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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: P. RIDGE 16, CAMPBELL 14: Davis scores two TDs in win
Defense shines; Lions block two field-goal attempts
By
Todd Holcomb
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/25/06 Just four years into varsity football, Peachtree Ridge got to the state quarterfinals faster than any Gwinnett school in history Friday night, defeating Campbell 16-14 at McEachern's Cantrell Stadium.
Brandon Davis rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clincher, a 2-yard sweep on fourth and goal to give the Lions a 16-7 lead with 6:22 left.
Campbell got close on a 5-yard run by Hoppo Joseph (16 carries, 109 yards) with 2:26 left but failed to convert an onside kick. Peachtree Ridge (9-3) took knees inside the Campbell 10 in the final minute.
"We're one of the eight," said second-year Peachtree Ridge coach Blair Armstrong. "We talked about this being the pivotal one. Once you get down to the 16, some pretty good teams are on the field."
Despite being outgained 215-156 in the first half, Peachtree Ridge led 9-0, but Campbell resurfaced minutes into the second when Brian Sutherland recovered a fumble at the Peachtree Ridge 25.
On fourth-and-5 from the 10, Dominic Tyler made a nice play fake and hit tight end Nick Henderson in the end zone to make it 9-7.
But Peachtree Ridge soon answered with a 71-yard drive that featured some nice throws from Ole Miss basketball signee Zack Graham (10-for-13, 142 yards) and catches by Malik Matthews (four catches, 67 yards).
In the first half, Peachtree Ridge stopped fourth-down plays at its 9 and 28. The Lions' Cameron Heyward and Aaron Blue each blocked a field goal.
"We've been doing it all year," Blue said of Peachtree Ridge's timely defense. "We're always stepping up at the goal line, bend but don't break."
Peachtree Ridge scored its first touchdown after Blue's block. The recovery put the ball at the Campbell 34, and Davis got in from the 3 four plays later.
Peachtree Ridge is the first 4-year-old Gwinnett school to play for a spot in the quarterfinals since Brookwood in 1985.
Now they're the first to win.
