Jeff Hart

Trailing 21-19 late in the game and riding its workhorse running back Tersuo Uhaa, the Riverside Military Academy football looked to be in prime position to pull out a first round win over Pinewood Christian Friday night.

Dan Turple posted 23 saves while Lou Dickenson posted three assists to help the Gladiators to a 4-1 win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett continues its best start in team history, improving to 9-1-1 with with win.

The football season comes to an end for Flowery Branch as the Falcons lose to the Chamblee Bulldogs 47-34 in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs at Falcons Field.

North Gwinnett defense forced seven turnovers and held marietta to just 36 total yards of offense in a dominating 44-0 win Friday night in the opening round of the Class AAAAA football playoffs.

Bo Hatchett and Tavarres King connected on two touchdown passes to lead Habersham Central to a 24-7 win over Marist Friday night in the opening round of the Class AAAA football playoffs.

All season Buford football coach Jess Simpson said his team was no where near perfect. Friday in the first round of the Class AA playoffs the Wolves came pretty close. Buford exploded for four first quarter touchdowns en route to a 56-6 pummeling of Washington-Wilkes at Tom Riden Stadium.

All four Region 7-AAA teams were peaking heading into the Class AAA football playoffs. But when the smoke cleared Friday night only North Hall would advance to the second round.

Ashley Houts had 12 points and six assists, and No. 8 Georgia held Temple scoreless over the final 4:41 to beat the Owls 57-51 on Friday night. Gainesville's Tasha Humphrey had 10 points and 13 rebounds for Georgia.

Marian Hossa had two goals and an assist to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 3-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Johan Hedberg made 31 saves for his 11th career shutout, Todd White had two assists, and Ilya Kovalchuk added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

The Great Motivator seems to have run out of ideas. The best Mark Richt could do for Saturday's crucial Kentucky-Georgia game was a ``red-out.'' Richt has pulled off two motivational coups in the past month, first ordering his players to get a celebration penalty against Florida, then breaking out black jerseys for last week's ``black-out'' game against Auburn.