SUWANEE — North Gwinnett got a pair of fumble recoveries for touchdowns and quarterback Jimmy Urzua threw two touchdown passes as the Bulldogs shocked Class AAAAAAA No. 7 Mill Creek 35-21 Friday night in a huge Region 6-AAAAAAA battle.
Nicholas Pucciarello forced a Brady Longenecker fumble in the end zone on the Hawks' first possession and Myles Webster fell on the ball for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, Payne Walker scooped up another Longenecker fumble and returned it 20-yards for the final score to seal the win.
North Gwinnett senior Urzua had another big game in relief of the injured Cade Fortin (out for the season) going 13-for-23 passing for 243 yards, and receiver Josh Downs caught six passes for 154 yards, including an 80-yard scoring bomb in the third quarter.
The game was back-and-forth as North Gwinnett (5-1, 2-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA) took the initial lead on Pucciarello's fumble recovery. But the Hawks (4-2, 1-1) tied the game at 7-7 on a 2-yard Uriah Leverette touchdown run and then Mill Creek grabbed a 14-7 lead on a 21-yard Leverette scoring run in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead 21-14 on the Urzua bomb to Downs and a Cameron Butler 26-yard run. Mill Creek tied it at 21-21 early in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard pass from Longenecker to Adrian Jackson but North Gwinnett took the lead for good on a 12-yard pass from Urzua to Will Hunter and Walker's scoop and score sealed it with four minutes left.
Leverette finished the game with 157 yards rushing on 23 carries to lead the Hawks -- who will look to bounce back next week against Discovery in Hoschton.
The Bulldogs will take a bye next week before facing Duluth on Oct. 13
