A safety late in the fourth quarter helped
Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Ga.) upset No. 22
McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 12-10.
The score was tied 10-10 when a botched McEachern punt bounced out of the end zone for a Hillgrove safety.
Kenyan Drake
File photo by Cecil Copeland
McEachern's defense made a critical stop of
Kenyan Drake on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line late in the third quarter preventing Hillgrove from adding to its 7-3 lead.
Drake, an Alabama commit, was productive throughout the night but had ball security issues that nearly cost Hilgrove.
He remains a top contender for state player of the year honors.
After a failed field goal attempt at the start of the fourth, McEachern finally found the end zone, returning a fumble recovery the distance to take a 10-7 lead.
With nine minutes to play, Hillgrove evened the score with a 28-yard field goal.
Both teams committed fourth quarter turnovers before McEachern's botched punt with less than four minutes to play which proved to be the difference in the game.
Hillgrove moves to 6-0 with the victory, handing McEachern its first loss in the process.
