Norcross (Ga.) vs. North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.)
This weekend North Gwinnett hopes for a repeat of its early-season win over Norcross.
Photo by Steve Hampton
Norcross is trying to repeat as Class AAAAAA champion while North Gwinnett shoots for its first state crown. Saturday is a rematch of a Sept. 13 meeting won convincingly by North Gwinnett (36-13). It dropped Norcross' record to 1-2 a few weeks after starting the season in the Top 5 of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. The Blue Devils (12-2) have been rolling since the shaky start. The most recent of their 11 straight wins was a hard-fought 14-9 victory against Colquitt County (Moultrie) in last week's semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, No. 22 North Gwinnett (13-1) got past McEachern (Powder Springs), 27-21. Senior running back
C.J. Leggett provided most of the Bulldogs' offensive punch, rushing for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
Just the facts: After giving up 55 points to No. 1 Washington (Miami) and 36 points to North Gwinnett early in the season, Norcross has averaged less than eight points allowed per contest. … Although it has never won a state title, this is North Gwinnett's eighth consecutive season with 10 or more wins.
Mitch Stephens: North Gwinnett 21, Norcross 20
Kevin Askeland: Norcross 35, North Gwinnett 21
Jamie DeMoney: Norcross 28, North Gwinnett 15
Stephen Spiewak: North Gwinnett 20, Norcross 13
Leland Gordon: Norcross 27, North Gwinnett 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: Norcross 21, North Gwinnett 17
