Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic Day Three Recap - Cedar Grove, LaGrange and Creekside secure season-opening victories

AT ROME -- Creekside entered the second quarter down 21-0 to a talented Rome team on the road in Rome’s historic Barron Stadium. It was situation, according to head coach Maurice Dixon, that the Seminoles had seen before. And the deficit felt familiar.

“Our kids have traveled across the country,” said Dixon. “We’ve played everybody and seen everybody and been in every situation possible.”

Rome built the lead on touchdown runs of 28 and 13 yards by quarterback Aidan McPherson and an 11-yard pass from McPherson to Keaton Mull.

The Seminoles scored three quick touchdowns – a two-yard run from Cayden Benson, a seven-yard run from Gary Walker and a 22-yard run by Cedric Kelly – to tie the game. Rome scored on a four-yard pass from McPherson to JJ Winston to take a 28-21 lead at the half.

But from there, it was all Creekside on the way to a 48-28 victory.

“It is Creekside,” Dixon said. “Our guys are not going to quit, that is not the Creekside way.”

Holding the Wolves scoreless in the second half, Creekside tied the game on a four-yard run by Benson – who earned the Robbie Hunter MVP Award on the evening – to tie the game. Benson’s short touchdown run with 3:34 left in the third quarter put Creekside ahead 35-28.

Early in the fourth quarter, Benson showed off his arm strength on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Damien Henderson to expand the margin. With 8:27 left in the game, Kelly capped scoring on a 22-yard run to put the game away.

See the early game recaps below.

AT ROME -- LaGrange quarterback Dylan Barber was 7-of-13 passing for 75 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Grangers past Cass 27-7 in the second game of the day and first of a double-header at Rome’s historic Barron Stadium Friday.

Peyton Davis opened scoring on a short run to put the Grangers ahead 7-0 with 3:53 left in the first quarter. The LaGrange defense expanded the lead on a fumble recovered for a touchdown with 1:47 left in the first half.

Barber connected with Kalvin Snowberger on a 24-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left in the first half to give LaGrange a 20-0 lead. Barber found Julian Jones on a 14-yard strike with 9:05 left in the game to push the lead to 27-0.

Cass quarterback Brodie McWhorter found Jah Anderson on a 36-yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the game to cap scoring.

‍Cedar Grove 38, Therrell 6

AT ATLANTA -- Cedar Grove had little issues ushering in the Rich Freeman era and in the first-ever meeting between the Saints and Therrell, Cedar Grove built a 19-0 lead after the first quarter and a 32-0 lead at the half in the opening game of the third day of the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Atlanta.

Makhi Watson scored on a 3-yard run to put the Saints on the board with eight minutes left in the first quarter. Jermain Kelly scored on a 19-yard run to expand the margin. Quarterback Brandon Davis passed to Derico Welch on a 32-yard touchdown to put the Saints ahead 19-0.

Watson scored back-to-back rushing touchdowns – both on seven yard scampers – to push the lead to 32-0 entering halftime. Daiveonte Franklin scored on a short run to cut into the deficit for Therrell but Watson’s three-yard run with 10:43 left in the game put it out of reach.

To see the full stats for each of the 11 games in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic, follow the link.

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