Blue Devils help coach reach 100-win plateau; Good vibes in North Cobb opener after disappointing 2007 finish.
By Lee Wilson
MaxPreps.com
It may have taken a lot longer than he wanted it to, but Marietta Blue Devils head coach James "Friday" Richards finally got his 100th career victory Friday night.
The 33-7 victory over Northview was the season opener for the Blue Devils and came as a relief for the coach who has been stuck on 99 victories since last season when Marietta finished the year on a three-game losing streak.
Richards was humbled by the milestone win and quick to pass around the credit.
"A hundred wins is great, but it's not just me," Richards told the Marietta Daily Journal. "My whole staff deserves it. Most of them have been with me at least 10 to 12 years."
Marietta built up an early lead and junior running back Greg Franklin nabbed 41 rush yards in the fourth quarter alone to help put the contest out of the Titans’ reach.
As Richards strolled the sidelines and watched the fourth quarter wind to an end, he got a chance to let the moment soak in – literally – as he was soaked by the team's water bucket.
North Cobbs’ Young Cubs Step Up
North Cobb entered the 2007 postseason as the state’s No. 1-ranked team, only to lose in the first round of the playoffs at home to Peachtree Ridge.
The Warriors quest for redemption began in thrilling fashion as Stephen Petillo drilled a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give North Cobb a 24-21 victory over King.
With players like Joel Knight – and 64 wins in their first seven years of varsity competition – the Lions were hoping to make Friday night a statement showing. Instead, it turned into an exhilarating opener for North Cobb.
“We lost 29 seniors, and 12 of them are playing college ball this season, and no one expected us to be in this game,” North Cobb coach Shane McQueen told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “To see these young guys step it up is just unbelievable.”
Top 10 Rundown
How Georgia’s top 10 teams (according to MaxPreps.com) fared this weekend…
1. Lowndes (2-0), Def. Peachtree Ridge, 22-7
2. Cairo (1-0), Def. Thomas County Central, 28-6
3. Camden County (1-0), Did not play
4. Newnan (2-0), Def. Chapel Hill, 35-3
5. North Gwinnett (1-1), Def. Brookwood, 17-3
6. Northside Warner Robins (2-0), Def. Miami Booker T. Washington (Fla.), 31-7
7. Columbus Carver (2-0), Def. Tri-Cities, 32-0
8. Chamblee (2-0), Def. North Springs, 41-0
9. Tucker (2-0), Def. Lakeside, 50-0
10. Harrison (1-0), Did not play
