Click to enlarge photos.By By Carlton D. White
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer
POWDER SPRINGS - The first Cobb County All-Star Senior Bowl was a resounding success as the "Americans" came away with a thrilling 27-24 victory Saturday over the "Nationals" at McEachern High School's Walter Cantrell Stadium.
Fittingly, the end result came down to the final play of the game as Cory Pfaff's 66-yard heave intended for Raphael Scott in the end zone was batted down with no time remaining on the clock, giving the "Americans" the win and possession of the first annual Cobb County Senior Bowl Cup.
"I'm really proud of the coaches and players," said coach Billy Shackelford. "Both teams played well enough to win and fortunately, we had a few more points when the clock ran out."
Marietta's Stanley Jennings took time out from basketball season to compete in the Senior Bowl, and finished the game completing 5 of 7 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. He also punched one in from 1 yard out that put the "Americans" ahead 17-10 with 13:32 left in the second period.
North Cobb's Calvin Middleton rushed seven times for 64 yards and a touchdown, while Lassiter's Joey Hnath connected on two first half field goals of 36 and 25 yards.
"To be the first seniors in history to play in the first-ever Cobb County Senior All-Star game is a great feeling," Middleton said. "Playing with these other guys and against the other all-stars was a good experience. We really got a chance to bond as a team."
The "Americans" scored on each of their first four possessions, beginning with Middleton's 12-yard run that put them on top 7-0 in the first. Campbell's Erik Tapia slid a 38-yard field goal through the uprights with 4:47 remaining in the period trimmed the "Nationals" deficit to 7-3.
After Lassiter's Joey Hnath's nailed a 33-yard field goal with 16.4 left in the second, Campbell's Brian Sutherland excited the crowd with an electrifying 94-yard kickoff return down the left side of the side to tie the contest at 10-10 with 4.4 left in the first period.
Not to be outdone, Marietta speedster Trey Charles nearly sent the ensuing kickoff from the 1-yard line to the house, barreling through the middle of the field and down the right side. However, John Carr's angle pursuit and shoestring tackle ended the period with the "Americans" sitting at the three-yard line.
Jennings would score on 3rd-and-1 with 13:32 remaining in the second for a 17-10 lead and Hnath made a 25-yard field goal on their next possession to go in front 20-10.
Walton's Braden Theobald led the "Nationals" to their first offensive touchdown - a 9-play, 68-yard drive that included the "Nationals" recovering their own fumble at the one and Kennesaw Mountian's Dwight Woodruff scoring on 2nd-and-goal from 1-yard out.
Leading 20-17 late into the third, Jennings connected with Blue Devils' teammate Anthony Weldon for a 16-yard strike and a 27-17 lead with 3:59 on the clock. The "Nationals" countered with 4:33 left in the fourth as Pfaff found Walton's Kyron Espadron wide open down the left side for a score and a 27-24 deficit, which proved to be the final margin.
The "Americans" turned the ball over five times in the game, giving the "Nationals" several opportunities to stay in and perhaps win the contest. However, the "Americans" defense, led by North Cobb's duo of Bryan Presume and Nnamdi Ezenwa proved to be just as good as the offense.
"When our defense needed to step up it did," Shackelford said. "My hats off to those guys because they buckled down when they needed to."
"This game really set the bar high for future all-star games," said "Nationals" coach Phil Ironside. "This was a great crowd, an exciting game and a great start for this event in Cobb County."
cwhite@mdjonline.com
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We attended this first Cobb Senior Bowl and everything was first rate at the McEachern facilities. It was an exciting game! However, I have to say there was not equal acknowledgement for both teams. The "Americans" players were introduced: Name and School, their coaches were introduced: Name and School but the "Nationals" introduction amounted to giving the names of the players---no mention of their schools and no mention of their coaches and their schools. It was an honor for ALL these players to be selected for this Bowl game and all should have been acknowledged equally as should their coaches who gave of their time. I hope whoever was in charge makes sure that this does not happen in the future and that on all levels all are given equal treatment and acknowledgement.
I was helping in the pressbox at Saturday's game. Unfortunately, we had inconsistent info on the 2 squads. We tried to get the National info updated but were unsuccessful. We announced the player's schools we knew (mostly Walton and Wheeler kids) but that was just "local knowledge". We were frustrated too - but it certainly was not intentional. As you know - it was the first time for this event and even with this issue the game was a great success. If we're involved next year - we'll know what to expect and will help with the kind of pre-game prep we do during our regular season.