Bulldogs win wild Corky Kell Classic finale

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

Posted 10:32AM on Sunday, August 24, 2014

POWDER SPRINGS -- It may be the greatest high school game that no one ever saw -- unless you were one of the lucky few in the crowd that witnessed North Gwinnett's thrilling 52-49 win over McEachern Saturday night in the finale of the Corky Kell Classic at McEachern High School. John Urzua's 9-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Knudsen with 9 seconds left capped a wild fourth quarter that saw the lead change hands four times in the final 6:38 of the game. Urzua's game-winner came around 1:20 a.m. Sunday morning, nearly four hours after it began and was televised on Fox Sports South for anyone still awake. "I've never been in a game that ended this late," North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire said. "Probably the best game I've ever been involved with and no one was up to see it. A tremendous game. Both teams just kept rising to the occasion." Sphire insisted after the game that if Urzua wasn't considered the best quarterback in the state, they should take another look. The senior finished with 490 yards on 28-of-38 passing and tossed seven touchdowns. "He wasn't that good (in last week's scrimmage) but that gave us time to look at film and correct some things," Sphire said. "He was poised and was really dialed in in the first half especially. On the final drive we just tried to give him some options and he found the right guy." Urzua's seventh and final TD pass capped a frenetic 68-yard drive in just a 1:39 and came moments after the Indians looked to have snatched victory away from the Bulldogs, who led 38-28 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter resembled a heavyweight fight with both opponents slugging each other with haymakers. But neither team flinched. McEachern sophomore quarterback Bailey Hockman got hot in the final 12 minutes with three touchdown passes, including a 22-yard TD strike to Tyler Smith to give the Indians (0-1) a 49-45 lead with 3:38 left. He connected with Smith on a 72-yard touchdown and then found T.J. Rahming for a 74-yard TD pass in a 2:23 span to give McEachern a 42-38 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Urzua erased that lead with a 29-yard TD pass to Josh Imatorbhebhe with 5:14 left for a 45-42 lead. For McEachern, the 2014 season began the way the 2013 season ended: a loss to the Bulldogs with a late rally for the win. Only this time it wasn't for a shot at the state title game. However, Sphire said he wouldn't be surprised if the two teams met up again later in the year. "McEachern is such a great team. They're going to be one of the teams to be beat by the end of the season, no doubt," Sphire said. "That had a playoff atmosphere for the first game. We may see them again, although I don't know if we want to push our luck too much." Early on it looked like the Indians were ready to make amends for last year's playoff loss, especially behind the legs of senior Oregon-commit Taj Griffin. The speedy and tough running back accounted for 85 yards in the first half, including three first quarter touchdown runs to give McEachern a quick 21-7 lead. The third touchdown was an electrifying 25-yard run breaking four tackles and reversing fields twice through the North Gwinnett defense. The Bulldogs, however, got their passing game going and dominated the second quarter. Urzua was 5-for-5 for 79 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown strike to Almonzo Brown and their first possession of the quarter and a two-point conversion pass from holder Andy Summers to Harold Johnson cut the lead to 21-15 with 10:38 left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs defense finally was able to slow the Indians offense forcing three straight punts and giving the offense a chance late in the half. The Bulldogs' offense responded finishing the first half in thrilling fashion. They chewed up all but six seconds of the final 4:58 with Urzua going 5-for-6 for 82 yards, including a beautifully executed hook-and-lateral to Knudsen, who caught a 10-yard pass and pitched to Josh Imatorbhebhe, who outraced the Indians defense the final 30 yards to give them a stunning 22-21 halftime lead. The scoring play came moments after Urzua was sacked on third down forcing on a 4th-and-21 from the McEachern 40 with 15 seconds left in the half. Both teams continued the wild play to start the third quarter. The Indians forced a North Gwinnett punt on the opening drive and Rahming returned the kick 43-yards to the Bulldogs' 35. Hockman then connected with Rahming for a 35-yard TD pass on the next play as the Indians retook the lead 28-22 just over a minute into the second half. The North Gwinnett offense got cranked up again on its next possession quickly driving to the McEachern 1. But Urzua fumbled the snap and McEachern recovered at the 1. The Indians quickly moved out to the 22 but Hockman was sacked and fumbled into the end zone but the Bulldogs could not recover before it rolled through the end zone for a safety. North Gwinnett would take the ensuing possession 55 yards, capped by Urzua's fourth TD pass of the game, a 6-yard strike to Daniel Imatorbhebhe to reclaim the lead 31-28 with 4:58 left in the third quarter. North Gwinnett next would benefit from fumbles on consecutive plays late in the quarter. The Bulldogs fumbled on a second hook-and-lateral attempt but the Bulldogs' Austin Kim scooped up a Hockman fumble on the next play and returned it to the Indians 3. Two plays later Urzua connected with Daniel Imatorbhebhe on a 3-yard TD pass, his fifth of the game, to push their lead to 38-28 with 1:07 left in the third quarter. Josh Imatorbhebhe finished with eight catches for 173 yards and three TDs for North Gwinnett (1-0). Daniel Imatorbhebhe had 10 catches for 73 yards and two TDs and Knudsen had eight receptions for 132 yards including the game-winning catch. Griffin finished with 150 yards on 22 carries and the three scores but left the game in the final moments with an apprent leg injury. Several players were stricken with cramps but no word was given on his condition. Hockman threw for 302 yards and four scores but was just 11-for 27 for the game. An errant throw on third down with 2:02 left opened the door for the Bulldogs game-winning drive. Rahming had 175 yards receiving on just five catches. Smith finished with 121 yards receiving for the Indians. SCORING SUMMARY NORTH GWINNETT....7....15....16....14 -- 52 McEACHERN............21.....0.....7......21 -- 49 First Quarter McE -- Griffin 11 run (Dominguez kick) 7-0, 6:45 NG -- J. Imatorbhebhe 18 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 7-7, 5:35 McE -- Griffin 15 run (Dominguez kick) 14-7, 4:29 McE -- Griffin 25 run (Dominguez kick) 21-7, 1:52 Second Quarter NG -- A. Brown 5 pass from Urzua (Johnson pass) 21-15, 10:38 NG -- J. Imatorbhebhe 30 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 22-21, 0:06 Third Quarter McE -- Rahming 35 pass from Hockman (Dominguez kick) 28-22, 10:34 NG -- Safety 28-24, 8:18 NG -- D. Imatorbhebhe 6 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 31-28, 4:58 NG -- D. Imatorbhebhe 3 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 38-28, 1:07 Fourth Quarter McE -- T. Smith 72 pass from Hockman (Dominguez kick) 38-35, 9:01 McE -- Rahming 74 pass from Hockman (Dominguez kick) 42-35, 6:38 NG -- J. Imatorbhebhe 29 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 45-42, 5:14 McE -- T. Smith 22 pass from Hockman (Dominguez kick) 49-45, 3:38 NG -- Knudsen 9 pass from Urzua (Harvey kick) 52-49, 0:09

Jeff Hart Sports Reporter