Peachtree Ridge 31, Norcross 0

Peachtree Ridge went on the road and dominated Norcross from start to finish in a Region 7-AAAAAA showdown.

The Lions set the tone early by reducing Norcross to minus-11 total yards in the first quarter and minus-25 in the entire opening half before the home team finished with a mere total of 75 yards. The Blue Devils found themselves trailing 10-0 after the opening frame of play thanks to a field goal by Peachtree Ridge’s Zaniel Phillips and a one-yard touchdown run by Marquez Jackson.

From there the visitors steadily pulled away by finding the endzone once in each of the next three quarters.

Norcross botched a punt snap and hurriedly tried to get the kick off only to see a shank get returned 10 yards for a touchdown by Breon Dixon. A steady rushing diet of Jackson and Malik Staples salted the game away for the Lions throughout the second half. Staples scored touchdowns from 21 yards and five yards away before the two runners combined to finish with 317 yards on the ground. Jackson rushed for 148 and Staples gained 169 on 24 carries.

Dixon added to his special-teams heroics by recording two sacks on defense. DeAngelo Gibbs had an interception that led to Jackson’s touchdown run.

It was Norcross’ first loss of the season, while Peachtree Ridge and Mill Creek are the last two unbeaten teams remaining in the region.