas Aquinas-Byrnes game did this past Friday.

The nationally-televised game (ESPNU) matched the nation’s No. 1 (STA) and No. 2 high school teams and featured about two dozen Division 1 prospects. A few of those recruits are considering Georgia.

And they did not disappoint in the game, won by St. Thomas Aquinas 42-34.

STA’s Lamarcus Joyner, who ESPN ranks as the No. 1 cornerback in America (No. 2 by both Rivals and Scout), ended up being the star of the game, but not for anything he did on defense (Byrnes had over 500 yards offense). Joyner had two touchdowns on a 93-yard kickoff return and a 52-yard pass reception. He still lists Georgia as one of his school considerations, along with Florida, FSU, Ohio State and Southern Cal.

Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore is considered the top back in the nation by Scout and No. 2 by Rivals and ESPN. And he looked pretty good, too, finishing with 221 total yards (122 rush, 99 receive) and two TDs. But he also had three costly fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Lattimore says he’s still considering Georgia along with South Carolina, Auburn, Penn State, North Carolina and Oregon.

STA cornerback Cody Riggs is another prospect considering Georgia. In fact, the four-star DB traveled to Athens Saturday and Sunday after the game on an official visit. Friday night, Riggs blocked a field goal attempt, had one pass breakup and two tackles.

Some other notable performances in the game:

• Byrnes DE Corey Miller (Tennessee commitment): 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 pressures, 1 fumble recovery;
• Byrnes WR Jazz King (uncommitted): 9 rec., 158 yards, 2 TDs;
• Byrnes WR Torian Richardson (uncommitted): 4 rec., 99 yards, 1 TD;
• Byrnes QB Chas Dodd (Rutgers): 25-of-44 passing for 413 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs;
• Byrnes DE Brandon Willis (Tennessee): 2 tackles;
• STA K Michael Palardy (Tennessee): 6 punts, 48.2-yard avg., 0-1 FGs (49), 6-6 PATs;
• STA WR Phillip Dorsett (junior): 3 rec., 97 yards, TD;
• STA QB Jake Rudock (junior), 9-17, 224 yards, 4 TDs.

Here are some notable performances from college prospects back home here in Georgia. Let me know some that I missed:

• Georgia Player of the Year candidate Blake Sims, an Alabama commitment, was at it again for the Red Elephants. He had 115 yards on 8 carries, scored on a 71-yard TD run, and had two TDs on 9-for-17 passing for 67 yards. Both his TD passes went to Stanford commitment and fellow AJC Super 11 player Tai-ler Jones.
• 

  Synjyn Days (3) plays both QB and FS for Hillgrove. He's a Georgia Tech commitment. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)

  A pair of Georgia Tech commitments went head-to-head this past Friday when Hillgrove and South Paulding collided in a Region 7-AAAA meeting. Hillgrove quarterback Synjyn Days was picked off by South Paulding’s Ryan Ayers, who returned it 45 yards for a touchdown and tighted up what had been a one-sided game, 14-6. But Days got the last laugh, leading the Hawks right back the field on a long scoring drive capped by his 19-yard TD run on fourth-and-nine. The Hawks went on to win 28-6 victory and Days finished with 19 carries for 157 yards.

• Georgia commitment Da’Rick Rogers had three catches for 144 yards and two TDs while playing just the first half of a 56-14 win over Gordon Central. Quarterback Nash Nance (Vanderbilt) was 7-of-9 for 193 yards and three TDs while only playing the first two quarters for Class AA’s top-ranked team.
• North Clayton’s Clarence Jackson (Ole Miss) had eight carries for 107 yards and two TDs in limited playing time of a 35-6 win. He’ll get a big test against Griffin this week.
• South Gwinnett WR Jonathan Krause (Vanderbilt) had seven catches for 137 yards and two scores in a 35-21 win over Dacula.
• McEachern’s Rajaan Bennett (uncommitted) joined the 1,000-yard rushing club with 219 yards and two TDs in a win over Marietta. The Blue Devils’ Greg Franklin ran for 154 yards and 3 TDs in the same game.
• Sandy Creek’s Rajion Neal (Mississippi State) scored five touchdowns, including two on kickoff returns of 98 and 79 yards.
• Kentucky commitment Raymond Sanders had 142 yards and two touchdowns in Stephenson’s 48-7 win over Luella.
• Ean “Pinball” Pemberton had 157 yards and 3 TDs in Grayson’s 34-0 win over Shiloh.
• Apalachee’s Jon Lee had 274 yards rushing and 4 TDs in lopsided win over Winder-Barrow.
• Miles Jones had 244 yards on 39 carries and 4 TDs for Allatoona against North Forsyth.
• Westminster’s Ralph David Abernathy had 234 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns in an upset win over No. 3 Lovett. Abernathy had 86- and 51-yard runs from scrimmage and a 14-yard TD reception.