In a game where it took time to gain traction,
Norcross found its footing midway through the second quarter and never looked back Friday in a 17-7 Georgia AAAAAAA quarterfinal upset of No. 9
Colquitt County (Norman Park).
A defensive chess match for the first 18 minutes, the Blue Devils broke the scoreless tie with a 14-play, 53-yard touchdown drive capped by a 4-yard back shoulder fade from
Mason Kaplan to
Lawson Luckie.
And while the Norcross offense needed time to get up to speed, its defense was revved up from the onset. The Blue Devils held Colquitt County (9-1) without a first down until the Packers' last possession of the first half. But Colquitt County's poor clock management killed a scoring opportunity.
Norcross tight end Lawson Luckie celebrates his first quarter touchdown in the Blue Devils' 17-7 Georgia AAAAAAA quarterfinal win Friday over No. 9 Colquitt County.
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Norcross held the Packers, playing without injured quarterback
Xavier Williams, to 71 yards offense in the first half as
Zane Touchton and
Dijmon Wheeler split time under center.
A 19-yard field goal on the Blue Devils' first possession of the second half boosted the lead to 10-0 half way through the third.
On Colquitt County's ensuing possession,
Le'Meke Brockington was stripped after hauling in Wheeler's first pass of the game even though broadcast replays showed his knee was already down. But without replay, Norcross took advantage, scoring on Kaplan's 4-yard off-tackle scamper five plays later.
This reception by Le'Meke Brockington of Colquitt County was ruled a fumble and recovered by Norcross.
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Kaplan finished 8 of 11 passing for 90 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. The Blue Devils' running back committee gained 143 yards as
Michael Porter led the pack with 74 yards and
Jahni Clarke added 30.
After the game, Kaplan praised the defense for its effort.
"Seven points, that's great," he said. "That's all you can ask for out of a defense."
The Blue Devils won state championships in 2012 and 2013, beating Colquitt County each year on the road to the title.
"You just have to stay on course and seize the moment," Norcross coach Keith Maloof said in a postgame interview.
Quarterback Mason Kaplan accounted for both of Norcross' touchdowns.
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Lawson Luckie (87) and his teammates celebrate their victory over Colquitt County.
Photo by Cecil Copeland
