The fifth week of the 2010 high school football season featured all six local teams in action, highlighted by a new local rivalry, the first varsity football clash between South Forsyth and Lambert.
* Lambert 10, South Forsyth 0
Lambert used an A-plus effort on defense to make up for a shaky offensive night, blanking Region 7-AAAA and county rival South Forsyth 10-0 in front of a packed house at the Horn.
"You know, the boys played hard. We played tough," said Longhorns head coach Sid Maxwell, many of whose players were at South before Lambert opened in 2009.
"For a young football team, they had a big environment out here and they rose up to the challenge."
Most of the rising came on the defensive side of the ball, where Lambert forced South to punt five times, as well as snaring an interception and blocking a field goal attempt.
"You know, we just made more mistakes than they did tonight," said South head coach Jeff Arnette. "They played a really, really good football game."
All the game's scoring came in the first half, with Lambert taking an early 3-0 lead on a field goal by John Pickering.
In the second quarter, Longhorns quarterback David Broadus' 30-yard touchdown run made it 10-0.
South (2-1, 2-1) plays host to Cass on Friday. Lambert (3-1 overall, 3-1) has a week off before taking on another county team, when the Longhorns visit Forsyth Central on Oct. 1.
* West Forsyth 36, Rockmart 6
Despite a sluggish first three quarters, West Forsyth managed to turn it on in the final frame and sting Class AA Rockmart 36-6 at home.
The game was a story of bookended quarters. The score was 14-6 in favor of West at the end of the first and remained that way until the Wolverines broke through for 22 in the final frame.
“We just have to keep working to get better,” said West head coach Frank Hepler. “Both us and coaches and our kids have got to practice hard Monday through Thursday, then come to play on Friday, because the games are going to get a lot tougher.”
The offense was paced by running back Blake Roberts, who amassed 189 yards on 21 carries and scored twice.
Quarterback A.J. Erdely had his best night of the season passing, going 5-for-5 for 89 yards without a turnover.
Brandon Keith also contributed 63 yards on the ground to the 313 total rushing yards put up by West.
West (3-1) will play its first Region 6-AAAAA game Friday at Centennial.
* Etowah 17, North Forsyth 6
A strong defensive effort came undone for North Forsyth thanks to a few critical mistakes as the Raiders lost three fumbles in a 17-6 loss to Etowah at Raider Valley Stadium.
“We played with unbelievable resolve, we played with high energy,” said North head coach Jared Zito. “But it came down to a few mistakes, and Etowah is a good football team.”
A football team that had its hands full with the Raiders, who held the Eagles to just 218 yards, 45 of those coming on a late touchdown run.
Before the game, North received quite an emotional boost. Senior offensive lineman Josh Haddock, who collapsed at practice Aug. 25 and underwent emergency brain surgery, returned to Raider Valley.
Haddock received a standing ovation as he was driven onto the field in an all-terrain vehicle. He later roamed the sidelines, encouraging his teammates.
Tyler Slaton led the Raiders with 64 rushing yards on 20 carries. Cole Allison kicked two field goals, including a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.
North (1-3) opens Region 6-AAAAA play Friday on the road against Roswell.
* Mount Pisgah 8, Pinecrest Academy 7
Pinecrest Academy expected losses in its first year of Georgia High School Association football. Few, however, will hurt as much as this one.
Having taken Mount Pisgah to the brink of an upset, the Paladins were outdone by a game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion in the waning minutes of an 8-7 heartbreaker.
“No doubt about it, this was a very disappointing loss for us,” said Pinecrest head coach Charles Wiggins, whose team suffered a fourth-straight defeat. “We weren’t expected to win.”
The game was scoreless until late in the fourth quarter, when Shawn Ingram took advantage of a drive-saving penalty for a five-yard scoring run.
Kicker Ricardo Garcia had been hit late on a fourth down punt attempt and the Paladins resumed the drive just inside Patriots territory.
Four plays later, JP Metz produced Pinecrest’s biggest pickup of the night, punching through the defensive line for a 34-yard gain, from which Ingram followed with the touchdown.
Next up for Pinecrest (0-4) is a trip Friday to Holy Innocents.
* Rome 24, Forsyth Central 9
ROME -- The Rome Wolves were back on the turf at Barron Stadium for the first time since opening week, and they didn’t disappoint the home crowd with a 24-9 victory over Forsyth Central.
The undefeated Wolves controlled the game throughout and spread their scores out over the four quarters.
Rome quarterback Chad Barton scored the first touchdown of the night on a one-yard touchdown plunge.
Teddy Lawrence then took over in the second half with two touchdown runs. He scored on a 30 yard run in the third quarter, and then put the game out of reach on a seven-yard touchdown run with under a minute left in the game.
Central (0-3) returns to Cumming on Friday, when it welcomes Woodland of Bartow County.
-- For complete coverage of all the games, see the next edition of the Forsyth County News.
* Lambert 10, South Forsyth 0
Lambert used an A-plus effort on defense to make up for a shaky offensive night, blanking Region 7-AAAA and county rival South Forsyth 10-0 in front of a packed house at the Horn.
"You know, the boys played hard. We played tough," said Longhorns head coach Sid Maxwell, many of whose players were at South before Lambert opened in 2009.
"For a young football team, they had a big environment out here and they rose up to the challenge."
Most of the rising came on the defensive side of the ball, where Lambert forced South to punt five times, as well as snaring an interception and blocking a field goal attempt.
"You know, we just made more mistakes than they did tonight," said South head coach Jeff Arnette. "They played a really, really good football game."
All the game's scoring came in the first half, with Lambert taking an early 3-0 lead on a field goal by John Pickering.
In the second quarter, Longhorns quarterback David Broadus' 30-yard touchdown run made it 10-0.
South (2-1, 2-1) plays host to Cass on Friday. Lambert (3-1 overall, 3-1) has a week off before taking on another county team, when the Longhorns visit Forsyth Central on Oct. 1.
* West Forsyth 36, Rockmart 6
Despite a sluggish first three quarters, West Forsyth managed to turn it on in the final frame and sting Class AA Rockmart 36-6 at home.
The game was a story of bookended quarters. The score was 14-6 in favor of West at the end of the first and remained that way until the Wolverines broke through for 22 in the final frame.
“We just have to keep working to get better,” said West head coach Frank Hepler. “Both us and coaches and our kids have got to practice hard Monday through Thursday, then come to play on Friday, because the games are going to get a lot tougher.”
The offense was paced by running back Blake Roberts, who amassed 189 yards on 21 carries and scored twice.
Quarterback A.J. Erdely had his best night of the season passing, going 5-for-5 for 89 yards without a turnover.
Brandon Keith also contributed 63 yards on the ground to the 313 total rushing yards put up by West.
West (3-1) will play its first Region 6-AAAAA game Friday at Centennial.
* Etowah 17, North Forsyth 6
A strong defensive effort came undone for North Forsyth thanks to a few critical mistakes as the Raiders lost three fumbles in a 17-6 loss to Etowah at Raider Valley Stadium.
“We played with unbelievable resolve, we played with high energy,” said North head coach Jared Zito. “But it came down to a few mistakes, and Etowah is a good football team.”
A football team that had its hands full with the Raiders, who held the Eagles to just 218 yards, 45 of those coming on a late touchdown run.
Before the game, North received quite an emotional boost. Senior offensive lineman Josh Haddock, who collapsed at practice Aug. 25 and underwent emergency brain surgery, returned to Raider Valley.
Haddock received a standing ovation as he was driven onto the field in an all-terrain vehicle. He later roamed the sidelines, encouraging his teammates.
Tyler Slaton led the Raiders with 64 rushing yards on 20 carries. Cole Allison kicked two field goals, including a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.
North (1-3) opens Region 6-AAAAA play Friday on the road against Roswell.
* Mount Pisgah 8, Pinecrest Academy 7
Pinecrest Academy expected losses in its first year of Georgia High School Association football. Few, however, will hurt as much as this one.
Having taken Mount Pisgah to the brink of an upset, the Paladins were outdone by a game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion in the waning minutes of an 8-7 heartbreaker.
“No doubt about it, this was a very disappointing loss for us,” said Pinecrest head coach Charles Wiggins, whose team suffered a fourth-straight defeat. “We weren’t expected to win.”
The game was scoreless until late in the fourth quarter, when Shawn Ingram took advantage of a drive-saving penalty for a five-yard scoring run.
Kicker Ricardo Garcia had been hit late on a fourth down punt attempt and the Paladins resumed the drive just inside Patriots territory.
Four plays later, JP Metz produced Pinecrest’s biggest pickup of the night, punching through the defensive line for a 34-yard gain, from which Ingram followed with the touchdown.
Next up for Pinecrest (0-4) is a trip Friday to Holy Innocents.
* Rome 24, Forsyth Central 9
ROME -- The Rome Wolves were back on the turf at Barron Stadium for the first time since opening week, and they didn’t disappoint the home crowd with a 24-9 victory over Forsyth Central.
The undefeated Wolves controlled the game throughout and spread their scores out over the four quarters.
Rome quarterback Chad Barton scored the first touchdown of the night on a one-yard touchdown plunge.
Teddy Lawrence then took over in the second half with two touchdown runs. He scored on a 30 yard run in the third quarter, and then put the game out of reach on a seven-yard touchdown run with under a minute left in the game.
Central (0-3) returns to Cumming on Friday, when it welcomes Woodland of Bartow County.
-- For complete coverage of all the games, see the next edition of the Forsyth County News.