Wednesday, September 24, 2003

War Eagles, Patriots pick up wins

On a week that saw relatively little gridiron success countywide, two local teams came up with big wins Friday night to retain their top-10 state rankings in their respective classifications.

Landmark: After a road trip to northeast Georgia, the War Eagles came back with a 28-17 win over Jefferson to move to 3-1 on the season. After a bye week, Landmark will begin its Region 5-A schedule the first weekend in October.

Alex Mortensen completed 20 of 31 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for a score. Eric Worrell was Mortensen’s primary target, with 10 receptions for 168 yards. The two teamed up for a 64-yard touchdown pass late in the first half that tied the game at 14.

Miles King had five receptions in the game, and Tyler Tidwell caught three passes with one resulting in a touchdown.

David Morris led the defense with 15 tackles and two sacks. Dylan Hanes and Nick Taussig had 10 tackles each. Worrell and Brian Houston had six tackles apiece, and Houston added a fumble recovery.

Sandy Creek: It’s been three wins in three games so far for the Patriots, with none of the scores being close. The latest victim was Region 4-AAAA foe Northgate, and the score was 35-6.

Phillip Hyde finished the night around the 200-yard rushing plateau, and he didn’t get a carry in the fourth quarter. He got the Patriots on the board after a Northgate field goal, scampering 21 yards for a touchdown with 8:03 left in the first quarter.

Northgate hit another field goal to cut the lead to a point, but Dusty Bennett and Will Judson connected on a touchdown pass with less than a minute to go before halftime. Sandy Creek broke the game open in the third quarter, with Hyde scoring on a 28-yard run and Reggie Ellington, who gained nearly 100 yards on the ground himself, scoring from 16 yards out near the end of the period. The Patriots added a touchdown midway through the fourth.

McIntosh: The Chiefs lost their third straight game after opening the Region 4-AAAAA schedule with a 38-0 defeat at the hands of East Coweta. The Indians scored every time they had the ball until late in the fourth quarter as they built a 32-point lead. McIntosh got two field goals from Nadder Juron, from 40 and 47 yards, before tacking on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 39-yard run by Travis Lee and a 3-yard run by Cameron Hall.

Fayette County: The Tigers fell to 0-4 after Friday’s 35-0 loss to undefeated region opponent Lovejoy, who entered the game ranked sixth in the Associated Press state poll. A 21-point second quarter broke the game open and gave the Wildcats a four-touchdown lead at the half.

Starr’s Mill: Leading 17-14 at halftime, the Panthers were overcome by a furious second-half surge from the Riverdale Raiders, who remained unbeaten with a 28-17 win in the first region game for Starr’s Mill.

Robbie Williams threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Barr in the first quarter, and Dante Allen busted loose for a 64-yard scoring run in the second. After rushing for 74 yards in the first half, Allen injured an ankle and did not return.

Williams ran for 86 yards and threw for 112 in the game. Russell Warren added a 24-yard field goal in the first half.

Fayette Christian: In a nonconference game, the Falcons lost 30-14 to Garywood Christian from Birmingham. Kenny Davis scored on a 13-yard run for Fayette, while Jared Abadie had 91 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Abadie also scored a two-point conversion. Jason McEver led the defense with eight tackles and a sack.

The Falcons are now 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

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