Carver (Ga.) star Crowell validates his blue-chip status

Isaiah Crowell showed an ESPN2 audience last week what has been apparent in Georgia since the start of the season – the blue-chip running back from Carver (Columbus, Ga.) is one of the back running backs the state has seen in some time.

LaGrange (Ga.) head coach Steve Pardue, who has been a part of four state titles at his school, said Crowell probably was the best player he’s faced in high school football after Crowell rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries in a 21-7 victory over LaGrange.

“He’s as good as advertised,’’ Pardue said. “He’s gotten a lot bigger and stronger too [since last season]. He’s 212 [pounds], and he’s so fast. Our coaches kept saying ‘You’ve got to wrap up,’ but he’s so hard to tackle. You don’t accept that during the game, but after the game, that’s what impressed me – the yards after contact.’’

Crowell has rushed for 815 yards (unofficially) in four games and appears to be the frontrunner for Georgia state player of the year.

KEY GAMES
Here are four other significant games from last week:

- In one of the wildest games in Georgia history, Valdosta (Ga.) stopped a two-point conversion attempt in the first overtime and defeated Brunswick 64-62 despite allowing 28 first downs and 686 yards in total offense, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. Brunswick quarterback Chris Anderson was 30-for-43 passing for 344 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns - giving him 539 yards of total offense. Valdosta’s Ryan Whilden was 16-for-25 passing for 335 yards for four touchdowns - two each to Jay Rome (five catches, 88 yards) and Malcolm Mitchell (5-196). Valdosta RB Phillip Moore rushed for 141 yards on 29 carries. It was only the third game in Georgia High School Association history in which both teams scored at least 60 points.

- Austin Hardin of Marist (Atlanta) kicked a 59-yard field goal with three seconds left in a 17-14 victory over Southwest DeKalb in a game between Region 6-AAAA powers. Hardin's kick is tied for the third-longest in state history. Rusty Curry's 67-yard field goal for Duluth in 1999 is the record.

- Kell, a Marietta school best known as the alma mater for former Georgia Tech star Jonathan Dwyer, beat East Paulding 20-13 in a game between undefeated teams in Region 5-AAAA. Brian Randolph, who has committed to Tennessee, rushed for 135 yards - breaking 100 for the first time this season - and Kell scored two fourth-quarter TDs after trailing 13-6.

- Terrell Cason scored on a 1-yard run in overtime, and Cairo stopped Thomas County Central on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 to win 20-13 in a game between ranked south Georgia teams. The road team has won the last eight games in this series.

NICE PERFORMANCES
Here are 10 of the better individual performances in Georgia last week:

• Chattahoochee (Alpharetta, Ga.) WR Kane Whitehurst, a cousin of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, caught four passes for 198 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in a 42-7 victory over Creekview.

• Gainesville RB/LB A.J. Johnson, who committed to Tennessee earlier in the week, rushed for 192 yards on 17 carries, mostly by direct snap out of the wildcat formation in the second half, in a 20-13 victory over North Hall.

• M.L. King QB/FS Kevin Byard had 266 all-purpose yards, a blocked punt, an interception and eight tackles in a 42-28 victory over Westlake.

• North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) QB Scott Hosch was 12-of-13 passing for 227 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-20 victory over Collins Hill.

• Prince Avenue Christian (Athens) RB William McNeely rushed for 257 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-13 victory over Glascock County.

• South Gwinnett (Snellville) RB Aaron Wimberly had 350 all-purpose yards, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half, in a 62-27 victory over Central Gwinnett. Wimberly had 169 yards rushing.

• Stephens County (Toccoa) RB Chaz Thornton rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in a 45-17 victory over West Hall.

• Washington County (Sandersville) RB Montravious Gladdin rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-6 victory over Thomson.

• Wilcox County (Rochelle, Ga.) QB Nick Marshall had a hand in all seven Wilcox County touchdowns in 46-14 victory over Lanier County. He had four touchdowns passing, two rushing and one returning an interception 65 yards. He was 10-of-17 passing for 218 yards and rushed for 79 yards on seven carries.

• Woodland (Cartersville, Ga.) QB Ashton Shelton rushed for 256 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 100 yards (7-for-26 passing) and one touchdown in a 55-44 loss to Johns Creek.

Todd Holcomb covers the state of Georgia for MaxPreps.com.