After a doubleheader on Friday night, the Corky Kell Classic wrapped up on Saturday with five games.
Game 1: Kell 20, Carroltton 7
The Kell Longhorns and the Carrollton Trojans both came out of the gates slowly during Saturday's first game of the Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic, but all it took was a timely turnover to give Kell full momentum the rest of the way. The Longhorns were unproductive in their first three possessions, but a strong 54-yard punt by junior Julien Chang pinned Carrollton inside its own 1-yard line, giving Kell’s defense the opportunity to step up.
They took advantage of the opportunity when a forced fumble from junior defensive end Evan Carnes was recovered by Kell’s Bryson Armstrong in the Carrollton, putting the Longhorns up 7-0. The spiral trended down soon after for the Spartans when quarterback Jack Garrett threw a pick on the first play of the second quarter, setting up an eventual field goal for Kell giving them the 10-0 lead.
Cam Rosendahl then took over when he led the charge with under two minutes remaining in the first half, setting up a TD run for Itabari Mason and the Longhorns with a 17-0 lead. A 38-yard run by Carrollton’s Jarvis Terrell gave hope to the Spartan fans, but it was all for naught as a 22-yard field goal sealed the deal with two minutes remaining, giving Kell the 20-7 victory. The spotlight performance of the game was from senior quarterback Rosendahl, who went 16-for-22 for 180 yards while rushing for an additional 81 yards on the ground.
Game 2: Colquitt County 31, Mill Creek 14
Colquitt County overcame a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Mill Creek 31-14 in the second game of Saturday’s action at McEachern.
The Packers fell behind 14-10 late in the second quarter after getting burned by a trick-play touchdown pass, but the Packer defense held Mill Creek scoreless in the second half with only 92 total yards the rest of the way.
Colquitt struck immediately in the second half, scoring on its first possession on an impressive bobbling catch by Kiel Pollard on a 12-yard pass from Chase Parrish, giving the Packers back the lead at 17-14. The teams would fight a field-position battle with five straight punts until a minute into the fourth quarter, when Colquitt embarked on an 89-yard drive capped off by a 36-yard touchdown run by Sihiem King, who led all rushers with 124 yards on 26 carries.
Game 3: Valdosta 31, Brookwood 0
The Valdosta Wildcats traveled 250 miles north to McEachern's Walter Cantrell Stadium to take on Brookwood. The Wildcats put on a memorable performance and walked away with a 31-0 victory, the seventh shutout in Corky Kell history.
Valdosta held Brookwood without a first down in the opening half and took a 10-0 lead into the locker room after outgaining the Broncos 187-26. Brookwood finished the game 0-of-10 on third down and failed its only fourth down attempt.
Valdosta's secondary, led by Cincinnati commit Josh Norwood forced five of Brookwood's six turnovers. Norwood hauled in two interceptions and finished wih a team-high six solo tackles.
Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie intended on rotating his quarterbacks and Cole Massingill and Seth Shuman combined for 14-of-22 passing for 177 yards and a touchdown.
Game 4: Norcross 32, Tucker 29 (OT)
Norcross fought off a strong fourth quarter by Tucker and won the game 32-29 in overtime. Blue Devils kicker Blake Bingham made a 28-yard field goal in overtime, then watched as Tucker quarterback Garrett Rigby bobbled, then lost the snap on the Tigers’ overtime possession. Norcross, Class AAAAAA’s two-time defending champ, recovered to clinch its first win in three Classic appearances.
It looked dicey for the Devils in the second half as the Tigers, who were making their Class AAAAAA debut, clawed back from a 22-7 deficit to tie it at 22 early in the fourth quarter.
Game 5: North Gwinnett 52, McEachern 49
Fans at McEachern High School went home disappointed on Saturday night (make that Sunday morning), but not without memories of a Classic that won’t soon be forgotten. McEachern fell to visiting North Gwinnett 52-49 in a thriller that wrapped up several minutes past 1:30 a.m.
The two teams combined for 1,046 total yards, including 490 via the arm of North Gwinnett quarterback John Urzua. Bulldogs’ receivers Josh and Daniel Imatorbhebhe combined for 18 catches, 246 yards and five touchdowns. Josh went for 173 yards and three scores, while Daniel caught 73 yards worth of passes and found the endzone twice on 10 receptions. McEachern, meanwhile, was led by Taj Griffin’s 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns and Bailey Hockman’s 302 passing yards and four scores.
