It took a few drives Friday, but C.J. Best adapted to Class AAAAA football rather quickly.

The senior 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back moved into the North Cobb school district after leading Allatoona, a second-year AAAA program, with 1,200 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2008. During the first half of North Cobb's season opener against Marietta on Friday, he quickly discovered that AAAAA football plays at a quicker pace.

On the second play of the second half against the Blue Devils at Northcutt Stadium, Best showed he could play in Georgia's highest classification. He exploited an opening by his offensive line and dashed 69 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Warriors went on to seal a 20-7 victory.

In his North Cobb debut, Best finished with 182 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. His second score came early in the fourth quarter when he ran a 12-yard sweep into the end zone.

"It's a way different experience (playing for North Cobb)," Best said. "The game speed was different and I had to adjust to that in the first half. In the second half, the offeisive line opened up some good holes and hit it from there."

Best recorded 55 first half rushing yards and got them in small clumps. He said he had to adjust to Marietta's defense closing holes quickier than the opponents he faced last year while at Allatoona. Once he learned to run quickly through the gaps instead of hesitating, he yielded positive results.

After scoring his 69-yard touchdown to begin the second half, his job appeared more routine. He scored his 12-yard touchdown on the third play of the fourth quarter and added carries of 19 and 15 yards.

Best, who is getting college interest from Clemson, Georgia Southern and Georgia State, said he doesn't want to be one-dimensional tailback. Knowing that future opponents are scouting him, he wants to use both speed and power and did so against Marietta. When asked what his specific strengths were, Best said it was "making people miss."

"I was surprised by his power and how strong he is," North Cobb coach Shane Queen said. "At practice, we don't go to the ground a lot and was surprised by how many tackles he broke. He did very well."

Best averages a 4.5 in the 40 but is eager to get faster. He said he stays after practice every day to lift weights and parachute run to gain more power in his legs.