HOSCHTON — Mill Creek took some time to crank its offense into gear, but the Hawks still found more than enough to push through the first round of the state playoffs on Friday.
Uriah Leverette rushed for 138 yards and a score as he helped Mill Creek to a 29-14 defeat of West Forsyth in the Class AAAAAAA bracket in Hoschton.
CJ Johnson also rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries for the Hawks (8-3), as they moved into the second round of the postseason for a third consecutive campaign.
Waiting there is Archer, which defeated Mill Creek 16-13 earlier this season in a non-region contest.
Mill Creek set itself on the way to the rematch in the second quarter on Friday, as Alan Andrzejewski drilled the first of his two field goals on the night and Leverette took off for a 38-yard touchdown run and a 10-0 halftime advantage.
Brady Longenecker made it 17-0 in the third quarter on a 1-yard quarterback keeper before Andrzejewski hit from 25 yards for a 20-0 advantage.
West Forsyth pulled within 20-7 on a touchdown pass, but the Hawks responded with a 33-yard interception return for a score from Trey Turner at the start of the fourth. The Wolverines added another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback.
Longenecker completed 5 of 9 passes for 105 yards, and Austin Williams caught three passes for 59 yards.
