LAWRENCEVILLE — North Gwinnett scored 45 unanswered points in taking a 45-6 win over Collins Hill Friday night to capture the Region 6-AAAAAAA title.
It was the first region title for the Bulldogs (8-1, 5-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA) since 2014. It also was the eight straight win since an opening-season loss to Walton.
First-year North Gwinnett coach Bill Stewart said it was a great feeling for a group that he felt had the talent from the first day he arrived on campus.
"I felt like the talent was year to win the region," he said. "We knew we had some work to do but the kids have worked hard and enjoy playing for each other. They just got better each week. It was a crazy feeling, though, walking off the field knowing we had won the region."
Collins Hill (5-4, 3-2) scored first less than three minutes into the game for a 6-0 lead after a botched extra point. It stayed that way until the second quarter.
Tyler Goodson, who return from an injury earlier in the season, scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter and then just over a minute later the Bulldogs grabbed the lead for good Warren Burrell picked off an Eagles pass and return it 45-yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead. With just under a minute left in the first half Jimmy Urzua and Goodson hooked up for a 52-yard touchdown pass and a 21-6 halftime lead.
On the first play of th third quarter Urzua and Josh Downs connected on an 80-yard bomb for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead. Cameron Clark booted a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter. D.J. Turner helped seal the game 45 seconds later with a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 38-6 lead.
Urzua would throw his third touchdown pass of the game three minutes later on a 70-yarder to Lavoisier Fisher to cap the scoring.
North Gwinnett will close out the regular season next week on the road against Discovery.
