ATLANTA -- North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire knew it wouldn’t be easy. In fact, he was treating his Bulldogs season-opener with defending Class AAAAAA state champion Colquitt County as the ultimate learning opportunity.
There was plenty to learn, and perhaps forget, after the experienced Packers whipped the young, inexperienced Bulldogs 45-14 Saturday night at the Georgia Dome in the Corky Kell Classic.
“We scheduled them for a reason and that was to see what we needed to do to get better,” Sphire said. “We’re disappointed but not disheartened. We did some good things but we have a lot to work on for sure.”
It was the worst loss for the Bulldogs since a 35-0 loss to Camden County in the 2009 Class AAAAA state quarterfinals.
Despite a slow start in the first half, North Gwinnett (0-1) was within striking distance after a quick drive to open the second half to pull within 24-14. But the Packers exploded for 21 third quarter points in a seven minute span to blow the game open.
It looked like it would be a long night for the Bulldogs right from the beginning.
The Packers made quick work of the Bulldogs defense to start the game. They needed just four plays, highlighted by a 35-yard pass from Chase Parrish to Kiel Pollard, and Nate Powell capped the 1:19 drive with an 8-yard touchdown run going in untouched for a 7-0 lead.
North Gwinnett moved to near midfield on its first possession with Kameron Pickett touching the ball four of the first five plays before the Bulldogs were forced to punt.
The Bulldogs defense stood up on Colquitt’s second possession notching a pair of tackles for losses and forcing an incomplete pass and a punt.
Colquitt County went to work quickly again on its third possession needing just four plays again, with Rafael Merritt capping a 53-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 3:50 left in the first quarter.
The two teams would trade a pair of punts each into the second quarter. North Gwinnett also got a turnover when Carlos Wade made a highlight-reel, one-handed grab interception of Parrish to stop another potential Packers drive.
Colquitt County used a long drive midway through the second quarter to extend its lead. Pollard, out of the wildcat formation, scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 4:06, 64-yard, 13-play drive with 2:48 left in the half for a 21-0 lead.
The Bulldogs finally got something positive just before the end of the first half. Cade Fortin hit Josh Imatorbhebhe on a simple crossing pattern but the senior Southern Cal-commit split the defense and outraced the Packers 49 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-7 with 1:23 left in the first half.
However, the Packers got a final possession and capped a short drive with a 44-yard field goal by Luis Martinez for a 24-7 halftime lead.
North Gwinnett came out firing in the third quarter. A 44-yard pass from Fortin to Horace Buckley to the Packers 1 set up a Pickett touchdown run to cut the lead to 24-14 just 85 seconds into the second half.
But Colquitt County answered just as quick. Merritt capped a quick 65-yard drive with a 5-yard scoring run to push the Packers lead back to 31-14 with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
Disaster then struck twice for the Bulldogs in the final five minutes of the third quarter.
A bad snap on North Gwinnett’s next possession gave Colquitt County a short field and Parrish and Pollard connected on a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 38-14 lead. Then, on a Packers punt on their next possession, the ball appeared to graze the foot of North Gwinnett’s Torron Murray giving the Packers another short field at the Bulldogs 25. Pollard capped that short drive with a 1-yard scoring run for a 45-14 lead with 1:10 left in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs’ Chase Young would get an interception late in the game with the reserves for both teams in the game.
Pollard was the difference with 124 yards receiving and another 24 rushing to lead the Packers.
The key stat was the fact Colquitt County was a perfect 5-for-5 on touchdowns inside the Red Zone. The Bulldogs reached the Red Zone just once the entire game.
SCORING SUMMARY
Colquitt Co.......14....10....21....0 -- 45
N. Gwinnett........0......7......7....0 -- 14
First Quarter
CC -- Powell 8 run (Martinez kick) 7-0, 10:41
CC -- Merritt 17 run (Martinez kick) 14-0, 3:50
Second Quarter
CC -- Pollard 2 run (Martinez kick) 21-0, 2:48
NG -- Imatorbhebhe 49 pass from Fortin (Herrera kick) 21-7, 1:23
CC -- Martinez 44 FG 24-7, :00
Third Quarter
NG -- Pickett 1 run (Herrera kick) 24-14, 10:35
CC -- Merritt 5 run (Martinez kick) 31-14, 8:42
CC -- Pollard 6 pass from Parrish (Martinez kick) 38-14, 4:04
CC -- Pollard 1 run (Martinez kick) 45-14, 1:10
