SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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Mill Creek’s Tre Alston (1) makes a first down run and is tackled by Archer’s Frank Finch (16) during the second half of Friday’s Class AAAAAA quarterfinal at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton. Below, Mill Creek’s Daniel Leconte (28) leaps over defenders. (Photos: Kyle Hess)
HAWK HISTORY
Mill Creek blanks Archer, reaches first Final Four
n GAC back in semifinals after victory over Brooks County, 2A n Buford routs host Thomson in AAAA quarterfinals, 3A n Grayson fends off challenge from Westlake, 3A n Collins Hill tests Roswell, but loses close one, 4A
By Will Hammock will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com
HOSCHTON — Mill Creek’s football team didn’t have the edge in playoff experience or in high-level college recruits over defending Class AAAAAA state runner-up Archer. None of that mattered much Friday. The fifth-ranked Hawks, behind a dominant defensive performance against No. 4 Archer’s potent offense, rolled to a 23-0 victory Friday night to reach their first-ever state semifinals. The news got even better later in the evening when they won a coin toss with Colquitt County, allowing them to host next Friday’s Final Four matchup. Their victory over Archer wasn’t as surprising as the way they controlled an offense that averaged 40.3 points. “That’s the question I keep getting asked, ‘Did you ever imagine shutting them out?’” Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis said. “Our defense, nothing they do surprises me anymore. They’re so relentless and play so well together as a unit. That’s all
MORE INSIDE
STATE PLAYOFFS Semifinals Class AAAAAA Colquitt County at Mill Creek Roswell at Grayson Class AAAA Buford vs. Woodward Academy* Class AA Pace Academy at GAC *Site to be determined by coin flip
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS RUSHERS
Cameryn Brent, Grayson, 269 yards Christian Turner, Buford, 171 yards Marcus Young, GAC, 130 yards
of them that rotate in, not just 11 starters, but all 15 or 16 that rotate in. I’m so proud of them. They’re relentless and because of that they do a great job of creating turnovers, giving us short fields and scoring points. That’s obviously a strength of our football team.” Mill Creek, already with a season record for wins at 13-0, had never made it past the quarterfinals until Friday night. But it quickly asserted
its will early, building a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and a 17-0 edge at halftime. Archer’s tough defense forced five field-goal tries and the inability to turn some of those possessions into touchdowns was virtually the only negative for the homestanding Hawks. Their defense made sure the outcome never seemed in doubt, forcing three turnovers and recording their sixth shutout of the season.
“That’s the goal every week is to shut them out, but with all the weapons they have on offense (for Archer), that’s kind of a long shot,” Mill Creek senior defensive end Peyton Moore said. “But we did it.” Archer’s most successful drive opened the game, but it ended with a fumble by Jamyest Williams (23 carries, 101 yards) that was See HAWKS, Page 6A
PASSERS
Davis Mills, GAC, 170 yards Monty Horn, Collins Hill, 160 yards Will Bearden, Archer, 156 yards