A couple of records fell around Forsyth County last week. Here's what we learned after Week 10 of high school football.
1. North Forsyth has a chance for special season
North Forsyth hadn’t beaten South Forsyth in five years.
That changed Friday when the Raiders prevailed in a shootout, 43-34, scoring the most points by a North team in the two teams' rivalry.
Junior Brady Meitz threw for five touchdowns, with three going to senior Nicky Dalmolin, and junior Jared Lucero ran for one more in North’s offensive explosion.
In all, North has 92 points in its past two games, and the Raiders’ 121 points through their current three-game winning streak helps put them in a tie with Milton atop Region 5-7A.
North can’t afford to overlook a West Forsyth team that appears to be playing its best football of the season. But if the Raiders win this week, and if Milton takes care of Lambert, that sets up a winner-take-all game at Milton High School, giving North a chance to win its first region championship since 2001.
2. West Forsyth is trending up
Don’t look now, but West Forsyth is riding a two-game winning streak and is currently 2-1 in Region 5-7A.
And with games against North Forsyth and South Forsyth looming, the previously 1-4 Wolverines can finish as high as second in the region if they win out.
On Friday, junior Drew Southern enjoyed his most productive day since he took over at quarterback a month ago, finishing 17-of-28 passing for 192 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in West’s 33-7 win against Lambert.
On defense, the Wolverines smothered Lambert, holding the Longhorns to -17 yards on 12 carries.
West’s backfield tandem of Daba Fofana and Wesley Clark is averaging 5.6 yards per carry during the winning streak, piling up 280 yards and four touchdowns through the past two games.
3. Pinecrest offense packs a punch
Did anyone predict that?
Pinecrest head coach Terance Mathis said following Friday’s 55-0 win against King’s Ridge that he wasn’t surprised by the result. More surprising than the score, however, is the way the Paladins scored that many points.
Nevermind that Pinecrest led 48-0 at halftime; it’s the Paladins’ ability to score that many points without picking up a single first down that is the most confounding.
Pinecrest ran 11 plays in the first half, with seven ending in the end zone. The Paladins’ initial first down came in the third quarter after junior Tony Novo ripped off a 17-yard gain.
Even Mathis, an NFL veteran who has been around football virtually his entire life, admitted he had never seen a team score that many points before getting a first down.
It was a welcomed sight for the previously winless Paladins, whose 55 points is the most since the 2014 Pinecrest team beat King’s Ridge 56-21.
Helmet Stickers:
Ethan Massey, WR, (Pinecrest): 4 catches, 240 yards, 4 TDs; 1 interception
Joey Kiernan, LB, (Pinecrest): 19 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovered fumble
Wesley Clark, RB, (West Forsyth): 15 carries, 86 yards, 2 TDs
Luke Nordin, LB, (West Forsyth): 10 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack
Harrison Peyton, LB, (Lambert): 15 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Thomas Tattersall, LB, (Lambert): 17 tackles
Brady Meitz, QB, (North Forsyth): 5 touchdown passes
Nicky Dalmolin, WR, (North Forsyth): 3 touchdown receptions
Jack Tucker, LB, (North Forsyth): 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Joe Slott, QB, (South Forsyth): 15-of-27 passing for 325 yards, 5 TDs and 1 interception
Colby Cruz, WR/DB, (South Forsyth): 6 receptions, 137 yards, 1 TD; 11 carries, 66 yards; 1 tackle, 1 pass breakup
Jax Weaver, LB, (South Forsyth): 19 tackles
Jordan Brunson, RB, (Denmark): 12 carries, 203 yards, 2 TDs
Zach Ogbogu, RB, (Denmark): 9 carries 86 yards, 1 TD
Harrison Halder, LB, (Denmark): 13 tackles, 3 sacks
Zach Burchfield, LB, (Denmark): 13 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Bronson Landreth, QB, (Forsyth Central): 10-of-14 passing for 106 yards, 1 TD; 7 carries, 31 yards