HOSCHTON — Twelve years in the making, Mill Creek’s first-ever region title was everything they thought it would be -- maybe more.
And as if on cue, a dominating Hawks defense rose to the occasion twice in the final moments to help hold off Peachtree Ridge 20-17 in overtime Friday night at Mill Creek Community Stadium to claim the Region 7-AAAAAA crown.
Brenton King’s 25-yard field goal in the first overtime secured the win but without two goal line stands by the top-rated defense in Class AAAAAA the Hawks may not have had the chance.
Mill Creek forced a 29-yard field by Peachtree Ridge’s Zaniel Phillips with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter that tied the game and then Kishawn Miller’s second interception of the game on the Lions’ first overtime possession set the stage for King’s historic kick.
“This was a championship-caliber game by two championship-caliber defenses. We knew it was going to be a war,” Mill Creek coach Shannon Jarvis said. “The defense really rose up and saved us. They made three tremendous plays and then we knew Brenton would make it so we kicked on third down to make sure.”
King was just grateful to get the chance.
“I wanted the chance and it felt great to be able to get the kick to win the region,” the junior said. “But it was a total team effort. I wouldn’t have had the chance without the defense.”
Jarvis could not contain an ear-to-ear grin after a jumping victorious chant with his team near midfield following the win. He said he will need a little more time for it all to sink in.
“We’ve been close a couple of times (to getting our first region title) so this feels real good right now,” he said. “I’m just so proud of this group. They were ready to come out and win this for the Mill Creek community. I can’t wait to get back to work on Monday (for the playoffs).”
The Hawks (10-0, 7-0 Region 7-AAAAAA) led 10-0 at halftime with the defense in firm control. But the Lions’ got a pair of long touchdown passes, one in the third quarter on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Fred Peyton to Christian Sutton to pull within 10-7 in the third quarter, and the second in the fourth quarter when DeAngelo Gibbs snared a 35-yard touchdown pass from Bubba Hickson with 10-:19 left.
Mill Creek looked poised to put the finishing touches on the victory late but a Aaron Anderson fumble with just under three minutes left opened the door for Peachtree Ridge (7-3, 6-1).
The Lions quickly drove to the Mill Creek 5 on two pass plays for a 1st-and goal with a chance to take the lead. But senior linebacker Micah Bull sacked Hickson on consecutive plays and then they held on third down to force the game-tying field goal.
The Lions got the ball first in overtime and Bull again set the tone with a sack of Hickson. The Hawks got another tackle for loss to force a 3rd-and-18 and Miller picked off Hickson in the end zone.
“I looked bad when they got to the 5 but we just stayed together as a unit,” Bull said. “It was just my turn I guess to make a play. It just feels great right now. I can’t really describe it.”
Both defenses came in in the top six in Class AAAAAA with the Hawks leading the classification with just 4.8 points allowed per game. The Lions were allowing just 10.3 ppg.
And both dominated from the beginning.
The Hawks held the Lions to just one first down, and one just one pass completion from Peyton, and forced four punts in the first quarter.
Mill Creek’s first drive of the game was all the Hawks would need. After a short Peachtree Ridge punt, the offense, behind two solid runs from Joe Thomas, moved the ball to the Peachtree Ridge 34. But the drive stalled and King capped the drive booting a 51-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:26 left.
The Hawks got down into Lions territory two drives later but a fumbled snap on third down killed the drive with Peachtree Ridge recovering at its own 40.
But Peachtree Ridge never got past midfield in the first half. The Lions managed just five first downs and could not solve the Hawks interior defense nor get around the ends. Peyton and the Lions offense resorted to going for the big play repeatedly throwing downfield but Mill Creek cornerback Miller and Jonathan Gipson were equal to the task yielding no completions past 5 yards.
And Miller turned in what would be the back-breaker early in the second quarter. Miller jumped an out-route and went 50-yards for the interception return for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead with 10:11 left in the first half.
Neither team could get much going after that as the teams traded six more punts to close out the half.
The Lions got the early momentum in the second half holding Mill Creek to a pair of three-and-outs on their first two drives and got their best field position of the game starting at the Mill Creek 42.
They needed just one play to close the gap when Peyton found Sutton behind the Hawks defense for a 42-yard touchdown pass to pull within 10-7 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
The teams again traded punts and this time it was the Hawks that would get the big play. After converting on a pair of third downs, Edmond Graham was able to split the defenders and Cameron Turley connected with the junior receiver for a 62-yard touchdown pass to push Mill Creek’s lead to 17-7 with 1:11 left in the third quarter.
Peachtree Ridge got a big return by Chad Clay to the 50 but Mill Creek’s Chase Turner picked off a Peyton pass at the Hawks 4 to snuff out the Lions drive.
But the Lions forced another Mill Creek punt and started their third consecutive drive in Hawks’ territory. The Lions again went for the quick strike but Gibbs dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone. One play later, however, Gibbs atoned for the drop snagging a 35-yard touchdown strike from Hickson to cut the lead to 17-14 with 10:19 left in the game.
The Lions forced another quick Mill Creek three-and-out but the ensuing drive stalled at the Hawks 24. A 42-yard field goal attempt by Zaniel Phillips to tie the game was wide left with 7:29 left.
SCORING SUMMARY
P’tree Ridge....0.....0....7....10....0 -- 17
Mill Creek........3.....7....7......0....3 -- 20
First Quarter
King 51 FG 3-0, 8:26
Second Quarter
MC -- Miller 50 INT return (King kick) 10-0, 10:11
Third Quarter
PR -- Sutton 42 pass from Peyton (Phillips kick) 10-7, 7:39
MC -- Graham 62 pass from Turley (King kick) 17-7, 1:11
Fourth Quarter
PR -- Gibbs 35 pass from Hickson (Phillips kick) 17-14, 10:19
PR -- Phillips 29 FG 17-17, 1:18
First Overtime
MC -- King 25 FG, 20-17
