Regions bank salutes state champs - NOVEMBER 12-18, 2010
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regions bank salutes state champs NOVEMBER 12-18, 2010 gwinnett’s high school sports newspaper Vol 5 NO 12
2g | Score gwinnett Get In The Game!
STARTING
LINEUP
Publisher/Editor I.J. Rosenberg
GENERAL MANAGER Bob Houghton
Managing Editor Stephen Black
ART/CREATIVE DIRECTOR DJ Galbiati
Business manager Marvin Botnick
BEAT WRITERS Josh Bagriansky (Hawks), Stephen Black (UGA), Dave Cohen (Georgia State), Joe Deighton (Thrashers),
Ricky Dimon (Falcons), Fletcher Proctor (Braves), Thomas Watson (Tech), Brian Jones (Preps)
STAFF WRITERS Drew Collins, Jamie Walker, Jay Thomason, Raj Prashad
CONTRIBUTORS C.C., Brian Katrek, Alex Ewalt, Tad Arapoglou, Dean Zindler, Zander Lentz, Kevin Dankosky, Mitch Evans,
Matt Judy, Tony Schiavone, Richard Diamond, Joe Haines, Chris Dimino, Mike Bell, Matt Stewart, Fred Kalil, Nick Cellini, Phillip
Leopold, Dave Marshall, Greg Smith, Steak Shapiro, Mike Cather, Beau Bock, Hal Lamar, Chris Cotter, Roy Hickman, Dave
Cohen, John Olah, Jeff Woolverton, Chris Voss, Bob Rathbun, Courtney Capps, Bill Hartman, Chuck Dowdle,
Shannon Alderman, Dan Kamal, Dennis Scott, Hal Lanier, Jeff Batten, Micah Hart, Ben Wright, Alan Vasquez, Andrew Vedlitz
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Mitch Albom, Dave Kindred, Barry Bloom
KYLE VORSTER PARKER RHODES
school listing walton high school westminster High School
CHEROKEE/FORSYTH: Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, Forsyth Central, North Forsyth, Sequoyah, South Forsyth, West Forsyth, Woodstock A senior running back, Vorster rushed During the Class AA state championship
COBB: Allatoona, Campbell, Harrison, Hillgrove, Kell, Kennesaw Mountain, Lassiter, Marietta, McEachern, Mt. Paran Christian, N. Cobb,
N. Cobb Christian, Osborne, Pebblebrook, Pope, S. Cobb, Sprayberry, Walton, Wheeler, Whitefield, Walker for 171 yards on 27 carries in a 20-0 meet, Parker finished third overall with a
DEKALB: Chamblee, Columbia, Decatur, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, Lakeside, Marist, Miller Grove, M.L. King, Paideia, Redan, St. Pius X,
Southwest DeKalb, Stephenson, Stone Mountain, Tucker
win over region-rival Woodstock. The time of 19:34 and helped her team win
FULTON: Alpharetta, Blessed Trinity, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Douglass, Grady, John’s Creek, Lovett, Mays, Milton, Mt. Pisgah, win clinched the Region 5-AAAAA No. their second state title in a row and 24th in
North Springs, Northview, Riverwood, Roswell, Tri-Cities, Westminster, Woodward Academy
GWINNETT: Archer, Berkmar, Brookwood, Buford, C. Gwinnett, Collins Hill, Dacula, Grayson, Greater Atlanta Christian, Meadowcreek, Mill Creek, 2 seed for the Raiders. Vorster scored program history. The senior harrier over-
Mountain View, Norcross, North Gwinnett, Parkview, Peachtree Ridge, South Gwinnett, Wesleyan two touchdowns, the first coming on a came illness to post her second-best time
FAYETTE: Whitewater, Sandy Creek, Starr’s Mill
NEWTON: Eastside 53-yard scamper in the second quarter. ever in Carrollton, the site of the meet.
A lw ay s at s c o r e at l . c o m
NovemBER 12-18, 2010 Score gwinnett | 3G
Spotlight on local playoff teams reveals several state title candidates
SCORE44
Ioffst’sfootball
crunch time. Just ask any high school
team that’s still playing. The play-
begin statewide on Nov. 12 and, as al-
20-0 loss to Dunwoody earlier in the season
has already taught his players a lesson about
playing at a low intensity level.
trustworthy Austin Petrik leads the offense
from under center. First up is South Forsyth,
while a potential juicy second-round matchup
ways, they are sure to entertain and surprise “Really it [the poor play] all started the against the winner of SW DeKalb-Flowery
onlookers. Here are a few teams to watch for game before against Lakeside,” Chadwick Branch awaits.
as the second season gets underway. said. “Two weeks in a row we weren’t very
NORTH GWINNETT …
inspired. We left a lot of points on the board
in both those games. We weren’t that good on
OTHERS TO WATCH …
Buford and Westminster, the top two out
presented by
If you follow high school football in offense, we turned the ball over quite a bit.” of Region 6-2A, represent a favorite and po-
Georgia, you know about Bob Sphire’s North The team responded well from the shock tential dark horse in the classification.
Gwinnett Bulldogs. They finished the season defeat, winning their last three matchups with The Wolves are on fire. And as usual,
at 10-0 and are ranked No. 2 in Class 5A. With relative ease. Now, with the playoffs right they are one of the favorites. After a 14-0 Ray Drew TCC (Thomasville) DE
big time talents like athlete C.J. Uzomah, around the corner, it’s full speed ahead for a loss to Carver on Sept. 3, they have rolled off James Vaughters Tucker (Tucker) LB
who plays several positions on offense, a run- team that features quarterback Andy Perez, eight straight wins, with a 23-point spanking Nick Marshall Wilcox Co (Rochelle) QB/CB
ning back rotation featuring Joe Jones, Ethan who has recovered after struggling midseason, of the Wildcats being their closest game. Martay Mattox
Quan Bray
Clarke Central (Athens)
Troupe (LaGrange)
QB
ATH
Kilgore and Donnie Miles, a solid offensive while Gray King leads a solid ground attack. This may not be Buford’s most tal- Chris Conley North Paulding (Dallas) WR
line and defense, and you have one of the top “We’re starting to play with a lot more ented team ever, but it’s certainly a very Watts Dantzler Dalton (Dalton) OL
teams in any classification in Georgia. confidence and passion and energy,” Chad- good one that plays well as a unit. Run- Isaiah Crowell
Gabe Wright
Carver-Columbus (Columbus)
Carver-Columbus (Columbus)
RB
DT
For Sphire’s team, getting overconfident wick said. “And we just have to use that as ning back Seon Jones is a terror who ran Stephon Tuitt Monroe Area (Monroe) DT
is unacceptable as they prepared to face Las- motivation and keep going.” for 313 yards in a game earlier in the year. Jared Boyd Stephenson (Stone Mountain) CB
siter in the first round. They beat the Trojans Heritage-Conyers was the first-round op- They’ve also got speedster Eric Barr in Jabari Hunt-Days Hillgrove (Powder Springs) LB
Justin Garrett Tucker (Tucker) LB
34-14 at the Corky Kell Classic in August. ponent for Marist. the backfield and in the secondary, and Corey Moore Griffin (Griffin) S
But Sphire warns that anything can happen. a steady quarterback in Alex Ross. This Chris Sanders Tucker (Tucker) DB
“You’ve got to be focused on this game,” KELL … is also a team with history behind them, AJ Johnson
Shannon Brown
Gainesville (Gainesville) LB
Cook (Adel) LB
he said. “Maybe in some other brackets, some The top seven teams in Class 4A fin- as the perennial power has lost just two Terrence Smith SWD (Decatur) OLB
other classifications, schools can afford to do ished the year at 10-0. The Kell Longhorns games over the last four years and has won CJ Uzomah N. Gwinnett (Suwanee) QB
that. But I absolutely know 5A ball in Geor- are one of those teams, placing fourth in the three straight state titles. Kent Rollins S. Gwinnett (Snellville)
Alan Posey Clarke Central (Athens) OL
QB
gia, the experiences I’ve had, you can’t afford final GACA Poll before the playoffs. Kell just As for Westminster, they finally have Xzavier Ward Colquitt Co (Moultrie) OL
to do that.” might be the most dangerous of those seven. their stud running back on the field. Ralph Xzavier Dickson Griffin (Griffin) DE
We’ve seen such shockers transpire be- After all, they did beat three good 5A teams in David Abernathy IV missed seven weeks of Jay Rome Valdosta (Valdosta) TE
Malcolm Mitchell Valdosta (Valdosta) S
fore. Look at 2007’s North Cobb Warriors, Etowah, Woodstock and Lassiter to open the action due to a sprained ankle. But the team Christian Reeves Eagles’ Landing Christian Academy WR/TE
who lost in the first round of the playoffs to season before sweeping through their region held serve without him and he returned with Chris Mayes Spalding (Griffin) DT
Peachtree Ridge after being ranked No. 1 for schedule. a bang, running rampant over arch-rivals Sterling Bailey East Hall (Gainesville) DE
Tarik Cook Stephenson (Stone Mountain) C
five straight weeks. “Its just been a great, great season,” said Lovett for 224 yards. However, he was held Damian Swann Grady (Atlanta) DB
“Every year you see a few lower seeds head coach Derek Cook. “Just to be able to to 47 in the season-ending loss to nemisis Brian Randolph Kell (Marietta) S
upset some higher seeds and you see some win the games that we wanted and for the Buford, who beat the Wildcats twice by a Avery Walls Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (McDonough) S
Kyle Karempelis Wesleyan (Norcross) RB
road teams beat some home favorites,” Sphire most part we’ve done it decisively over some combined score of 75-10. Westminster plays Kadetrix Marcus Stephenson (Stone Mountain) S
said, “and none of that should really be a sur- teams that were very good.” North Oconee in round one. Thomas O’Reilly Pope (Marietta) OL
prise because across the board in east, west, Indeed, it has been a dream year for the Mays could be a Cinderella candidate Travis Richmond Peach County (Fort Valley) ATH
Rory Anderson McEachern TE
north, south Georgia they really know how to Longhorns. But they will want to end it at the this season. The talented bunch finished the Taylor Heinicke Collins Hill QB
play the game of football.” Georgia Dome. Like North Gwinnett, they year at 7-3 with a resounding 54-0 win over Brandon McGowan North Gwinnett LB
stand to host at least a first and second round Chamblee and seem to be flying under the Akeem Hunt Newton County (Covington) RB
MARIST … game in the playoffs after winning their region. radar heading into the postseason. But they Marcus Caffey
Matt Kiefer
Grady (Atlanta)
Chattahoochee (Alpharetta) OL
RB
Expectations are always high at Marist. “Being at home, it’s just a reward for the must travel to Athens to face a stout Clarke Demarco Robinson ML King (Lithonia) WR
Alan Chadwick’s team finished the season at year,” Cook said. “Our guys like to play at Central team, and have never won a road Andre “AJ” Sims Brookwood (Snellville) WR
8-2, finishing second in difficult Region 6-4A. home and we love that.” playoff game in school history. OUT: LaMichael Fanning, Harris County (Hamilton) DE, Akeem Hunt, Newton County
(Covington) RB
Like North Gwinnett, not looking ahead Tennessee commit Brian Randolph is a Bagriansky can be reached at IN: Christian Reeves, Eagles’ Landing Christian Academy (McDonough), WR/TE
is crucial. But Chadwick hopes a surprise handful in the backfield and at safety, while jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
A lw ay s at g a p r e p n e w s . c o m
4g | Score gwinnett Get In The Game!
Lions roar past Jaguars, earn region title; Falcons fall to juggernaut from Athens
S tephenson looked to end their regular sea-
son with a 10-0 mark for the second con-
secutive year and were also trying to win their
ond half, the Gladiators got another break
with a Quenshaun Watson 68-yard touch-
down and Central went up 14-0. The Glads’
an undefeated regular season and has played
lights out since defeating Lowndes earlier in
the year. Traditional South Georgia powers
defeated, but averaging over 40 points in their
last four games and haven’t given up one point
during that span. The Trojans are looking to
third consecutive Region 2-5A title when defense then stopped Flowery Branch on the Valdosta and Lowndes are looking to make a win their first title since 1998.
they faced M.L. King Friday night. The only one-yard line twice and Clarke Central came deep run and both could face each other in the In 2A, many think it will come down to
problem was the upstart Lions were looking away with the 21-0 win. The Gladiators will finals if everything falls right for them. two teams in the finals and those two teams
to upset the Jaguars and win their second host Mays, while the Falcons will welcome In 4A, there are quite a few teams that are Buford and Carver-Columbus. Buford has
region title in four years. Thanks to a stellar SW DeKalb in the first round of the playoffs. could take home the trophy. Northside-War- won the last three 2A titles while Carver won
passing attack by Lions quarterback Jonquell Both games will kick off 7:30 Friday night. ner Robins comes in as the favorite after a the 3A title in 2007 and has been a playoff
Dawson, who threw for 256 yards and three runner-up finish in 5A last year. But Clarke mainstay in recent years. Fans got a preview
touchdowns, M.L. King was able to come PLAYOFF FAVORITES … Central, Tucker, Chattahoochee, Lovejoy, of a possible finals matchup earlier in the year
away with the 26-24 upset win. So we know Clarke Central, Flowery Starr’s Mill and Kell come into the playoffs when these two teams faced each other and
With the win, M.L. King will be a No. Branch, M.L. King and Stephenson are in the with perfect records and all of them have the Carver came away with a hard-fought 14-0
1 seed and will take on Harrison in the first playoffs, but who are some of the other teams talent to make it to the Dome. And let’s not win. Other teams to watch for are Calhoun,
round of the state playoffs Friday night at from each class that have a shot of making it forget about Griffin, who reached the semifi- Swainsboro, Cook and Fitzgerald.
Hallford Stadium. Stephenson will also be in to the Georgia Dome in December? nals last year. And finally in 1A, Wilcox County comes
action at Hallford Stadium this weekend, tak- In 5A, No. 1 Camden County is the fa- Class 3A should also be interesting be- in as the defending champ, but Clinch is the
ing on Hillgrove Saturday night in their first- vorite because they are the defending state cause it features two teams that won state titles top-ranked team in the classification and
round playoff matchup. champions. They may play in a region that is last year. Sandy Creek, who won the 4A cham- defeated Wilcox during the regular season.
Another big game with region champi- not as strong as some of the others, but they pionship last year, dropped down to 3A this Eagle’s Landing Christian, who has a 10-0
onship implications was Flowery Branch and know how to beat some great teams when season and has blown past everyone they have record, also has a shot after winning their re-
Clarke Central. Both teams came into the it’s playoff time. Other teams to watch for played. However, Peach County is the defend- gion title by defeating Wesleyan Friday night.
game undefeated and both were looking to are North Gwinnett, McEachern, Valdosta ing champ and has not lost a game since los- Other teams in the mix are Lincoln County,
take home the Region 8-4A crown. The game and Lowndes. North Gwinnett comes into ing to Shaw in the first round of the playoffs ECI, Darlington and Savannah Christian.
was close throughout the first half, though the tournament as the only unbeaten team in 2008. One team to watch for is Carrollton, Jones can be reached at
Clarke Central led 7-0. But early in the sec- in 5A. McEachern was one play away from who comes into the tournament not only un- bjones@scoreatl.com.
AAAAA
1. Camden County (9 - 1)
Top Ten
AAAA
1. Northside WR (9 - 0)
AAA
1. Peach County (10 - 0)
AA
1. Carver Columbus (10-0)
A
1. Clinch County (10 - 0)
2. North Gwinnett (10 - 0) 2. Clarke Central (10 - 0) 2. Sandy Creek (10 - 0) 2. Buford (9 - 1) 2. Eagle’s Landing Chr. (10-0)
3. Brookwood (9 - 1) 3. Tucker (10 - 0) 3. Cairo (10 - 0) 3. Calhoun (10 - 0) 3. Wesleyan (9 - 1)
4. McEachern (9 - 1) 4. Kell (10 - 0) 4. Carrollton (10 - 0) 4. Cook (10 - 0) 4. Wilcox County (9 - 1)
5. Valdosta (9 - 1) 5. Chattahoochee (10 - 0) 5. Gainesville (9 - 1) 5. Swainsboro (10 - 0) 5. Johnson County (10-0)
6. Lowndes (8 - 2) 6. Starr’s Mill (10 - 0) 6. Ridgeland (9 - 1) 6. Jefferson County (8-1) 6. Darlington (9 - 1)
7. South Gwinnett (8 - 2) 7. Lovejoy (10 - 0) 7. Baldwin (9 - 1) 7. Westminster (7 - 3) 7. Emanuel County (8 - 2)
8. M L King (7 - 3) 8. Flowery Branch (9 - 1) 8. Burke County (8 - 2) 8. Fitzgerald (8 - 2) 8. Wilkinson County (8-2)
9. Stephenson (9 - 1) 9. Thomas Co. Central (8-2) 9. Grady (9 - 1) 9. Thomasville (7 - 3) 9. Lincoln County (8 - 2)
10. Etowah (9 - 1) 10. Griffin (9 - 1) 10. Allatoona (8 - 2) 10. Elbert County (9 - 1) 10. Charlton County (8-2)
Rankings compiled by Todd Holcomb
A lw ay s at s c o r e at l . c o m
NovemBER 12-18, 2010 Score gwinnett | 5G
A lw ay s at g a p r e p n e w s . c o m
6g | Score gwinnett Get In The Game!
5A squads flood brackets; repeat champ Buford begins title defense
T he football playoffs have arrived and sev- Collins Hill started slowly against Mead- round matchup.
eral Gwinnett County schools have favor- owcreek, but eventually found its stride in a
in the opening round of the postseason. With
In Region 8-AAAAA, Brookwood cap- the loss, Dacula head coach Kevin Maloof is
able first-round matchups that could lead to 38-0 win. Taylor Heinicke finished 22 of 30 tured its fourth region championship in the expected to retire for health reasons.
some big-time success through the postsea- with four touchdown passes, including three last six years with a 45-20 win over Berkmar,
son. Gwinnett teams have won several state in the second quarter, and ran for another the Broncos’ 20th straight win over the Patri- RECENT CHAMPS …
titles in recent years, including Buford last score in the victory. Zay Howard snagged two ots. Quarterback Ben McLane passed for over In Class AA, three-time repeat cham-
year, and several county squads have the po- scores and Heinicke also connected with Jake 161 yards and two scores while Nick Thomp- pion Buford aced its final postgame tune-up
tential to make title runs this year. Star and Trey Marksberry for touchdowns to kins and Jamaal Cole each topped 100 yards by rushing for six scores in a 42-0 win over
bring his season total to 36, a new county re- rushing for Brookwood. The Bronco defense Westminster. Eric Barr notched two scores
THE GIANTS … cord. Collins Hill will host Woodstock Friday dominated, registering 10 sacks and forcing as Buford won its 10th consecutive region
Region 7-AAAAA North Gwinnett fin- in the first round of the playoffs. four turnovers. Berkmar did snap the Brook- championship. The Wolves will begin the
ished off an undefeated regular season with a Despite some predicting a deep run for wood touchdown shutout streak though at 16 quest for a fourth straight state title with Hart
28-10 over region-rival Peachtree Ridge. The the Eagles, Heinicke knows this is a long pro- quarters. Brookwood will host Alpharetta in County visiting Buford as the No. 4 seed out
Bulldogs got on the board early with a C.J. cess. “We will take it one game at a time,” the first round of the state playoffs. of Region 8-AA. The Wolves’ only loss this
Uzomah 21-yard run but had to watch as Ridge the senior signal-caller said. “You can’t look South Gwinnett geared up for the play- season came to No. 1 Carver-Columbus, who
posted 10 straight points thanks to a Dubem ahead to a Lowndes, otherwise you’ll get beat offs, scoring at will on Archer in a 60-9 win. is starting on the opposite side of the bracket.
Nwadiogbu run and a Justin Watts field goal. in the first round.” Aaron Wimberly, back from injury, rushed In Class A, 2008 state champ Wesleyan
The North Gwinnett defense put one touch- Elsewhere in Region 7-AAAAA, Nor- for 204 yards and tallied four scores. Quarter- saw its 26-game regular-season winning
down on the board, recovering a fumble for cross righted its ship with a 44-7 win over back Kent Rollins was 10 for 15 for 193 yards streak came to an end with a 35-28 loss to
a score and then Joe Jones scored twice (one Mountain View, as the Blue Devils scored and three scores. The Comets will host West ELCA. The Wolves finished just short of a
rushing, one receiving) in the second half to on their first five possessions. Kendrix Huitt Forsyth in the opening week of the playoffs. third straight region title, but Kyle Karem-
give the Bulldogs a 10-0 regular season. The had two long runs for scores while Seth Hin- Parkview earned the final region playoff pelis certainly contributed his best with three
Bulldogs will head into the playoffs as a No.1 sley ran in a 54-yard scamper while Jason spot after scoring an early touchdown against scores and 178 yards on 22 carries. The
seed and will host Lassiter, a team North Croom had a pair of long touchdown recep- Dacula and shutting the Falcons out the rest Wolves, as a No. 2 seed, will host Warren
Gwinnett faced and defeated in the Corky Kell tions. Norcross will hit the road for a surpris- of the way to secure the region’s final play- County in the first round with a trip to Athens
Classic to open the season. Peachtree Ridge ing road date with Walton in the first round off spot. Joe Anderson scored the game’s Academy looming in the second round.
meanwhile fell to 6-4 and will miss the play- of the playoffs. Mill Creek will head to Re- lone touchdown to help Parkview back into Proctor can be reached at
offs for the first time since 2005. gion 5-AAAAA champion Etowah for a first- the playoffs. The Panthers will face Roswell fproctor@scoreatl.com.
A lw ay s at s c o r e at l . c o mNovemBER 12-18, 2010 Score gwinnett | 7G
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