Cam Robinson and Caleb Downs exploded for three touchdowns each Saturday as Hawks-Trojans break combined scoring record.
The 105 combined points broke the record for points scored in a championship game as third- and fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Robinson tied and eclipsed the mark. Griffin knocked off Carrollton 56-35 in the 2013 AAAA title game to set the old mark.
Combined, the Hawks and Trojans exploded for 22 plays of 20 yards or more and 11 plays that went for 40 yards or longer. Mill Creek erupted for 406 yards on the ground while putting up 597 yards of offense. Carrollton, on the other hand, threw for 531 yards and finished with 568 total yards.
Robinson finished the contest with 252 yards and three scores on the ground while senior quarterback Hayden Clark threw for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Carrollton freshman quarterback Julian Lewis, meanwhile, threw for 531 yards and all five Trojan scores. The Hawks held Bryce Hicks to 43 yards on the ground, but the junior hauled in six passes for 190 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Caleb Odom caught seven Lewis balls for 167 yards and a touchdown.
Robinson opened the game's scoring on a 66-yard run up the middle to put Mill Creek up 7-0.
That was a warmup for the real fireworks, however. In a little over three and a half minutes, seven touchdowns were scored between the Hawks and the Trojans.
Jamal Anderson kicked off the scoring explosion for Mill Creek when he scooped up
Jaiden Patterson's block of a Carrollton field goal and raced 86 yards with 1:36 left in the opening period to put the Hawks up 14-0.
Mill Creek's Caleb Downs scored three touchdowns at the No. 18 Hawks beat No. 20 Carrollton 70-35 Saturday in the Georgia AAAAAAA finals. (Photo: Cory Jones)
Carrollton answered 18 seconds later when
Julian Lewis found
Kiyun Cofer open from 27 yards out to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Makhail Wood, however, returned the ensuing kick off 96 yards to put the Hawks up 21-7.
Following an incomplete pass on Carrollton's next possession, Lewis found
Bryce Hicks down the left sideline for an 80-yard score to slice the deficit to 21-14 with 52 seconds left in the quarter. On Mill Creek's next play from scrimmage,
Justin Content raced 80 yards after reeling in an aerial from
Hayden Clark and Josh Lovelady's club led 28-14 with 41 seconds left in the quarter.
Content picked off Lewis for Mill Creek and returned the football to the Trojan 12 on the quarter's final play. Then, less than two minutes into the second quarter, Downs scored on a 5-yard run to put the Hawks up 35-14. But Carrollton answered on its next possession when Lewis and
Caleb Odom hooked up for 80 yards and a score 14 seconds later, and trailed 35-21.
Mill Creek scored on its next possession, but took its time as Downs capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive when he leaped over the pile from two yards out to put Mill Creek up 42-21.
A failed fake punt on Carrollton's next possession set up Downs' 3-yard run that put the Hawks up 49-21 with 3:55 left in the half.
Takare Lipscomb then latched onto a Lewis pass and raced 22 yards with less than two minutes before intermission to round out the opening half's scoring, allowing Mill Creek to take a 49-28 advantage at intermission.
Hicks pulled Carrollton to within 49-35 when he opened the third quarter's scoring with a 49-yard catch and run with 4:04 left in the quarter. Robinson responded two minutes later when he scored from the one to put Mill Creek up 56-35.
Robinson tacked on a 3-yard run 32 seconds into the final quarter to break the total points record.
Kevin Mitchell then capped the game's scoring with a 48-yard run that allowed the Hawks to break its school record for points scored in a game.
