By Lee Wilson
MaxPreps.com
Like Norcross, the North Gwinnett Bulldogs were attempting to overcome an early-season loss and improve to 3-1 on the year Friday night in Suwanee.
For most of the first half, it looked like the Bulldogs were going the wrong direction as the Blue Devils had jumped to a 19-0 lead. But the Bulldogs scratched off 10 points and went into the locker room down by nine. Then the game took a dramatic and inspired.
North Gwinnett looked like a new time after the half, putting up 14 unanswered points to seal a 33-19 win over Norcross. According to North Gwinnett head coach Bob Sphire, the win stemmed from a productive halftime meeting and a belief the team had within them.
"Talk about getting up off the mat, there probably wasn't anybody that thought we weren't knocked out except for our kids," Sphire told the Gwinnett Daily Post after the game. "Wow."
"We are going to try to keep the momentum going and keep it strong the rest of the season," North Gwinnett’s Chandler Cross to the Post.
Cross forced a fumble and added 12 tackles with two sacks in the game.
The Bulldogs will attempt to maintain their momentum next week at Mill Creek.
Allatoona 34, North Cobb Christian 31
The battle between Cobb County’s newest schools was also a struggle between teams that were winless on the season and allowing an average of 48.8 points per game.
Allatoona vs. North Cobb Christian could have been viewed as a matchup of two inexperienced not likely to provide much entertainment, but it turned out to be much more.
Allatoona carried a 34-7 lead into the fourth quarter, but had to stave off a furious rally to hang on for a 34-31 win at home.
The victory may have cost Bucs’ head coach Gary Varner a few more gray hairs, but he was happy with the first win in school history.
"It feels pretty good," Varner told the Marietta Daily Journal. "We didn't finish the way we wanted and even got a little luck at the end but we pulled one out."
The Bucs got a big effort from C.J. Best, who totaled 123 yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns.
"We came out with intensity and heart," Best said. "It all paid off. All of the hard work and practice paid off [tonight].
"My offensive line really stayed with their blocks. In the past it wasn't like that but I owe all the credit to my offensive line."
The fourth quarter tightened up when the North Cobb Christian offense came together thanks to Chas Collett, who piled up 200 rushing yards, two touchdowns and three two-point conversions.
