The McIntosh Chiefs rode a strong first half to a 14-point early lead but couldn’t stem the tide in the third quarter as the host team, the Northgate Vikings, fought their way to a 42-28 win.
Northgate struck quickly after forcing the Chiefs to punt on their opening drive. Tyler Rowland connected with Malik Wade for a 35-yard score with 7:56 left in the first quarter.
During the ensuing possession, one of the four giant light towers illuminating the field went completely dark. Play was halted for nearly a half-hour, and when it resumed the Chiefs caught fire.
Duke Kinamon hit Josh Ange for a 27-yard gain to the Vikings’ 4, and Ange took the handoff on the next play and scored. Northgate took the kickoff but fumbled on first down, and the Chiefs were in business at the Northgate 41. A few moments later Kinamon dropped back to pass, found no one open and ran 13 yards for a score and a 14-7 lead.
McIntosh opened up a two-touchdown advantage on the first play of the second quarter, as Kinamon found Ange on the left side for a 71-yard touchdown pass. That made 21 unanswered points since the power outage.
The Vikings found their offensive rhythm shortly before halftime. Kyle Cater scored on an 8-yard run with 2:27 to play in the second quarter, and Northgate got another score with 30 seconds on the clock to make it 21-21 at intermission.
Northgate came out smoking in the third quarter. After returning the second-half kickoff all the way to the McIntosh 27, the Vikings needed a minute and 18 seconds to find the end zone and regain the lead for the first time since the game’s opening minutes.
McIntosh drove the ball to the Northgate 20 but could go no farther and the home team took over on downs. The ensuing drive resulted in another touchdown and a 35-21 lead with five minutes to play in the third.
Later in the period the Chiefs took over after a punt and drove 47 yards in three plays, with Kinamon scoring on a 15-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. But that was all they could muster at the end, and the Vikings scored for the final time with just over a minute left.
McIntosh (3-3) hosts Starr’s Mill next Friday.
DREW 67, STARR’S MILL 43: The Panthers (2-3) had a 35-33 lead early in the fourth quarter before the offensive fireworks jumped into another gear entirely. Stone Kasten threw two touchdown passes to Terence Harper in the first half and Rico Frye, who ran for 132 yards in the game, scored on a 67-yard run in the second quarter. Tied at 21 at the half, Starr’s Mill took the lead on Kasten’s 1-yard scoring run and again on his 47-yard pass to Satchel Goodrich. Kasten and Goodrich connected again for a score to cut the lead to 53-43 with four minutes left, but the Titans scored two more times before the final buzzer. The Titans had 632 yards of total offense. The Panthers travel to McIntosh next Friday.
WHITEWATER 44, MT. ZION-JONESBORO 20: The Wildcats (4-1) scored first on a fake punt with a 63-yard pass from Jay Ashley to Avery Roth. Justin Peck’s 20-yard touchdown run made it 21-7 at the half, and Whitewater added a safety in the third quarter. Ashley ran 43 yards for a score, and Peck’s final touchdown made it a 44-7 game with 10 minutes to play. The Wildcats travel to Sandy Creek next Friday.
OUR LADY OF MERCY 48, HARALSON COUNTY 0: The Bobcats (4-2) jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to their second straight blowout win. They travel to Mt. Vernon next Saturday.
LANDMARK 34, ROCKMART 19: The War Eagles (5-1) got back in the win column while playing above their classification once again. They are off next week and host Mt. Vernon Oct. 17.
FAYETTE COUNTY was off this week and hosts Carrollton next Friday.
SANDY CREEK was off this week and hosts Whitewater next Friday.
