Norcross hands North Gwinnett first defeat as Blue Devils capture 7-AAAAA title

By Ken Gustafson

Posted 2:36AM on Saturday 10th November 2007 ( 17 years ago )

Norcross - Senior runningback D.J. Adams rushed for over 200 yards and ran for a touchdown to lead the Norcross Blue Devils to a 24-14 victory over previously-undefeated and 2nd ranked North Gwinnett Friday night, earning the Blue Devils the Region 7-AAAAA title for the second year in a row. On their first play from their own 21-yard line, Norcross quarterback Nick Sorell fumbled the exchange from center, but the Blue Devils recovered and would never look back. On the very next play, Adams ran 16 yards to the Norcross 37. Bryce Butler caught a two-yard pass from Sorell on the next play, followed by another 18-yard run by Adams, moving the ball into Bulldog territory. Two plays later, Adams exploded for a 46-yard touchdown run, giving the Blue Devils an early 7-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first quarter. However, the Bulldogs would show quickly just why they were undefeated and ranked second in AAAAA. On third-and-three from the Bulldogs' 44-yard line, senior quarterback Michael Tamburo threw a short pass to a receiver, who promptly scampered 54 yards for the touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 with 7:08 left in the first quarter. The Blue Devils answered with a quick drive of their own. With 5:58 left in the first quarter, Sorell capped off a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Butler, the first of Butler's two touchdowns on the night. Norcross added to the lead later in the first half. The Blue Devils moved the ball close to the North Gwinnett 30-yard line when Sorell hooked up with Butler for a 30-yard touchdown pass, giving the Blue Devils a 21-7 lead. The Blue Devils had the ball again late in the first half, but the drive bogged down and kicker Chris Tanner attempted a 50-yard field goal that was just a few feet short and both teams would head to the locker room with Norcross leading, 21-7 North Gwinnett answered in the third quarter as Tamburo led his team down inside the Blue Devil five-yard line, thanks to a big-play reception by Kirtley Dovel. Dovel later caught a touchdown pass from two yards out, making the score 21-14 in favor of Norcross with 11:53 left in the third. The Bulldogs got the ball again down inside the five, but Tamburo fumbled the ball in the end zone and it was recovered by Norcross for a touchback. That play turned out to be a crucial turnover; one of two fumbles committed by the Bulldogs. Later in the second half, Butler struck again. With the ball on the Blue Devils own 13-yard line, Sorell threw a 42-yard strike to Butler at the North Gwinnett 45-yard line. Tanner later kicked a 33-yard field goal, giving the Blue Devils a 24-14 lead. The Norcross defense was able to hold the Bulldogs in check, led by linebacker Deon Dubois, who sacked Tamburo for a seven-yard loss on one of the Bulldogs' possessions. The game ended fittingly for Norcross as Tamburo's last second desperation pass was intercepted in the end zone by Butler to seal the victory and the Region Championship with the final score being 24-14. "I'm happy for our kids, I'm happy for this community, and we just have to keep getting better," Norcross Head Coach Keith Maloof said. Maloof was adamant about the importance of the big play capability of Bryce Butler and Sr. Defensive Back Devonta Bolton. "Bryce and Devonta are our big play threats and they just have to keep getting better and better," Maloof said. Maloof also made it clear that the defense would be the catalyst that will get the Blue Devils where they want to be. He summed it up like this: "The offense is the show, but the defense makes the dough." Bolton felt that North Gwinnett was not giving the Norcross offense the respect it deserved. "North Gwinnett overlooked our offense," Bolton said. Bolton was thrilled that the Blue Devils were able to once again capture the region championship. "It feels great to win the region Championship 2 times running," Bolton said. "Bryce (Butler) and I have been dedicated and we were determined that when the ball is up in the air, we have to be the ones to leap up and get it. No one works harder than Bryce and me," Bolton said. With the Region 7 Championship wrapped up, the Blue Devils are the #1 seed and will host #4 seed Etowah out of Region 5 next Friday night at 7:30. North Gwinnett is the #2 seed and will host the #3 seed Marietta out of Region 5, also at 7:30.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/11/203886