Football.
Friday's in Georgia, presented by the governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you to buckle up.
Georgia, as we welcome you to West Lake Stadium in College Park.
It's our 2023 GPP season opener as the Triple A number one.
Right?
Cedar Grove Saints have come across town to take on the 76 great Westlake Lions.
And good evening.
I'm Matt Stewart, joined by former Auburn Tigers all-American NFL first round draft pick and 15 year pro Wayne Gandy and Wayne.
We're back.
We are back, Matt.
And I'm excited.
We're on location first time in years and we've got a great game, Nicole, to go along with that.
Indeed we do.
33 total players between these two teams have college offers.
It's talent rich, it's prospect rich, and it's a rivalry, too.
When you look at these teams, both of them, they mirror they want to play fast physical defense control the offensive line both coaches intense here it make for a great game.
Let's start with Westlake.
They're off to a ton of start.
They've obliterated their first two opponents.
Got to the state quarterfinals last year, but gone is their four year starting quarterback, R.J. Johnson.
He's now at Toledo.
Sean Smith has stepped in and done a very good job, has been very efficient.
When he gets in the game, he knows how to lead this team.
He can spin the ball, make the throws.
Right now, he's playing more of a game manager role because he has such a strong offensive line and a strong running game.
But look for him to start trying to get the ball down for you.
Well, I know you're anxious to talk about our next guy.
That's the left tackle one Gaston.
He is rated as high as the number three offensive lineman in the class of 2025.
Big one, big at 683 3335 can move agile He's physical he's growing into position hey don't grow any one in six eight already But what a player he is and everybody's going to be trying to get their hands on it.
All right.
Let's talk about Cedar Grove.
They're off to a one and one start.
Typical of the Saints.
They're playing up all the teams they play until they get in the region or higher up in the classification, including tonight, Of course, they got to the state championship game last year.
We all know what happened.
We'll talk about that later as the night goes on.
But they've got a star quarterback in E.J.
Colson, four star rating as high as number six in the nation.
He's committed to play for Gus Malzahn.
And UCF can spin the ball.
He can make all the throws.
He's accurate, he's efficient.
You make the throw down the field.
He's a high quality, 4.0 GPA kind of game guy.
He knows where he wants to go with the ball and he's making plays right now with his feet and he's got a star running back to hand the ball off to named Bo Walker, a sophomore, 12 offers Ole Miss in Arkansas.
Probably his leaders right now.
Always great to be name Bo when you're running the ball And this young man not the biggest of backs but he's an every down back and he can catch the ball out of the backfield and that's what's making him so dangerous on offense.
So it's the Cedar Grove Saints, it's the Westlake Lions.
Going to be a great ballgame.
Let's get the round robin started and send it to our man, Jon Nelson.
Good evening, Matt.
Good evening, Wayne.
Good evening to you.
However you are accessing us this season, large device are small.
The thing about non region schedules is you get to learn about travel and how that might affect you come playoff time because those journeys could be long.
Last week as an example, Westlake, they traveled to Cordell for the back end of their two year contract with Chris.
But then there's Cedar Grove.
That's an entirely different story.
They played Dutch town on a Saturday.
All they did was yoga acclimation and ice bats before a Wednesday flight after school last week to go play in the Broward County showcase.
They didn't really have any practice except on the B concourse.
Where are the airline that they were flying set you up from seats 1 to 10 and 11 to 20, and that was how you figured things out offensively and defensively.
Necessity is the mother of invention and it might get you ready come playoff time.
That's the early story with these two teams.
Hannah, what's going on in your part of the world?
Thanks, John.
Great story.
All right, guys, for you watching.
We're not only live here in Atlanta.
We are also broadcasting live from Freedom Field.
It's the north side, worst versus Warner Robins game.
You can watch it streaming live right now on GPB Dawgs Sports or the GB sports app.
Now, while you're on that app, go vote for our poll question of the week, which is who is going to win this game?
Either Cedar Grove or Westlake go vote right now.
I will also see you guys at halftime.
Well, we will have our make that an offer nominees as well as the you save it pharmacy Georgia player spotlight you are not going to want to miss that and much more at half four now guys back up to you thank you Hannah let's get this thing started.
Westlake will be receiving the opening kickoff.
Cedar Grove won the toss.
They have elected to defer until the second half.
Lions two and oh, they won their first two games.
5228 Win over North Cobb at North Cobb.
Get things started for the season that revenge last year's 1716 loss to the Warriors football Friday's in Georgia presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the opening kickoff is brought to you by Buckle up Georgia, Buckle up Georgia.
Seatbelts save lives.
So Tyler McKinstry, Christian Petersen standing deep for the Lions, and Alex Brock, the freshman kicker, has it teed up and ready to go for Cedar Grove Saints.
Come in one and one.
You heard John talk about their loss in Coconut Creek, Florida, last Thursday night.
Open the season with a 3433 victory over Dutch town, a team ranked 10th in five and got to the semifinals a year ago.
And the second all time meeting between the Saints and the Lions.
And we are underway on GPB.
Kick is going to bounce to the 16 yard line picked up by McKinstry and McKinstry is going to be dropped with a hard hit at the 24 yard line.
That's where the Lions will go on offense for the first time tonight right there on special teams by Anthony Booker.
That's one of the keys we're going to talk about later about this game, special team play.
That's what Cedar Grove signed last year to be able to pull out a victory.
And their Sean Smith, the junior quarterback, 510 185.
He's completed 53% of his passes for 3095 touchdowns and most importantly, winning zero interceptions so far and then having an efficient season so far, no pass is thrown complete over here on the near edge and out of bounds.
Short pick up.
Let's take a look at the starting lineup for Westlake on offense is brought to you by regions by Gaston Peters, Barrington Bateman and Stewart across the front two good offensive line Smith, Lawless, Harris and Williams.
The tight ends and wide receivers in Miles Davis the starting running back tonight.
They'll be running back by committee throughout the evening play action and the quarterback keeper and Smith up to the 34 yard line he's close to a first down and we have our first flag of the night Nice job there by the end number 51 Chase Kern's on it going inside on that play right there Beaten big one Gaston over there but nice pull of the ball by Sean Smith and that's what he's in this game make smart decisions the Matt Reid option game has a look at tonight's game officials with Karriem Tomlinson, our referee leading this capital city, officiating crew in a timeout called by Cedar Grove and will step aside with him just underway in College Park, Cedar Grove and Wesley.
Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you to be safe on every trip.
Buckle up, Georgia right on down the road and you're doing just fine when a car in front of you crosses over the line there in your space, not looking at your face, distracted drivers are all over the place.
We will we will buckle up, say we will we will buckle up while we've got a quick break in the action.
Did you know that the same area of just one football field can contain up to 95 term I colony?
That's why you need better pest management to defend your home of the official pest control of high school football.
Welcome back to West Lake.
It's that time where we catch up with first name Mr. Last name Adams Jarvis Adams the principal of Westlake and present to him and to Westlake from our friends at CIGNA.
The 1500 dollar donation.
Once again, thanks for being a great friend here at GP, being a great friend for Football Fridays and thank you for joining us tonight.
It's going to be a great night for football.
Two great powerhouse football programs in the state of Georgia.
Thank you so much.
I like how he thinks.
Matt Ready to go here in the first minute.
Once again, thanks to our friends at CIGNA for the donation to West Lake.
Back up to you.
Well, there's no doubt about it, John, 33, got scholarship offered players, I dare say.
I don't think there'll be any other game in the state of Georgia tonight.
They'll be able to match that number third down and three, we'll call it two, third down and two line to gain is the 34 and Smith going up top got up in an and is dropped wide open Zion Williams had the ball in his hands had a touchdown too We talked about earlier in the open John Smith as the season goes on he's going to have to test the field, try to stretch the field down.
They're going to do his main man and great ball beautiful ball there by Smith and Time Williams is definitely regretting that touchdown right there.
He catches that in that seven on the ball got behind the coverage that was an easy six right there instead Westlake will be funny near bop it on the punt He is standing at his 18 yard line and another timeout called by Cedar Grove They burn to time timeout Cedar Grove It's the second time ended up again And when you think about it, this is the third game of the season.
These are the typical things that happened in that first game substitutions, people getting in and out.
Right now, they have to focus a great series of downs for that defense.
Getting off the field.
Fortunate for them, Zion Williams dropped the ball.
But you can't have you're already through two timeouts and we're only a minute into the game.
Let's take a look at Westlake's resume It's brought to you by DB HDD when by learning about safe usage of prescription opioids, nine region championships.
Then in the state playoffs, ten straight seasons been to the quarter finals.
The last two seasons, nine in for a year ago and they're playing their 36th season of football at Westlake when the school and program got started in 1988, Bobbitt nearly had it blocked, going to be fielded?
No.
Instead, they're going to let it bounce right by and be down at the 31 yard line, as Beau Walker wisely let that thing bounce.
Pass 38 yard kick by Joseph Bobbitt.
And that's where Cedar Grove is going to go on offense for the first time today and led by their quarterback, E.J.
Colson, he's right at it, rated as high as number six in the country by rivals, a junior, and he's committed to play for UCF.
Good size is also the thing I've watched in the tape is he works the pocket.
He's one of those guys.
He can keep his eyes down the field.
He steps up, he uses his offensive line.
He's trying to put points on the poor down the field.
He committed to the Knights in July over eight other offers, including Virginia Tech and Cincinnati.
So our first chance to see the Saints on offense, Leslie goes in motion and Walker gets the handoff and Walker gets just two yards on the play.
Let's take a look at Cedar Grove on offense.
It's brought to you by Regions Bank.
Slaughter's got an offer from Georgia State Mincey, Foley, Thornton and Kerns up front and the wide receivers are Leslie Martin Carter and Clements and Beau Walker.
The running back.
Oh, my.
So second down and eight.
The here and now Westlake calls timeout time out west late that's their first time out of the hat not sure that I've seen three timeouts called in less than the first 2 minutes of the game once again on West Westlake's defense a lot of personnel moving in and out.
Oh man on the field, Coach Zachery calling that time out not to lose that yardage.
And these are those miscues.
Typically the first game is not third game, especially this unit to Westlake, who's gaoled and played together.
You wouldn't expect that.
Wayne Let's take a look at the Cedar Grove resume brought to you by DB HDD for state championships.
And all of these come in the last seven years, nine region titles, two straight been to the quarter finals or better, eight straight seasons 11 and three year ago state finalist and played their 52nd season of football dating back to 1976 and win by learning about safe usage of prescription opioids.
So second down and eight coming out of our third time out cold already in this game to keeper by Kohl's and Colson runs through a couple of tackles big physical run by E.J.
Colson tackled by Sebastian Winbush Nice job by reading right there by Colson reading the in into four pull the ball and you love when you're quarterback six to tempo finishing the run letting the rest of the offense know what kind of night is going to be is going to have to be physical against this defense especially in that secondary as good as they are way nine yard pick up to the 42 and a new first down for UCF.
But Walker's A's in there running back going to get the handoff here.
Ball shakes and bakes in the hole.
Oh my goodness what a hit.
As Ramon Moseby, the Louisville quarterback Commit, came up from the backfield and hit him hard.
As we take a look at the Lions on defense, Betts, farmer Holliman and Smith up front Smith's committed to Kentucky Peterson, Wimbush and Oliver on that second line and then McKinstry O'Neil Hines and Mosley who just had the big hit back there in the second half.
We talked about this secondary could be the best secondary in the state, man to man across the board and the Louisville commit Moseby coming up playing physical saw him on the sideline he he looks the part at that safety position they've got six guys in the secondary who are power four prospects Ball goes over here to the near sideline going to be close to a first down on the pass completion to Bo Walker and notice I said power four, not power five.
There's no such thing as the PAC 12 in good pressure by farmer from the inside at nose tackle position and look at that secondary word right there Hines and Moseby coming up to finish off Walker on that play.
Yeah, Bo Walker's a good looking football player right there.
He's already rushed for 186 yards in the first two games this season, and that was Moseby, who came across the line of scrimmage.
It was man defense, five yard penalty first downs, great weapon there for that offense.
They're going to have to use those double and triple counts You could see as Westlake defense they line up and they want to bring pressure man to man they want to come off the edges.
Nice job there by Colson.
There's Rico Zachary, his second season as the Lions head coach 11 and for his seventh season overall as a head coach.
It's also spent some time at Georgia Southern in Kennesaw State.
Bode Walker big hole race to the end zone and Bo Walker is going to score the touchdown.
How about that for a burst of speed 45 yards Bo Walker on the score Cedar Grove up six Nothing nice job running behind your pass out here on the end to the physicality getting out of that block and then showing you that speed stiff arm right there with the left hand high enough time to fall into the end zone for Bo Walker powerful back who's also got some acceleration in his game as well.
Brock is on for the Pat.
Param is the holder bass is the snapper Pat is up and good in a seven nothing lead for Cedar Grove here in the first 4 minutes of the game big run by Bo Walker gets the Saints on top football varieties in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Georgia's emcees so much more than electricity in lively towns and peaceful rural areas, Georgia's electric membership cooperatives are on a mission to provide a different kind of electricity.
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Diet info.
Welcome back to Westlake.
757 to go first quarter seven Nothing to the visitors, by the way, you can make this a multiscreen experience tonight, and our game on the web at GPB is a doozy.
Early on Northside in the last four years of this rivalry against Warner Robins, they've only scored 17 points.
They've lost the last six.
They're out to a seven nothing lead at the Mac.
Halfway through the first quarter.
You can keep an eye on that game all night long.
Our web game all year long, in addition to tonight, is brought to us by our friends at Brite, a pest management brand of pest management.
The official pest control high school football.
Matt Wayne.
That one's a doozy.
So is this one.
Back up to you.
Absolutely.
Thank you, John.
I'll be checking in with John throughout the course of the evening as Cedar Grove has jumped out to a seven nothing lead here.
The Lions getting the ball back and taken by McKinstry at the 14 yard line.
McKinstry cuts back in towards the middle, goes down at the 35 better field position for the lions here for the start of their second possession.
Let's take a look at your keys to the game.
Wayne is brought to you by bright up pest management, but his Westlake offense is really their special team.
Just had a nice return right there last year.
Kind of lost a special teams game tonight.
They're going to have to win that field position for the offense and their defense.
And on the defensive side for Cedar Grove, win the line of scrimmage.
You can't let this big offensive line of Gadsden up front and Stewart control you and that the run game make them make throw the ball down the field ball's out here on the edge goes to Williams and Williams going to have himself a first down across the 46 yard line 11 yard pickup on the completion to Zion Williams going quick, lining up fast.
Williams Trying to make up for that drop he had on that first drive And Smith goes down at the 41 yard line and that's Cedar Grove defense up front They're strong like Westlake on that defensive line.
Let's pick Kyle Mosley, who's committed to UAB coming up with the tackle big body inside six 1 to 86, taking up space working to the ball You're right, Matt.
The defensive fronts, they're active and they can get off blocks and pass goes to Bodine out on the edge He's their leading rusher through the first two games You know Deeney gets two or three on the play.
Take a look at Cedar Grove on defense brought to you by regions Kerns Mosley, Davis and Beck Third up front, Brown Bass and Booker in the second line.
And Smith gets crushed as he delivers downfield for a jump ball and it is incomplete.
Greg Smith took a huge hit, big time pressure coming right up the middle.
Nice job of Smith sitting there trying to deliver the ball, but paying the price right there.
Keith Bass cleaning him out, throwing the ball in the double cover.
You can see he still drilling a little bit from that natural.
But that was a big hit legal hit.
Didn't drive him into the ground, hit him with his shoulder pad into the abdominal area area and he's really more than just a little bit.
He's doubled over right in front of the golf cart.
He took a huge hit and he threw that ball up for grabs.
He's not faulting him for that man.
He was just trying to survive all star offense, five yard pillory, three people down.
He's still in pain over there.
Oh, so the ball back at the 39 yard line as Bob it's on the end and they got great pressure again this is a spiral coming down in traffic ball is loose Westlake has it inside the 30 yard line.
Let's see how they ruled this.
That's a 31 yard punt.
And let's see what the ruling is going to be.
It's going to be Westlake's ball at the 27 yard line.
Tremendous pressure off that is by Joseph Slaughter, the corner almost coming up with the block.
And then here this knuckleball ball just is flat made a bad choice of trying to feel the ball there is this ball walker and a big break here for the Lions offense.
Remember what Rico Zackery told us when special teams killed him last year?
He knew he had to win special teams this year felt like that was the key.
And as he said, the one place you can't take a break for his team is on special teams backwards Pass goes to Peterson and Peterson goes down at the 29 going to have a facemask penalty.
I thought they might be setting up for a double pass because that was such a deep pass backwards.
The Peterson little trickery here falling to the back there.
You really see, I feel like it's a double pass.
Christian Peterson kind of fading back.
Nothing down the field decided to take off and get in the facemask call penalty call there on Anthony Booker personal foul defense man defense had to listen to the goal first down so that's going to give Westlake the ball at the 14 yard line.
Take a look at John Adams been with Cedar Grove since 2016 behind became the head coach in 2021, replacing Miguel Patrick, who's now on Trent Dilfer staff at UAB.
Great scoring opportunity for Sean Smith and the Lions handoff goes to brand fruit Bransford pushing the pile down inside the ten yard line to Amir Bransford.
First time we've seen him, he's a three star junior running back.
Nice job blocking, getting up to that next vegetable by ten the center and just keeping those legs driving is Bradford six feet 190 weight just how recruited how deep is your team when a three star running back rated number 33 in the country is the third guy to touch the ball just getting in the game second down play gets blown dead as Bransford gets the hand on it.
Coach man Defense has the two to go first on both teams now with an outside.
That's just the aggression of this defense.
They like to move change up front and work from that three for 4 to 5 base defense a lot of shifting and sometimes they get into and get caught off guard and caught offside.
So John Adams looks like he could still play.
He was a cornerback for Buck Godfrey in Southwest camp.
I actually called one of his playoff games back in 2002 when they lost allowance in the quarter finals.
A heartbreaking loss.
Remember it well and he did.
Two went on to play baseball for Ray Tanner at South Carolina before finishing up his career, playing baseball at Jackson State.
Transferred right up the middle.
Touchdown.
Left leg.
No tremendous job by that official Throwing it right there, man to man out on the corners, blocking the box.
One click of a blocking combo blocks, Barrington and Peters Bateman inside and nice job there by Thomas Bransford to find the hole.
A little bit of a walk in there for the touchdown.
So Babbitt will try to level this up Smith The quarterback is the holder and the kick is up and good got it Just inside that upright We're tied at 755 yard touchdown run for Tamir Bransford Good job by the offense got the break with the special team turnover and was able to finish the job and you see now was in a position where they can run the ball get these backs going in the middle of that defense scoring drive brought to you by the governor's red ribbon campaign.
Two plays, 28 yards.
Wayne, as you mentioned, it came after that fumble on the punt return, set him up for a quick and easy score.
Took him just 68 seconds to tie the game at seven.
When you pick up their pace, play with that physical attitude that Coach Zachery feels that that's what's been the key to their to an old start so far that the team is fully bought in.
Now they know how practice is going to go.
They know the speed on the field.
Early in this quarter they were kind of dragging, but you saw the energy come in that last couple of plays, special teams and offense.
It's been 364 days since they last played Cedar Grove beat on that night a year ago, 3220 kick coming down and taken at the ten yard line.
That's Beau Walker on the return move to the far sideline following his convoy out of bounds at about the 45 yard line.
We'll see exactly where they spotted out the Beau Walker, a nice return, trying to redeem himself a little bit for that fumble punt.
What a weapon.
You saw the strain of the body right there for that redemption.
He was trying to make a house call.
Getting behind his blocker would have been present water already.
This man showing you his true speed.
Let's take a look at the brighter pest management piece of the game.
Wayne, identifying the pressure this defensive Westlake's likes to play.
A lot of man like to come with a lot of blitzes is key for the Super Bowl and Colson from the quarterback position to recognize what front they're in and Westlake defense take away the run they want to make a one dimensional team of Cedar Grove so far they've not only to do that Oh Walker having a strong first quarter Colson looking to go to the air and fires complete at the 50 yard line the ball goes to Devin Carter transferred in from Augusta Christian they got him back man he is a top high level recruit Nice quick read here by Colson Good delivery of the ball only a four yard gain but hitting the receiver we can catch the ball and possibly do something with it.
What a nice frame there by the sophomore Devin Partido six one about 175.
He's already committed to Florida State over 17 offers including Georgia and Auburn Ball goes to Carter again Carter trying to spin and get outside to the sticks not going to get there Stop by Christian Petersen that you see him come in once again making that quick re getting the ball out of his hand to his main target Carter out in the slot and he's just one of those dangerous guys that's what you want to do.
You want to get him the ball in his hand as quickly as possible and even a possible facemask there.
At the end.
You see the goal.
That's the first foul on one end of the heck.
No flag dropped for that.
They did drop a flag for the sideline warning and is going to bring up third down and about for line.
The gain is the 44 ball sitting on the 48 year lions defense rushing the passer.
You got to remember how athletic Foles is.
You got to stay in your rush lanes, can't get pushed inside and let him make this with his feet keeper.
Colson makes a man.
Miss Colson's got the first down run and physical and diving board to the 37 yard line.
He runs with a lot of physicality, can't get washed down.
Let Colson get to the outside.
And that's just what happened.
Nice read.
Look of the footwork right there.
Oh, don't make them slide like that, Mr. Colson.
And look at the finish of the run.
And that's a future UCF teammate.
Both Colson and Petersen are committed to the Knights under three and a half.
To play here in the opening quarter has been fun so far.
Seven, seven, the score right up the middle and a big run down to the 26 yard line.
Anthony Booker getting his first carry of the game.
You can tell Booker at 510 180 that's a change of pace from Beau Walker good job attacking the defense good stiff arm running behind the pad.
As you talk to Coach Adams about the turnovers last week, these guys are willing to put their bodies on the line run between the type of making big yards.
Booker gets another carry and it's going to get about ten yards on the play to the 25.
They had four fumbles in their loss against Monarch in that Broward National Showcase.
And you just got to figure the short we not really having a chance to practice, as John pointed out, going through the walkthrough in the airport had to have something to do with it, played on a Saturday, then turned around, got on the plane and tried to play on a Thursday.
I don't care what level of competition your focus is strong.
As coach said, first time.
A lot of guys want an airplane, big stage and kind of just lost their concentration.
Certainly wasn't Cedar Grove football, not the football that we've grown accustomed to.
As Colson, with the slap of the hands, draws Westlake offsides and this again going with the hard count, trying to take advantage of the aggressive defense getting your three five nice job there by the offensive line holding their water.
Well, how about this Cedar Grove team?
They already have 99 yards rushing here in the first quarter.
That's a pace that Westlake is not accustomed to.
That's going to upset Coach Zachery.
Offense.
So not a penalty on Westlake.
Instead, it goes against Cedar Grove right there.
So when he snapped his hands, apparently his guys jumped to a lot of fun visiting with these two coaches during the week.
You love their intensity, right?
They both had this unsatisfied disposition.
About a minute you would imagine that their last year was one and 11 or something.
Instead, one got to the state championship, the other got to the quarter finals to the air on the snap round, and that is going to be completed to Carter.
So Tevin Carter played in his first game with Cedar Grove, making an immediate impact with three catches on this drive alone free release working the slot is Carter and that's that ARM talent we talked about with D.J.
Colson.
Right.
Just a flick of the wrist, able to deliver that ball, inscribe the touch the accuracy is that's making these plays work so far.
Carter's got incredible ball skills That's evident so far.
He's the number five rated wide receiver in the class of 2026.
Walker back in there running hard short those legs running over defender inside the five yard line that was O'Neal the safety came up there to take him on and nearly ran right over her job on that right side over there.
Thornton and Kerns of this offensive line, This really opens up when he goes to that backside.
Look, the physicality of that running that strong lower body, just grinding for those extra yards.
Swamp keeper Colson Colson comes back, dives for the end zone.
Touchdown.
Cedar Grove once again Elliott Colson, the quarterback about his fourth run where he really finishes the run and that's what's impressive here pulling the ball to defenders driving the legs get it in for six right here Nice read and too far down getting out on the edge and challenging players by Ramon Mosley to get into the for the touchdown Here's Alex Brock he's nine for 11 on his patterns this season was six for six last week at Monarch and he's perfect on that attempt and blown dead substitution Kimmel to Cedar Grove trying to get a man on the field couldn't get in physical substitution on the kick 35 yards we've made about and little hesitation there the kicks are going to be no good.
I didn't see did they have a trouble with the snap of the Bible of the hole?
A low snap causing a ball ball.
The hole right there kicker had no chance to follow through.
Impressive drive once again by Cedar Grove and Elliott Colson.
Get that ball into the end zone The red ribbon campaign scoring drive.
854 Yeah they just never got the snap down the holders King Param who's a backup quarterback and wide receiver and snap got back there he had some trouble getting the ball up right You have to love high school special teams.
Yes It is one of those things that a lot of coaches you see go get that gray hair real quick with Great job so far.
Great, exciting game here.
Cedar Grove, really showing why they're one of those teams in three eight that can just really go out and play against anyone, anywhere.
So already in the first half, Walker four carries 64 yards.
Colson four carries 25 yards and four for four passing and 25 yards.
And he's also been strong in the run game too.
Great return chance to go McKinstry down the sideline will not be caught 85 yards McKinstry how about that for special emphasis on special teams A little payback from last season where Cedar Grove ran a touchdown back on the kickoff.
Just one cut.
Make one man Miss Cedar Grove up there.
Out of there, there lays.
And when you let an athlete like McKinstry get the ball out in the open field, there's no way they were going to catch him.
Wow.
Took off like lightning down the sideline.
It was just a straight line run of 85 yards.
Bob on for the 80 gets Westlake believe 1413 not done with the first quarter yet Look at that right there on the sideline just a lack of lane discipline and a great athlete taking advantage of it in McKinstry for the touchdown wait I was going to ask you, how does that happen that he's able to run right down the sideline?
He didn't have to cutback or nothing.
All it takes is one guy to get out of his lane and get pushed over into someone else's lane and then let that kind of speed on the edge, especially when it's to your far sideline.
He didn't have the crowd across the field.
He just kind of ran 100 yard dash to the endzone.
You saw Tyler.
He's committed to Kent State, committed to the Golden Flashes in June over ten other offers including UAB and Southeast Missouri State and rated a 24 seven sports three star quarterback showing his special teams skills right there to get Westlake their first lead of the game at 1413.
Defensive minded coaches will always put their top talent on special teams.
They don't care how many stars you have, shoulder plays, special teams going to be fielded at the 40 line.
That's where Cedar Grove going to put the ball in play.
That was Dakari Horton, who's a big time safety for Cedar Grove, took that short kick.
So good field position for Cedar Grove here as they have 60 yards to go and we're not even done with the first quarter yet.
Still 39 seconds on the clock so far has done a great job in that offensive line up front, controlling the line and allowing those backs to hit the hole, letting Colson get out on the edge.
You know, we're talking about Colson and Walker.
A lot of his line is holding his own.
And that's what's one of the keys to the game for Cedar Grove.
It's a line anchored by Jordan Horton, who moves outside to inside.
He's played right guard.
He's committed to Anderson and The Helping Hand.
But at that time, Beau Walker got smothered at the line of scrimmage.
That's big Kendal Farmer the app state come in getting to him.
No big pressure up the field there by Holloman number 44 and the farmer coming from that inside well-built young man inside headed to App State as a good low center of gravity to play that nose tackle three position inside.
This is what Coach Zackery wanted with his defensive front.
They want it to force some second and long third and longs because they excel at rushing the passer and one of the most talented secondaries you're ever going to see.
And we have reached the end of the first quarter with Westlake on top 14 to 13.
And as we come to the end of the first quarter, we want to take this moment to remember our GPB sports team member, Ashley Porter, who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last week.
And our thoughts and our prayers continue to be with Ashley's family in this time of sadness.
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Thanks for joining us.
Football Friday's in Georgia kicking off our 2023 schedule.
Matt Stewart, along with Wayne Gandy, Hannah Goodin, Jon Nelson and our entire GB team and our Emmy winning GB team.
Really proud to be a part of that team.
Got honored in the month of June.
I'm super excited about what we've been able to do on this platform.
What a start to this team.
The testing, our conditioning in game one, Mac testing our conditioning.
Well, I'm good as long as I get to stand up here, just talk about it.
Colson's going to take off and run again, dragging defenders up through the 45 yard line on that second down carry great job of him and making decisions.
We talked about that.
That's the thing about it he's a very handy guy.
He's a three year starter makes great decision and zone one to pull the ball and the thing he's impressed so far in this game is the way that he finishes those was very physical.
We've seen him get hit and still get two or three yards after getting hit.
And you mentioned his stats through two games, 30 of 39 passing, that's 77%, seven touchdowns, no interceptions, no good job so far.
Reading the pressure, figuring out where this defense is coming from, where there's off the edge inside with the blitz.
Colson going to keep it again and run to the far side and pick up the first down and more.
Colson breaks out cutting across the field inside the 30 and all the way down to the 20 yard line.
Well the arm we knew about the wheels are really impressive is tonight as well and the vision and the cutting ability in the open field here feels like it's a busted play.
Didn't like the throw the ball out on the edge and look right here.
Look at the vision to cut that back.
If you didn't know at that moment that he was the quarterback, you really would think he was a slot receiver, 33 yard pickup and he's really strong in his upper body.
His setting tackles when they're trying to bring him up high, trying to take him down from up high.
And that was Walker on the carry right there Nice job there by for problem really when you look at that play defensive end saving that a possible touchdown if he make that tackle Bo Walker there's no one on the back end to keep Walker from scoring in some areas Hines the band at safety he's committed to East Carolina shaken up on the play here Nice really nice cut and you could see just running into other I mean I really think it I think it was friendly fire that Holliman was really the guy who kind of took him out So second down and ten ball on the 23 quick pass goes to Carter makes a man Miss Carter, all the way down to the 12 yard line.
Man.
He's got incredible ball skills and he's really slippery and elusive.
Made the guy just dance right by making his money tonight.
Working out of the slot.
Really known for stretching the field, but showing you great hands and run after the catch Billy right there.
Good hustle by the big deal on Iman right there Farmer to bring him down retracing his steps to get that tackle.
Jevon Carter really starting to shine.
He's got four catches already here in the first half, first and ten firing and even out of the hands of Andrew Leslie, who's been their top wide receiver through the first two games right there.
Kristen Peters Just getting the hand in there.
Nice quick three good ball there, nice roll.
Andrew likes that.
He got to come up with that catch nice ball and he basically handed it to him ten yards down.
That's right on the money.
And that's the first incompletion for Colson.
It wasn't his fault.
The seventh play of the drive coming up on second down and ten with the ball at the 13 he Cedar Grove down one to Westlake here early in the second quarter now Colson going under center not going to step back into the gun gun Walker gets the block this time Walker not going to be able to get away from the defense that time Great penetration that was John Betts the senior committed to Air force number 21, having a great season, leading the team tackles for loss just working his way down Keep in low in those hips right there is 21 working his way down the line of scrimmage making a tackle, getting £10 on the off season.
What a great prospect he is.
High motor guy.
That's his sixth TFL of the season, third down and Jake hasn't taken his time.
You see everyone lined up reading the defense, giving the instructions to the offensive linemen.
He's got full command of this offense.
No, no running option now.
Keeps it right up the middle, down to the five and down inside the three and still moving.
And did he get in now?
No signal from the officials, but it's going to be a first down inside the one.
What a great job of knowing what he wanted to do and take command of the offense.
Pulling the ball right there.
He walked himself through, didn't like the pitch, pull the ball and watch the physicality.
This is the quarterback driving for individuals into a possible touchdown right there.
We saw it in the first run that he had and that's what he set the tempo with tonight.
He looked right at Holloman and frozen and then cut to his right, went right by him.
Walker Did he get in?
Still no signal from the officials there running down the line, going to say he didn't get in, at least not yet.
Now they say you got it.
One yard touchdown run for Walker.
That makes it 1914.
You have to love the line, Judge.
It took him a minute to get down there, but great job finishing off the run.
There was Bo Walker for that touchdown.
What an impressive drive once again, led by Elliott Colson.
Good blocking up front.
Just a mass of bodies, bodies falling everywhere.
And he's just one of those guys at five nine just hard to get underneath a runner like a ball walker in that situation to push him back.
No flag was thrown on the play.
So let's see what the call is going to be.
They're not going to right here, even though it's a five point lead.
They got the kicker.
It was good at the plate talking about defense would be a set on the kickoff.
So wait and see what they do with that.
So that's going to be a 15 yard mark.
All means they're going to kick off on the other side of the 50.
That's always a good opportunity.
Squib it booted onside it definitely do not kick the ball back No or kick it through the back of the end.
To the back of the end zone.
So now they're going to bring things.
They're going to go for the two here, kind of try to get it back to that 21 mark.
And at this point, especially the way that B.J.
Colson is reading this defense and he's finishing off runs, this is a correct call by Coach Adams.
Last time they had a little problem, couldn't get it off, and they missed the opportunity.
Yeah.
When you got Colson and you got Walker and all you need is like two yards.
I'm good with that.
A lot of bodies in the box as you can see, this is being is Colson is getting everybody where he wants them to be.
You got the tight end to Sean Hendricks in there as well and Bo Walker steps up in there and takes the snap, just tries to shove the pile across.
And he did not get in.
So you saw Bo Walker last minute run up there and take the snap like he was the quarterback and didn't get in.
So it's 1947 42 play in the Half Saints, back on top football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by DB HD and the Governor's Red Ribbon campaign.
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Welcome back to West Lake 1914 to Cedar Grove here.
740 For the first half.
Let's take a peek on our multiscreen experience down at the Mac tonight.
It is now second quarter and we've officially hit baseball score.
It is now 7 to 2 north side leading Warner Robins.
You can catch that at GPB Dawgs Sports.
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Before I send it up to you, a couple of surprises around the state after one quarter, North Cobb leading Buford by the score of 14 seven, Brookwood trailing seven nothing as they head to the second as well.
Down south Thomasville leading Caro where county leading Baldwin Sligh County up big on early county back to you and Wayne and one other date on that north side one robins now seven five game the north side Eagles on top of the Demons five point lead for Cedar Grove here in College Park is Westlake.
There's the pooch gig and I think they might have touched it.
Oh, I think Cedar Grove touched it before it went ten yards, didn't they?
It definitely ends up being Westlake's ball because the ball ended up out of bounds with no possession.
So it ends up being Westlake's ball.
But Junior, right frame of mind right here, five oh, it went ten yards in.
It went ten.
Just couldn't come up with it right there out on the edge.
Good kick.
Not sure that's how they drew it up.
John Betts just could not come up with the ball, but it did go ten yards.
So gives Westlake good field position at the 48 yard line now down five points in a back and forth game so far right there in the hole Short run for Westlake and that was Miles Davis getting the carry And that's one thing we came in this game we all like the lions with this big offensive line.
They try to weigh on this defense.
They really haven't really run the ball a lot like we thought they would look at those rushing yards won 86 to 23 miles.
Davis hits the hole, he gets driven back.
That was John Leslie Wesley Brown.
Pardon me, Wesley Brown, the wheel linebacker, making that stop right there.
We see Brown keep bass both meeting Miles Davis in the hole, keeping those legs, driving, pushing him back.
And that's what this defense wants to create and want to win on those first and second downs with Sean Smith in a situation of having to make a play in third and long, John Adams feels like Wesley's going to be a big time prospect.
Transferred in from Southwest, a cab offered by Simo and Georgetown Smith going up top got a man streaking open court for the Touchdown Zion Williams 49 yards that going with the same play we saw in the first quarter early on Sean's Smith airing it out stepping into the throw leading Zion Williams this time a double catch but any catch for coach Zachery is going to make him smile he dropped the first touchdown Same situation double covered beautiful ball there by Smith and a big time touchdown there by their top receiver Zion Williams.
And this time the patty is no good So Westlake a 2219 lead as the Lions cash in almost immediately after that short kick attempt Zion Williams his second touchdown reception of the season for the young man who's got five offers including UMass.
That was a big time play right there just a go route Nice job stepping into it, leading the receiver and just being double coverage for the touchdown is Williams big time play right?
That's what they call redemption.
Same play, same double coverage, just flat out speed, red ribbon screen drive, three plays, 52 yards.
Took him just 73 seconds to get the lead back.
And what a shootout.
I was thinking maybe he might have a little bit of a defensive glass here between these two physical teams.
Instead, we've been having fireworks from the get go of offensive, seem to be on the handle of pressure and making plays down the field.
Squib kick knocked around there at the 30 yard line.
That's where the Saints going to go back on offense.
And that was Corey Horton coming up with that kick again.
Let's see in this first half between the two teams, a lot of weird kicks balls are not hanging in the air long.
They're hitting the ground ball returns.
Yeah, both teams are having to use their skills to recover the ball.
20 to 19.
Westlake ranked sixth and seven.
They're off to a two and oh start taking on the number one ranked team in three day email.
The Cedar Grove story.
They're just extraordinary.
They will not play a team in their classification until they get to the region.
So their first six games of the season, seven games of the season, that is four seven games are playing teams.
All I'm up I mean Westlake's double their normal they take on all comers low Walker helmets two helmets go flying off and to piggyback either Matt you asked Coach Adams about that reclassification he was he didn't want anything to do with that conversation.
That's coming up in the next month.
The Georgia High School Association is they'll be going down.
We currently have eight classifications, two in single-A, they'll be going down one.
So the the conventional wisdom is that six and seven are going to combine some of those.
Some of the six eight teams are getting seven, eight teams going to join together.
The other ones will go six and five.
So it'll be interesting to see how it all fleshes out.
But the gold have bigger regions right now.
You know, Cedar Grove plays in the toughest region in three eight.
There's no question the last two championship games in three have been region game Sandy Creek beaten Cedar Grove last year in the controversial finish and the year before that it was yeah Cedar Grove beating Carver Atlanta and Douglas is also in that region Douglas is much improved this season looks like maybe Jon Betts splitting up good to see him get it up walking off helmet came off not sure maybe just got the wind knocked out of A lot of physical presence he is out on that end six 3 to 8 team so watch number 21 Yeah right there.
Oh my goodness.
Oh friendly fire in the back right there.
Just got bent around back.
Shouldn't be doing things.
I'd hate to think that happened to me, but he's young and pliable, committed to Air Force over 11 offers, including Western Kentucky and Army.
So second down coming up for the Saints under 6 minutes now to play here in the first half Walker going in motion Tolson looks that way now retreating in trouble and going to take a quarterback sack.
They finally got him back in the 15 yard line and a quarter packed sack for the lions.
A Zion Stenson number 51, I think gets the sack and a 14 yard loss.
Low snap.
Nice job keeping his head down the field and he here just nowhere to go with the ball doing the smart thing sometimes you have to eat it you saw right there for second half a second he was thinking about maybe trying to throw something down the field but you don't want to just throw the ball up, especially with this kind of talent.
That's usually when something really disastrous happens.
Well, it's a big loss for his offense, but in that case right there, it actually was good that he did just throw the ball up in the air in the middle of the field, first sack of the night for the Lions comes from Zion Stinson, the senior nose tackle.
And do we have a timeout?
Sideline warning on defense.
That's the first warning of the game.
So both teams have been appropriately warned.
Rico Zackery, his team off to a two and oh start, says the most consistent thing about their two and a half start has been just how hard they play.
And that's been the message since he got here.
That's their mantra.
He came here not to reinvent the wheel, but for the will to learn how to play hard.
And that's what he looks for.
He wants you to play hard through your mistakes.
And when you make mistakes, make sure you're playing fast when you do another quarterback match for the Lions defense.
Wow.
Really getting after it.
And a quarterback sack by Bryson Oliver number 29 the Will backer Oliver just coming off the edge reading the tackle off the edge getting the pressure One of the few times we've seen tonight that Eliot Colson E.J.
Colson didn't have anything special.
He couldn't get out of that one.
Nice job staying up on his back shoulder and able to corral him and get him down.
Yeah, too many for Cedar Grove to block.
Didn't pick him up, so punted out of the end zone and Babbitt gets it out of there.
Pardon me.
That is Brock who gets it out of there again.
Jacob Johnson was the punter blocked the kicker.
Jacob Johnson with the punt and the ball down at the 40 yard line, A 48 yard kick with the bounce turns out to be pretty good.
Westlake going back on offense with 324 to play in the half when we get back football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Cigna Health Care.
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Sweetheart, please don't forget to wear your seatbelt.
I got it, Mom.
It's a nice day.
Your your.
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Honestly, I think that polyester shirts thinking you're going to What?
I think I would have been a better choice.
Cotton has come a long way.
You know, nowadays, cotton raising makes more to great buying.
Cotton.
Is supporting Georgia Farm, I think, as one.
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On tarmac.
Welcome back.
We've got an electric atmosphere here in Atlanta for Cedar Grove versus West Lake Lions up by one.
Coming up in just a few minutes, we'll have our region's halftime show, but we'll have our Make That Kid an offer segment for you.
Save It pharmacy Georgia Players Spotlight.
We'll hear from the West Lake principal that and so much more.
Until then, we'll send it back to Matt and Wayne.
And guys, I am so happy to be back with this Emmy nominated crew.
Congratulations to everyone here.
It's amazing to be back.
Absolutely.
It was a total team effort.
Very exciting times to win that award back in June.
And it's easy when you got great teams and great games like this to cover.
So first and ten for Westlake and their side of the 50 Smith going up top throw in this way it's complete at the 47 yard line and that was Travis Smith with his first catch of the game Nice job by the offensive line giving Sean Smith time that was in long developing out route right there Nice job good route by the receiver nice job going and get that ball not just waiting on it to come down second down and three run right into the middle of the defense That was bodine with the carry they've been running back by committee they just haven't been able to get any kind of running game going not really able to run between the tackles tonight and that's something I'm quite sure Coach Zachery is going to talk at halftime.
They're going to have to be to make some yards with this offensive line.
So on third down, we have a penalty encroachment defense of your ability first half and that will give Westlake a first down at the end.
That'll be the first penalty on Cedar Grove tonight.
Oh, in the quarter pardon me the first in the quarter.
So ball at the 47 yard line and once again, Cedar Grove basically lining up defense, five yard field goal first down to plays back to back where they lined up offside on the defensive side of the ball.
Great.
These two defenses are very similar strong on the defensive line, strong in the secondary bring a lot of pressure going to play man to man defense really kind of carbon copies philosophically of each other.
So first down in five following the penalty Smith going to take off and run Sean Smith pump fakes stayed on his feet somehow did not have his knee touched the ground picked up four on the play Deep roots middle of the field open right there Nice read by Smith Able to pull the ball, get some yardage out of that play.
Just nowhere to go down the field.
Deep roots.
He's on that last drive he was able to connect with Zyon Williams.
I think we're going to have a timeout called by Westlake and that will leave them with one in the house with 133 to play.
But Sean, interesting.
I mean, he's taken over for RJ Johnson young man, threw for over 9000 yards and 79 touchdowns in his high school career But.
Rico Zachery says Sean is a gym rat.
He said he would come here during the summer and Sean would jump the fence, get out here and be working out on the field by himself.
And coach was like, Hey, just let us know.
We'll we'll open the gate for you.
But he was always busy during the summer, just taking it on his own initiative.
BE out here working out.
And that description is typically what you usually say about a defensive player, a linebacker, a safety.
So for your quarterback, really looking to take advantage of his opportunity.
Sitting there watching RJ Johnson, who seemed like he was here since birth.
Yeah, so he was the starter and.
Now you're taking over a team with so much talent.
Want to get here early?
Try not to make mistakes.
Let this team develop because across the board is so much talent that he can just use and utilize.
Well, he has been steady so far.
You saw five completions for Smith here in the first half.
Four of them pardon me, his last one just went to Travis Smith.
He's had to go to Zion Williams including a 49 yard touchdown pass.
Smith stands in the pocket now he's flushed out of it throwing across his body downfield, delivers a strike at the 16 yard line.
Nice throw on the run and catch downfield by the lions.
Nice job stepping up in the pocket feeling the pressure.
Watch how he gets the shoulder back to where?
Nice job right there.
Get your shoulders able to step in to the throw, put a little on it and make the completion.
Eric Johnson The tight end coming up with that catch right there Ball goes out on the edge quickly to Travis Smith and Smith picks up a couple of yards and that will looks like they stopped the clock momentarily.
Perhaps he got out of bounds on the play.
Now the clock is rolling again.
Here's Travis Smith.
Good look at the junior wide receiver Got a great body six for right at £200.
Two offers offered by Georgia Tech and Georgia.
Going for the end zone might have been some holding right there and the flag comes out.
Yeah.
Travis Smith was trying to get around the cornerback DeMarcus Clements, and it looks like he had him held up.
Just never letting him go.
Go right.
You could see Newman's both hands, one on the shoulder pair pad, one on the breastplate, just pulling that beat on the route and just trying to save the touchdown.
There.
Pass interference defense.
Thank goodness it took a go second down.
Better to hold and not give up the touchdown give your defense another shot right Definitely with a guy like Travis Smith just throw it in the back of the end zone with that six four frame and let him go up and make a play against the smaller corner.
There.
So second down about one yard to go, they can pick up a first down going for the end zone again, man wide open underneath and another that's going to be a touchdown.
He got into the end zone and that's Christian Petersen with the touchdown catch First time the ball's gone to him Goes for seven yards and the score just sneaking out of the backfield there is Peterson finding himself out in the flat, wide open.
Nice job by the receiver coming underneath.
Good read by Sean Smith that route there by Travis Smith the clear out the ball and a talent like Peterson's hand You know it's going be a touchdown that was close I didn't I thought he was out of bounds before he got in the bat is up and good and it's 27 to 19 is Westlake has opened up an eight point lead here with 50 seconds to play in the half.
Kristen Peterson committed to UCF able to get it inside that pylon for the score Third touchdown reception of the season for him.
Oh, the first touchdown pass of the night for Sean Smith.
He now has six on the season talking to go six plays 60 yards for the score price can five and Cedar Grove had three penalties on that drive to help fuel the scoring opportunity for the lions two offsides and a holding tell me nice job on that drive by Sean Smith able to make some plays with his feet keep his head downfield and make some throws years kickoff coming down at the 20 yard line Walker on the return trying to get around the edge.
He going to get there they are going to have a penalty flag come out right there on that play that was Antwan Smith the defensive end committed to Kentucky on the kick coverage, making the tackle.
Wow.
Right in front of the referee.
You can see the facemask placement.
Jack Anthony, 15 yards from the end of the run first down but Walker trying to change sides of the field.
Antoine Smith, with the penalty still time to work the ball down the field.
You have a guy like E.J.
Colson, they have one timeout remaining as Colson brings the offense out and after the mark off on the penalty not bad field position right here.
The ball's at the 40 yard line troops, enough time zone on the back end.
It's Wesley Folsom looking going to toss it out of bounds.
And that's the thing with Westlake in this defense, most teams confuse you when they switched demand was the Lions defense.
When you start playing zone nice job there.
Just not knowing where to go with the ball second down and ten coming up they like their field goal kicker Alex Brock kicked a 39 yarder against Dutch town in the opener.
So if can get it close enough they get the ball to the 20 yard line they've got a chance to get the field goal ball going underneath here and caught by Leslie He gets dropped immediately by Oliver a nice open field type of error by the senior Bryson Oliver.
So now it's third down times running down on him here.
They seem like they're in no hurry at this point to run another play.
They do have one timeout remaining and it looks like Coach John Adams has signaled to the team to head to the locker room and that is the end of the first half and a 27 to 19 lead for sixth ranked less league entertaining very entertaining good quarterback play so far in this game.
Bo Walker doing what he can to keep Cedar Grove in the game physical play up front both secondaries, making big tackles and special teams has been his own movie so far in this movie.
And it's interesting you this game.
Yeah you know Rico Zackery said you got to stop the run and they have not really been able to stop the run yet.
The Lions have had enough big plays to have the eight point lead as.
They head to the locker room.
Let's send it down to John Nelson.
Thank you very much, Matt here with Coach Zackery.
It wasn't the defense that started things out for you.
It ended up being special teams and then it was the offense.
So two of those three phases have gotten near the eight point lead.
Well, we know this.
This is a football game.
I mean, they're a great team, you know, special teams, offense, defense.
You just got to take whatever it is that they give you.
You know, you got to understand that this is going to be a game of momentum.
You got to play hard in every phase of the game.
And at the same time, you knew it was going to be a hard fought game regardless of what we're talking about, whether you're on offense or defense, it was getting chippy out there in that first and second quarter.
I mean, these guys know how to win.
They've done it for a long time.
So, you know, you got to keep playing, you got to play the game.
You got to play for four quarters, and it's going to be a fourth quarter game.
And we got to continue to play.
And we'll keep an eye on your third and fourth quarter.
Thanks for your time.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Rico Zachary, the head coach of Westlake, they were down early and now they have the lead here on the beginning of Football Fridays in Georgia.
The region's halftime show with Hannah Goodin coming up around the corner here on the Green Bay Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by DB HDD.
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You should be wearing cotton as a major supplier of cotton worldwide.
So if you'd like to buy local to support Georgia, buying cotton is a great place to start.
It's well and sustainable naturally means that's a polyester fiber made of oil.
By the way, where's your dressing room?
And down the road.
And you know, one just found one a car in front of you crosses over the line there in your space.
Now, looking at your face district, the are all over the place.
Say we will we will buckle up, say we will we will buckle up.
The players on the field tonight train hard to win their games.
But for many of us, it's hard to find time in our busy lives to make fitness a priority and our health suffers.
Scott Kennedy, vice president of sales for CIGNA Health Care, is here to share tips on how to get the whole family healthier.
Scott, why is it so important to focus on improving our family's health?
Well, Hanna, here in Georgia, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and one in ten people have diabetes and may not even know it.
And so it's important to get your regular checkups and talk to your doctor about how you're feeling, both physically and emotionally.
What can families do to prioritize health?
Make it an issue for the entire family.
An easy way is get the whole family involved in fitness.
Take a walk after dinner or go to a park or a hiking trail.
But it's not all about working out.
It's about spending quality time together and really being social and energizing your health and vitality.
What else can parents do to improve their family's health?
Well, nutrition is key and the whole family benefits from having a good meal.
And it's as simple as swapping out sour cream for Greek yogurt or when you're at the drive, skipping the fries and doing a salad or fruit.
What is something important parents might not know?
Sleep is as important as nutrition.
Kids aged through 12 need 11 hours of sleep a night.
And when a kid gets good rest, that lowers their risk of being overweight, having diabetes, or having attention issues.
And parents really have to model that behavior and hit the sack themselves.
I was just about to say, God, I really need to take that advice and get some more sleep.
Thank you so much for being here and sharing this important information.
If you would like to learn more, please go to Signal Icon.
Welcome to the halftime show presented by Regions.
Get back in the game with Regions Bank.
I had a good and we're live from Atlanta for Cedar Grove versus West Lake Lions on top 27 tonight.
And now we have seen so much incredible talent on, the field tonight.
But what about the kids that get overlooked when it comes to recruiting?
Let's highlight some of those players.
Here's our make that kid and offer nominees.
We start with Long County senior quarterback Jason Mangan.
He transferred here last year and has moved all around as a military kid, but he's overcome that obstacle each time and continues to shine on the field.
As a junior, he threw for over 2000 yards for 23 touchdowns while also rushing for 228 yards and four TDs through two games this season he's already thrown for 188 yards and a score.
So somebody make this kid an offer.
Next up is Stockbridge senior wide receiver and kick returner Ryan Johnson.
He was named the Class four All-Region player and wide receiver of the year for the Tigers, with a career total of 40 catches and ten touchdowns.
The multi-sport athlete also competes in track and field where he won the region championship in the 400 meter hurdles.
So he's fast.
Somebody him an offer by West Lake head coach Rico Zachary also want to be the nominee Camillo O'Neil, Zach Machine Bryson Oliver and Zion Williams from the Lions Follow us on social media at GPB Sports to see how you could get nominated.
All right, it's time for your score update on the Georgia EMC scoreboard.
Georgia EMC so much more than electricity.
So here's our top five games around the state.
Carrollton leads Rome six to nothing in the first.
We're counting up through Baldwin, 24 to 6 in the second Thomas County Central blanking right now, 14 to nothing in the first.
Mary's up over Savannah Christian seven to nothing in the second in our web game that's streaming live right now on GPB Dawgs Sports in the GPB sports app Northside leading Warner Robins 21 to 5.
I have a bonus score for you.
North Cobb is also leading 2117 over Buford, so we will be on an upset alert there.
All right, guys, we got to take a quick break.
But coming up next, we had the you save it pharmacy Georgia play Spotlight.
You're not going to want to miss it While we've got a quick break in the action, did you know that the same area of just one football field can contain up to 95 termite colonies?
That's why you need bread.
A pest management to defend your home, Right?
The official pest control of high school football, Cigna Health Care is a proud partner of Georgia Broadcasting and Football Fridays.
Cigna Health Care's Mission is to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.
Visit Cigna dot com to learn how you can support your physical and emotional well-being in lively towns and peaceful rural areas.
Georgia's electric membership cooperatives are on a mission to provide a different kind of electricity, are not profit.
Member owned emcees are focused on making life better for members at private residences, farms and thriving businesses.
We work for you, generating safe, reliable, affordable electricity, giving back to local programs, serving our members to make life brighter.
Georgia's EMC is so much more than electricity.
Time to catch up with our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Joining us, as always, Director Alan Poole.
We do these pieces every year, but we feel that it's important to remind everybody why it's important to spread the message about wearing seat belts.
Well, Joan, thank you for having me.
Young drivers or inexperienced, and they're new drivers.
And so we want to make sure that they buckle up and we want their parents to know what they're doing when they're not with their parents.
How can parents or guardians be more involved in knowing what their teens are doing behind the wheel?
Well, they should make sure and demand that if you're going to lend car to one of your kids or a young, inexperienced driver, that they make sure that they buckle up.
So then let me ask you this.
It's not just teens.
It's adults at the same time that need to be reminded about wearing their seat belts, too.
Well, the data shows us in 2021, it was about 60% of the people was killed in crashes, were not wearing their seat belt.
And that's why we're stressing we're stressing here today and for the future to come.
We want to make sure everybody is aware and buckle that seatbelt.
So folks want to find out more information about driving safely.
Where do they go to our website.
Jay Highway Safety Board.
It's great to see you, as always.
That's the message from our friends at the governor's Office of Highway Safety.
And a long welcome back.
It's time for the much anticipated Georgia player spotlight brought to us by you.
Save it pharmacy.
Now, commitment and determination is what led Darty senior DB Morris Davis to all of his success on the field.
Let's listen to his story.
I mean, Morris for Dougherty High School is is one of our leaders on our football team.
He's one of those guys that have walked himself up to be where he is today.
Yeah, I played when I was little, but I wasn't I wasn't that good.
And he had grown into the person that he is right now because of his commitment and his dedication to the game of football.
Davis is committed to Ole Miss, so y'all know I've got to give him a hot toddy.
That's my alma mater.
One more quick break and.
We will hear from the West Light.
Principal Jarvis Adams, he's standing right next to me here.
Also, here's a quick look at the band.
They are very loud behind us.
It's been a very electric atmosphere with them.
Awesome band.
All right, guys, stick with us.
Jarvis Adams next and it.
Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.
Learn how to protect your family from Opioid Overdose at Opioid Response Diet Info Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to in part by Regions Bank.
Get back in the game with regions being at Regions Bank.
We're here to listen to your needs and we'll customize a plan to help you reach your financial goals.
Our service to Georgia goes beyond banking to creating more inclusive prosperity in our communities.
From education to financial wellness to economic development, we're working to level the playing field so more people can succeed and our communities can thrive.
Flint Energy and 33 other Georgia Electric membership cooperatives congratulate Crawford County High School on winning the GHC.
Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.
This award honors schools that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship during competitive events.
Only one school in each region, in each classification, is chosen to receive this annual award.
The GHC takes into consideration all aspects of sportsmanship, making the award a tribute to the entire community as a cooperative.
Flint Energies loves to invest in our schools and our communities, and Crawford County is a school that exemplifies that cooperative spirit sportsmanship.
They have wonderful school spirit.
Always.
They have respect on and off the field.
They have character and integrity in everything that they do.
Introduced in 2006.
This award reinforces the GHC A's philosophy that everyone associated with high school activities from athletes to spectators, should adhere to the fundamental values it represents here.
Can we really, really preach to have good sportsmanship in our coaches, Believe in our players, believe in it?
So we're just super excited about being honored with this award.
Georgia's EMC and the th4 Georgia Electric Membership cooperatives are proud to sponsor the cooperative spirit sportsmanship Award.
Congratulations to the Crawford County community.
Welcome back to the region's halftime show.
Westlake is leading Cedar Grove 27 to 19.
And I've got the Lions Principal Jarvis standing right here with me.
The band is doing an amazing performance behind us.
Time to brag on your school.
Tell me about what amazing things are going on here.
All right.
So Westlake High School is an international international Baccalaureate World school.
We have a thriving academic department.
We focus in three areas here.
Academics is number one athletics in academe, I mean, in fine arts.
So number two, and we share them equally.
So our athletic program, we flew out tonight, you see a large, large fan base.
But if you go to our spring show, our Christmas shows for the performing arts, we're going to have two or three nights of shows and each night will be a sellout.
These students here really support one another.
Most of our athletes also participate in our performing arts program as well.
What's something about Westlake that someone who's never here might not know?
So I think one thing here, there's a there's a culture of excellence here where students here love the school, They love to thrive.
They're super focused on their academics, but they're overly they're just as focused on being involved in extracurricular activities here.
Principal Adams, thank you so much for the time.
We appreciate.
Thank you guys for coming out.
Hope you enjoy yourself.
We are.
We're having a great time.
We're going to do a little switcheroo.
John, come on over here.
Thanks.
Principal items, Taggart and hey, John.
Okay, so we have some upset alerts early.
I know it's too early.
Right.
But give us the rundown on the score updates around the state.
Well, the biggest one, obviously, a lot of folks are looking at is that Buford game with North Cobb.
Buford squeaked past Mallard Creek last week in North Carolina.
And you wonder, is there a bit of a hangover there from game It was a ten seven low scoring game after the first quarter it was 14 seven and you mentioned one 2117, I think was the last one we had.
So is it taking a little while for Buford to get to full song in this one?
You know?
Well, they're going up against North Cobb.
Brookwood was trailing early in their game against Collinsville and so those are the first two that we've got on the board that we're really looking at that you know what?
We're used to have the siren in the lower third.
Yeah, right now those are the two that we're staring at.
A lot of the top ranked teams are winning right now.
Another to keep an eye on.
Northeast Macon is at Jake Stadium in Fitzgerald.
They had an early lead on the purple hurricane.
We'll keep an eye on that one as well, because that Fitzgerald defense just going up against one of the toughest rushers in the state.
Can they slow northeast down?
That's the big question in Ben Hill County tonight.
Okay.
The home team Westlake is filing in behind us.
What were your thoughts on the first half?
There's some big fake defense.
Yeah, there was.
And, you know, when you have these games, you know, 50, 42 and 50 was 50 points that were put up by Westlake last week.
You wonder what it's going to be, what it's going to look like early on when you have two teams that are used to high powered offenses.
And that's what we ended up getting here early on.
It took a little while for the defenses to come to full song.
And like I was talking with Coach Zackery before we were coming on, it was special teams.
You got the early fumble and then you got the kickoff return for the score to help you get on the board.
In this back and forth.
I want to catch up with Coach Adams in a little bit to find out what the adjustments are when it comes to how he's going to approach things down by eight as we get ready for the third and fourth quarter.
All right, John, go get him.
I'm going to go to head coach.
Coach Adams.
So that means Hannah goes here and I go that way by John.
Thank you.
All right, guys, follow us on social media at GPB Sports for all of the latest updates around the state.
Also, don't forget to go vote for our poll question of the week, which is who do you think is going to win this game?
Westlake or Cedar Grove.
So download the GPB sports app to vote there.
We will have a breakdown of all of this on the Football Fridays and Georgia podcast.
So if you guys don't listen to our podcast, John and I have so much fun, so be sure to check that out.
All right, That's it for the halftime show, everybody.
We will have more from Matt Wayne, John and myself right after this.
Football Friday's in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Georgia's emcees so much more than electricity.
Today's conservation minded consumer cares about where their energy comes from.
Your local EMC cares, too.
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Sweetheart, please don't forget to wear your seatbelt.
I got it, Mom, it's nice to see you in the blink of an eye.
So many tomorrows can disappear.
Buckle up for your few free trip.
Every time a message from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Welcome back to Westlake.
Getting ready for the second half.
It is 2719 to the home side.
Time to get the Cedar Grove perspective of things here with Coach Adams.
What you talk to him about there at the half?
Yeah, we're back and forth and it was tight early on but they got some distance in that second quarter.
We just talked about what we seen on film, our week alignment and assignment and we made those adjustments and just relax and take away the deep ball and the big play.
We're going to be fine offensively.
The running game was there.
It was obviously integrated by the reads from the quarterback and everything seemed to be working really well there with the ground game.
What is the continued adjustment there to make sure that those big gains in those cards happened second half?
I think it starts with coming out and doing really well on kickoff return.
They get some things rolling on offense and then we've got to stop somebody on defense.
We got to stop giving up the big play and just settle into our defense.
Thanks for your time.
We'll keep an eye on your second half.
Thank you.
That's the Cedar Grove perspective, Matt.
They've got some work to do down eight as we get ready for the second half, send it up to you.
All right.
Thank you, Nellie.
What a fun first half.
2719 Westlake on top as we get ready to get this third quarter started, Wayne, let's take a look at the first half highlights.
In the beginning.
Opening possession, Cedar Grove, Bo Walker, 45 yards for the score big explosion off the right side of the line.
Bo showing you the speed why he can play center field and anything else he wants to do with his talent.
And then on the punt return fumbled by Walker right there and recovered by Moseby, set up a short 28 yard drive for the Lions.
Bransford with the five yard touchdown run to make it seven seven.
And then it was Cedar Grove again and The Keeper by Colson, he takes it in from three yards out, really showing the strength of his upper body to score that touchdown.
They're scrambling ability became one of the big draws of the first half Then McKinstry the 85 yard kick return touchdown and Westlake had a 1413 lead.
So Smith stepping back in time with you down the field for the big touchdown, a lot momentum headed in Westlake's favor right now.
49 yards on that score right there.
And then Peterson gets it just inside the pylon for the seven yard touchdown reception from Sean Smith.
And that's where we stand right now.
Peterson having a big game 2719 should take a look at the halftime stats and the whopping disparity in rushing yards in favor of Cedar Grove.
Really the same can be said in passing yards for Westlake.
When you look at it, it's something that Westlake thought they could come in and stop the rush, but then the big plays down the field.
But for Cedar Grove, seven plays over ten plus yards, Westlake has been able to grind and take the lead in this game should be an exciting second half.
All right let's get this third quarter started.
The opening kickoff is brought to you by Buckle up, Georgia.
Buckle up Georgia.
Seat belts save lives and Westlake kicking to Cedar Grove here to start the second half.
And the Saints down eight in the second all time meeting between these two Southside rivals.
So the clock has got to widen down here.
I don't think they can get it to zero any other way.
So we got 24 seconds to kill right here.
Your thoughts on what we're going to see here in the third quarter?
I think you're going to have to continue to see by Wesley contesting this defense down the field on the back end.
And when you look at E.J.
Colson and Bo Walker, you're just going to have to continue to hopefully come up with some more on defense and give them a little shorter field, more opportunities.
So Joseph Bobbitt has it teed up and ready to kick off for the Lions looking go to three and on the season, they can get the win.
Tonight, Cedar Grove looking for their second win.
And here we go.
Third quarter underway, a little pooch kick going to be taken by Horton.
They kicked it to him three times already in this game.
He returns it to the 45.
So good field position for the Saints to begin the second half.
And E.J.
Colson bringing them out eight for 49 yards, rushing, six for ten, passing 37 yards and a three yard touchdown run in that first half as well as impressive of a half against a great defense as you can ask.
Four on the road coming in here really controlling with his ability to run the ball scramble as we talked about extend plays and run the ball with his feet making yardage.
You know John Adams said he's got all the intangibles and we saw that in the first half.
He got a really good football mind and a very good football body, that's for sure.
Great package for wide four star quarterback in the junior class.
The handoff goes to Bo Walker with a stiff arm, but then he's going to go out of bounds.
Oh, wow.
He stiff arm, the first guy there.
But then there were like three guys right behind him.
He had nowhere to go that I don't know what the halftime speech was from Coach Zachery.
Something says, Stop.
Bo Walker You know, you could just see a different energy about the defensive line right there.
It was a lot of explosion hustling to the ball.
They've enough of that and they know to win this game they have to take away the ball off the Bo Walker option four yard loss on that play second down and 14 ball back at the 41 Colson up there making sure everybody knows what the play is Let's go hit as he throws ball out there and it is broken up trying to go to Leslie on the play that was McKinstry on the coverage.
Big pressure in his face standing in the pocket.
Here's Colson.
You see the pressure down on him, off the edge there by John Betts.
The job of the umpire, they're letting them battle for that ball.
Low contact between the receiver in the corner, but it was evenly matched.
And nice coverage out there by McKinstry McKinstry playing the field corner position, Moseby playing that boundary position that Avon Terrell played last year.
Avon, now a freshman at Clemson, third down and 14 right in the middle, in and out of the hands of Leslie.
Tight coverage coming from Christian Petersen right there.
Peterson's just one of those guys just doesn't come off the field protection Nice read.
Just a flick of the wrist Look at the arm talent there but good job by Peterson getting that right hand in there knocking that ball out.
So fourth down here in a punting situation, Jacob Johnson on the kick, high snap.
Can he get it out of there?
He just barely does.
Short kick going a roll dead at the 30 yard line.
And do we have a flag?
Did they hit the kicker?
29 yard kick flag was dropped at the 50 and not back where the kicker was so interesting to see might have a lineup having an infraction at the line of scrimmage.
Get a personal foul here on Slack on the return personal foul being legal blast off block receiving team had the discipline to go for something that's going to pin Westlake deep and coach Zackery maybe debating it now but when he watches the film in the replay you can see it in the middle here definitely just blindsided right play was basically over no need for that at all and that's some of why they put that rule in that you can't just crack back.
So that's going to put the ball way back at the 15 yard line instead of the 30.
And that's where Westlake goes on offense for the first time here in the third quarter, he transferred on the carry, just barely cut back to the line of scrimmage and a lot of leather popping that play.
You see Dakari Horton, who's committed to western Kentucky.
Safety comes up and makes that one of the few times we've seen all night the offensive line of Westlake.
All five guys actually got down in a three point stance and came off the ball.
That's something they really need to get going.
Bradford Davis These backs a lot of talent, but his offensive line is going to have to make some blocks up front second down coming up Smith wants to throw going up top on the sideline incomplete trying to connect with Travis Smith that was Horton running coverage with him step for step on Smith directing traffic having the receivers out on the edge switch position once again trying to use that size of Travis Smith and he goes at about six four has a big size advantage on the cornerback who's listed at 57c number AJ Corey Horton making back to back plays, making the tackle then in on the coverage.
He's a real ball hawk back there Encroachment defense by yard Gilbert third down central once again just taking advantage of the aggressive nature of the defense born with a hard count a double count sometimes making the defense declare that time to the Grove jumping offsides again.
BRANSFORD When in motion.
SMITH In trouble back there, going to take a sack quarterback sack Wesley Brown and Chase Kern's double up to get Sean Smith on the ground and score down will pump right there by Sean Smith.
Just know where to go with the ball Pressure off the edge by Wesley Brown.
A lot of pressure up the middle there Well by Kyle Mosley not sure the offense personal foul defense those penalties offset by third down would be getting a little chippy That's the third personal foul here in the second half, we're only 2 minutes into the quarter.
The official corrected himself.
It is fourth down and not third with the off setting penalties.
Wesley Brown picking up his second quarterback sack of the season.
That's the first for the Saints defense tonight.
Devin Carter standing deep for the Saints on his side of the 50 on the plus side of the 50 I should say and Bobbit punting from inside the five gets it out of there it's a high kick Carter steps up at the 40 yard line 39 in traffic and makes the catch a 23 yard punt But the Saints got great field position out of it.
It got the ball.
When we get back on GPB Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by DB HD and the Governor's Red Ribbon campaign because to your mind, live drug free HD and the Governor's red ribbon campaign is all about Georgians standing together for substance misuse prevention Be kind to your mind, live drug free.
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Hi, I'm Tommy Sharp with you.
Save Pharmacy and I'm proud to present to you this week's You Save It Pharmacy Student Athlete of the Week.
I don't think he realized how good he really is.
I do everything that I can to be myself.
I mean, I think he is the type of person where he cares a lot about his teammates.
I do a lot of classroom to make sure that I'm keeping my grades, my team, and the type of person that he is.
And he checked all the box.
It is count day.
It was class 22 four door to high school.
I hope you've enjoyed watching you save it's pharmacy Student Athlete of the Week.
If you'd like to watch our full interview, please follow this link.
Thank 2719 Westlake on top here just into the third quarter.
Lions coming up empty on their opening and now Saints have great field position ball sitting down on the 40 as we buckle up Georgia here for the 2023 season Matt Stewart and Wayne Gagne with the upstairs John Nelson downstairs on Hannah Goodin great season opener for us here tonight on a spectacular Friday night here on Labor Day weekend weather gave us a break snack formation for receivers to the bottom of your screen Colston lets it fly man running under and what a catch by David Carter inside five yard line Great play designed for receivers creating the one on one matchup on the edge and this is what coach Adams talked about with Devin Carter He's our guy He's the guy that can stretch the feel good throw there by Colson and not even able to step into the ball but still threw the ball about 50 yards in the air.
38 yard reception for Dan Carter that's five catches 69 yards for Carter tonight in his first game with the Saints handoff goes Bo Walker got hit in the backfield going to take the loss on the play got great penetration right there from the safety Demaryius Haynes who's committed East Carolina kind of stumbled out of his stance here is bold saw that early pressure coming off the edge couldn't figure out where to go nowhere to go with it, just trying to drive towards the goal line second down and goal.
Oh wow.
You know, for John Adams you really think it, man?
I sure hope sure wish Devin Carter could have kept his feet and just got it the end zone because when you're trying to line up and score from inside that five yard line, it becomes a difficult pass.
A lot of bodies inside, as you can see, a little heavy formation here by Cedar Grove handoff.
Walker again churning those feet and those legs and did he get in He got in touchdown for Bo Walker third touchdown of the night for Bo Walker this one for two yards and they'll go for two to try and tie it up coming off that left side, just running behind his shoulder pads.
You can see look at the leg drop, just fighting to get into the end zone, just pushing bodies up front by his offensive line.
Kyle Mosley there.
Let's see what they do here on this two point conversion.
You and I both thought they got a little too fancy the last time they tried it.
I believe between E.J.
Colson and Walker and their ability, how they could finish to run for two yards, You only have to get real fans to read that, even if you.
Colson If you don't if you don't like where it is, pull the ball down.
Oh, wow.
He's going to toss it back to Colson.
Are they going to make this work?
They do.
Wow, what a play.
You talk about being able to improvise.
And Matt, I'm going to go ahead on with my biggest bet and tell you this was not designed here.
It's just two guys playing football.
Oh, holy.
I think Bo Walker found himself in trouble.
Look behind him.
Great job of improvising.
You hold your breath if you're telling Adams or Walker, trusting his court quarterback here, just nowhere to go.
Time to belly back, just pitches the ball and look at a speed of B.J.
Colson to get to Pylon.
And I love what I've seen out of E.J.
Colson and the Improvization and they're all smiles over on that sideline.
Bo Walker had five guys hanging on him and tossed the ball over the coals and he ran to the pylon and got in to tie this game.
Three plays yards.
As you take a look at the red ribbon scoring drive and what a play to get us tied up at 2727 three plus minutes into this third quarter.
Great drive taking advantage of the short field, opening it up with deep ball down to Devin Carter to get him inside that five yard line, then finishing it off with the two players that right now have been keeping his offensive line and Colson involved.
So Brock going to kick off and it's going to go out of bounds or did they have the penalties going to they're going to kick again okay so they kicks not going to count at all.
Kick getting five yard free kick.
That's actually a break for them because that ball is out of bounds before it even got to the 40 that was going to give Westlake the ball from where went out of bounds.
So they caught a break on that.
And a couple of times in that first half, when you see the rovers kicking off, Westlake was literally bailing them out by, fielding the ball.
The ball was moving in that direction, something they might adjust to at halftime, letting the ball go out of bounds.
But as you say, it gets him a break.
But being offside in that situation, a little pooch kick balls in no man's land in his field, In and Out of bounds by Oliver right there at the 41 yard line and see exactly where they put it down.
But it's great field position for Wesley.
Neither team really trusting their kicker tonight to kick the ball down the field.
I'm not sure We've had a kickoff more than 20 yards and most of them are low rollers that they're just trying to dribble down the field.
But Wayne, the one time they did kick deep, McKinstry took it back 85 yards, doing it.
Duly noted.
Doing it.
How many times you got to be slapped up?
They head right before you say, okay, we won't do that again.
So first and ten for Westlake Ball at the 40 yard line deep enough right up the middle.
Oh Deeney with the carry actually that was miles Davis that time Miles Davis with the carry slamming it inside give him a hard three or few yards something you need for this offense Sean Smith doing a good job not having the run game go along with him tonight but they need to continue to try to wear his defense down.
They say Miles Davis is five eight.
I'm not sure about that.
Snap goes back to Smith, the quarterback.
He runs it right up the middle, going to be close to the first down, maybe a yard short on the play.
One of the few times we've seen tonight, the chance before, a direct snap quarterback draw big sophomore Ernest Rankin, six five £300, making the tackle definitely taking up a lot of space In the middle is Rankins.
They have another freshman over there, Whalen who's also six feet about 359, what I call a promising future.
He's in what I call six five 300 D1 prospect, third down, one right up the middle.
Miles Davis going to get the first down at the 49 yard line.
Javon Beckman making the tackle for the Saints but that's a first down for Westlake as they cross the 50 putting it in this move Man Hands in the back now Davis But you can see how he is okay going in there and slamming it inside it goes hard three or four yards.
Westlake trying to establish the run.
No luck right there, Miles Davis runs into a stone wall.
That's Bradford in there on that tackle.
Look like Andre Calhoun was there as well.
Or 53.
Just just a massive humanity trying to run through those guys.
Good luck.
Nice job with those guys, using their hands, getting off blocks.
That's the thing you like about this defensive fun on both sides.
Quick, agile.
They know how to get off going on the go round ball jump ball incomplete inside the 20 yard line trying to get it to emerge.
Walker in the third down Walker out there working on Joseph Slater once again Sean Smith trying to work those one on one matchups doing a good job of recognizing where the one on one matchup is and is truly testing this secondary down the field big third down conversion right here Wayne sixth play of the drive coming up Good thinking this time making sure he got the right call took long time to get the play in from the sideline its left three receivers set up top of the field that's Walker in motion behind the line Smith Go on home run ball jump ball broken up trying to go to Travis Smith DeMarcus Blitz is there nice job of minutes and Devin Carter staying back at that four safety position This is something we've seen a couple of times with Sean Smith having success out on the edge this time Clemons in great position and Carter is right where he needs to be to knock that ball down.
You know, they had him bracketed.
Now it's fourth and ten punting situation here.
Babette back on the field, standing at his own 39.
Jevon Carter, the deep man for the Saints inside the 20 low snap bounces back Babbitt in trouble Ball's going to go over to the Saints inside the 40 again special plays a big factor this special teams low snap the ball never really made it back to the punter as you could see going about two yards short Good hustle to get that ball there.
Cedar Grove it's a 15 yard loss and the ball goes over on downs at the 37 yard line.
Let's see if Cedar Grove takes a shot right here to go for the immediately.
They haven't tried a big vertical pass game here tonight.
They've been able to get to the Lions in other ways.
Let's see if they take a shot.
Don't have a big spread formation.
That's Carter that's going in motion behind the quarterback, going to flea flicker, hit back and they're going to go to Carter wide open and that is going to be a touchdown for the Saints.
An outstanding play designed here by the Saints offense going in motion Devin Carter nobody is going with him got lost in the traffic ball Walker pitches the ball back to Colson wide open down the sideline No one's in coverage right here no flea flicker flick of the wrist.
Look at the arm strength right there on that young man not able to step into it, but still able to deliver the ball down the edge to Devin Carter Brock with the bat.
And it's a 3427 lead for Cedar Grove The Saints are back on top.
Brilliant play call by Cedar Grove gives them a touchdown lead.
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What a game.
3427 Cedar Grove Back on top.
The red ribbon campaign scoring drive one play 37 yards, a beautifully executed flea flicker with Devin Carter on the receiving end of that touchdown scored.
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Right now on the left hand corner of the screen, this is here we go again, special teams in the back end to play What will happen on this kick.
Well Brock that's an on side kick the ball is loose Cedar Grove on top of it for the it is becoming the best part of the game right now it is fun to watch it is it's horrific if you own side of the ball each and every time another squib kick not able to feel the ball there is Stinson Yeah, really kind of surprised they haven't made the adjustment.
You got a defensive tackle up there on the front line.
You got to have some guys with some hands.
Definitely a bad situation to have a guy that's listed as your nose tackle.
D.T.
In that front line in this kind of game where you've seen consistently they're going to just kick the ball and now seem to grow back on the field.
Now look at this.
They got a diamond formation up at the top of your screen.
Once again, we've seen this set and Devin Carter was able to score off of it when he tried to force two man to man coverage.
Let's see if Colton goes back there.
He's going back the other way for Carter on the one on one coverage and throws it out of bounds.
That was Moseby running step for step with a good job that time by Mosley staying home, staying in that hip pocket Demaryius Hines the safety not biting on that formation able to get back into the play as well Just nowhere no room for Carter to come up with that catch.
ELLIOTT E.J., Colson's had a really strong game here for Cedar Grove as the Saints try to knock off the 718 here tonight.
We've got 18 minutes left on the game clock halfway through the third quarter.
Bo Walker, man, he got swallowed up right away.
Holman was there and Betts just nowhere to go for Bo Holman three yards deep into the backfield.
By the time Bo even gets the ball from Colson, it's inmate John Betts right there on the tackle as well You man inside Holman committed to Yukon in June over 23 offers including Georgia Tech 24 seven sports three star linebacker playing D here in this scheme for Wesley Colson heavy rush steps up to avoid that going to dump it off to Walker Walker got some room and close to a first down as he gets to the 44 bring up fourth and one.
What are you going to do in this kind of game The way that Colson is able to make plays with his feet, I would keep my offense on the field and go for to bump.
Coach Adams nice job of improvising right there by Colson, keeping his head up, remembering where Bo Walker was on the field and delivering the ball to him.
And at least for the moment right now, it looks like Cedar Grove is going to try to go for it.
It is about a fourth and two.
Yeah, they seem to win it at the 45, not 444.
So it is a fourth and two.
And this is a huge play right here.
Walker Going to get it, get the first down flag out, check the flag.
He did pick up the first down at the 40.
But you think it's coming back?
It's in that holding area.
I'm I have PTSD in those kind of situations right there in that holding area on the offensive line, I'd be very surprised if that's not the call holding office.
Don't ask me how I know that's not me.
I don't.
And this you can see right there, 56 yards in front, just grabbing Cameron Foley, grabbing the Jersey big hole, not even sure he needed it was fourth and two in that situation.
Defensive lineman was not going to bring Bo Walker down before he got to yards.
But that center trying to go on that back block ended up grabbing that jersey.
And what a break for Wesley.
Well, it's huge cedar was going to have it first and ten at the 40.
Now they're going to punt it away.
Jacob Johnson standing at his own 31 to kick McKinstry, who's already got an 85 yard kick return touchdown tonight, standing at the 25 snap, gets back, man.
It gets close every every time.
It's very close to being blocked.
He's going to roll down at the 22.
That's where Westlake is going to put it back and play 33 yard kick by Jacob Johnson.
And you can see they're talking.
You can see Cedar saying look at the scoreboard.
That's Joseph Slaughter, the cornerback.
He was pointing at the scoreboard, says, look who's winning.
We still a long way to go in this one, though.
3427.
Shawn Smith back out there, going to try to lead his team to a comeback victory here.
They're Two one on the season.
This is their first close game of the year right up the middle brand skirt foot race finally caught inside the 30 that hill Horton having to run down Bransford right up the middle good blocking good trap BLOCK by the left guard Sekou Peters.
Rebel clear down there, kick out.
BLOCK Good job.
We talked about Jamal Bradford, the three star, a guy that now is just in the rotation.
You would imagine with his talent, he probably will emerge as the starter at some point, showing you that blazing speed to get down the field.
That's Kyle Mosley who got sidetracked there by cramps.
You see him banging on his hamstrings.
They're trying to loosen things up a little bit.
54 yard run by Bransford to Amir Bransford.
He had only 81 yards rushing in their first two games, but a huge run right to get Westlake back in business here with less than three and a half minutes now to play or right at three and a half minutes to play in the third quarter first and ten from the 25 Cranford stays in the game, gets it again going to feed the animal down inside the 20 to the 19.
Nice hard nosed running his offensive line in that middle Barrington and Peters those guys Bateman paving the way in this drive transfer effort again they got him lathered up he's down to the 11 and Dominique Steward right tackle driving his man down the field catch the ball and just these are the kind of runs we expected to have here tonight.
When you talk about the size and the skill level, this offensive line, you imagine at some point they were going to try to take over and just start pushing on the defense, and they're doing that with Tamar Bransford behind them.
That's the first time we've really had the run game going here for Westlake, fourth consecutive carries, runs right into the Defender and Bransford running with authority right now, running behind his pass finishing off the run Good kick block there by the right guard And that's how you want a big time talent that finished a run pushing for exit two three yards second down fifth consecutive carry Bransford finishes it off that was the Tamir Bransford right there and it's 3433 And that's the kind of ability they have up at that offensive line.
Tamar Braxton Bransford right there, clear look of that hole right there.
Matt I'm telling you I've never been a running back with something tells me that kind of hole two or three yards on each side easy run deserving touchdown right there by Bransford He carried the ball on I think every snap of that drive five plays in 78 yards for Bransford on that drive every snap of the drive kick is up and good by Babbitt and Westlake is back on or actually they've tied at 3434 an impressive drive right there the way we thought this game would play out for Westlake to have the chance to win this three headed running back position or Brice were starting to wake up in this game live up to the building Junior you can see the talent that he possesses That was red ribbon campaign scoring drive five plays 78 yards in every single bit of that has been Tamir Bransford.
They wait as they shoot to shoot aggressive drive by Westlake first time all night they got the ground game going know they've been trying this defense out on the edge one on one match ups Smith trying to get the ball down the field that drive it was one cut and down hill That's the thing that impresses you about his running style.
How he was running.
Justin It wasn't any of that fancy out on the edge.
It was, get the ball, get behind you, pass and the goal line and make some yards.
Eight carries one on one two touchdowns for Branford Now tonight most of that just came on the drive you just watch here's the return by Walker trying to cut it back to the other side of the field and turns the corner Bradford steps over a man across the 40 and Walker what a return by Beau Walker right there and a man down for Cedar Grove I think that's JaKarr Horton.
Maybe number eight with a cramp.
Good job, Walker.
Showing you the speed to be able to change sides of field stiff arm.
We've seen him do that tonight Breaking tackles such a dynamic back.
And what are you going to do when your name's Beau?
You're running back.
I mean.
I mean, you're just destined for greatness right now.
Coach Adams said it is Beau Walker, and he plays center field.
And I start thinking, Huh, That is play center field for his baseball team.
He needs the running back and Horton having trouble getting up with Beau Walker.
You know, last year, the state final, he didn't get a chance to play in it.
Last year, he got injured in the quarter final win against Calvary Day.
And we haven't really talked about what happened in the state final.
Of course, we all know the blown call by the officials at the end of the game, Sandy Creek ends up winning that game 2117.
And we talked to John Adams about this week.
He said, look, my first thing I try to do is be there for the guys.
They were heartbroken, but then he followed it up with a message to his team and he said, look, we got to control what we can control.
Yeah, it was a bad call into the game, but there were times and plays that could have been made earlier in the game by us where we would not have been in that position.
Yeah, well, you're a coach, are you a player?
You learn that as much as you want to put it on one play in a game, there's six or eight plays on each side of the ball that determine the game.
It's not always just that last play, you know, and that one very heartfelt fight.
Sure, As Coach said, he avoided it as much as he could.
His wife seemed to watch it.
He didn't watch it for two weeks.
Colson to the air made a man jump up.
The air breaks again and Colson's going to get about two yards on the play up to the 44.
But of course, I mean, you look back on that play and it has had a tremendous shockwaves in the state of Georgia because for the first time ever, we're going to have officiating review in the state championship games in 2023 when you and I are there at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in December.
It definitely will help us keep our cool.
When you that kind of play.
But great for the game to grow in that direction.
You never want to stall the game and slow it down the way you were reviewing a bunch of plays.
But scoring plays, especially when you start talking about championships, preserving that time and patience.
I think the good thing about it is now that it's come to high school football here in the state of Georgia, you know, the model has kind of been perfected with college in the NFL.
They've kind of got it down.
They figured out the bad parts of and tried to weed those out.
So we had it in the quirky cal classic.
I thought it worked.
Well.
I'm excited that we'll have it in the finals, but we're a long way from that.
This is September 1st, then a great way for us to kick off our season here on second down and seven ball is thrown to Walker and a great open field tackled right there by Hines.
It's going to bring up third down and short touchdown saving tackle there by Hines as well.
You talk about a guy like Bo in the middle of the field with his speed.
Nice read by Colson waiting on that underneath route to come open delivering the ball really look like his touch on the ball He gives the receiver the ball in a that if you don't make a good tackle they can continue to run final minute of the third quarter so not happy this offside was not called on to him off was Colson Walker gets the rock right into the line of scrimmage it's going to be fourth down the ball came out to and Westlake may have it no indication from the officials yet Westlake says they have it issues still discussing and Westlake has it there Westlake recovers the fumble don't know what happened there with Walker looked like he just ran right into the line of scrimmage and somewhere in the process the ball ended on the ground.
Yeah right ball just came out right now it's a butt fumble right there Ran into the back of his man ran right the backside of his offensive lineman and it knocked the ball out of his hands.
So Westlake's got it.
34 seconds to play here in the third quarter.
They got it in midfield.
Let's see if they take a shot.
Nope.
Got a handoff right up the middle.
Houdini caught at the five Naima Houdini over on the sideline.
Watch.
And Bransford said, Give me a shot.
Newman Mosley The safety back in the game having to make a touchdown saving tackle.
Oh, with the speed Big break in the middle of that defense.
Obeidi, after going 46 yards, takes it in for the score.
Westlake on top 4234 these last six or seven plays for Westlake offensively this is what you call downhill running You make one cut and then you get to running downfield even on the touchdown really going in untouched.
There you go, Deeney.
Nice job executing up front blockers.
BOBBITT Patty, not going to be good.
We're getting late.
We've had some Miss Bates had some two point.
All of this might factor in before we're done tonight.
Special teams is become the most exciting part of this game.
The miscues or either getting one team a short field or two plays 50 yards on the red of a campaign scoring drive.
And that was the name Oddity Drive.
The first last drive was the Tamir Bransford drive.
This was the name Bodine Drive.
So what's happened here that Westlake all of a sudden has the run down inside?
It seems just like a different conversation was had between the coaches and the O-line during the second half.
You see them attacking, finishing blocks.
You don't see any fancy outside running.
It just seems to be bags making one cut and trusting the offensive line.
And I think Coach Zachery challenged his own.
That's the kind of different kind of body position they have when they go block.
They see be aggressive and really take it into his defense, Take him at the 25 yard line, short return about three yards on the play.
So Juan Smith and comes up hobbled a little bit.
We got time for one play to finish out this quarter and what a finish we're looking at in the fourth quarter and if you see the grow with all that has just happened in the last couple of minutes, you still don't steal only one score down from tying this game.
It's got to keep you composure, get back to what you have been doing successfully and E.J.
Colston has to start putting his imprint to try to get this win once again in this fourth quarter.
So Colson brings them out probably for one final play here in the third period, first and ten from the 28.
Colson going to run it up the middle and get slung to ground by farmer.
Okay.
And that is going to be the end of the third quarter.
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40, 34 back and forth.
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It's been back and forth all night and what is now back is now fourth.
It is Warner Robins now with the lead 3228 eight and a half minutes to go and I'll use the R word there regulation and Matt Judd Anderson has been in the game starting in the second quarter for Warner Robins transferring in from Jones County.
He has started went four for seven in the second quarter.
Warner Robins is now all the way back GB dot org slash sports.
The web game brought to us by our friends at Bryant Pest Management, British Pest Management, the official pest control of high school football still keeping an eye on Northeast and Fitzgerald top ranked team and in trouble back upstairs with the fire John that means that John Anderson the Miami commit playing Northside one of robins for the second time this season.
He faced them when he played for Jones County.
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What a wild story is as he transfers after the first two games of the season from Jones County, the Warner Robins and one Robins, of course five straight trips to the state finals got beat last year by Wear County White.
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Third down and eight for Colson here just underway.
Fourth quarter heavy rush Colson in trouble Holman got him quarterback sack for Holman Oh great initial pressure coming off the edge here She's not able to find wide open in space and then Holman to finish him off this time just not able to get out of the grips of the big tackle third quarterback sack of the night for the lions Holman's got one got a TFL as well Stinson's got one Oliver's got one and now Johnson is punting from inside his five yard line.
Westlake's gotten close a number of times and got close again.
Kick is taken on the run.
This could be trouble for him.
McKinstry down to the 30 yard line.
Before that, I've never seen so many punts.
You're not even sure of his block tonight.
The guy is so close, so close to the opener.
When he kicks ball.
A little more aggressiveness than you would imagine that they really would block the punt.
I think some of the hesitation is just the fear that they may run into the punter.
But I mean look how close he is.
It's almost a how did he miss it?
A match.
Walker was right there on top of that.
Look at this.
I mean, Jacob Johnson did a really good job of just moving slightly to the left to avoid the block.
And now Sean Smith out there, this is a big possession right here for Westlake.
Got a chance to take a two score lead.
Nobody has had that so far tonight.
We played kind of a touchdown, touchdown seesaw all night.
But now here with the ball inside the 30 yard line, Great opportunity for Westlake.
Nice job there by Mosley 54 to UAB.
The captain of the defense well he's talked about it one of those guys that is great with his hands and feet to tie Quando when he was younger.
He's a big deal.
I'm an inside handoff goes to Miles Davis, Sean Smith, their quarterback.
We talked about him off the top, you know, replacing RJ Johnson tonight he's eight of 13 for 107 a couple of touchdown passes He's been solid very efficient.
The things you love about him seems to never be rattled.
He knows what he wants to do, even though this is his first year starting a good game manager, you see, has the potential down the road to throw the ball down the field.
Third down.
Smith going up top far side jump ball and Clements there on the coverage tonight Image Walker sport down This is for down territory right here They really haven't done anything they I mean they had the ball at the 30 and they've kind of really squandered three plays right here and right there.
Saints.
You've just got to lead the receiver a little more to that back pylon right there.
The ball coming up short cornerback, able to get back into the play Think the way their defense is playing as you said not in the way the special teams as well.
It's just in that area where it's okay right here to dial up a play and try to pick up this first down if you're Wesley, is that the way Smith looking other side this time going for the home run and almost intercepted that was Joseph Slaughter nearly had the big ball goes over on downs actually getting better field position by not picking it off right there in the end zone 905 to go little step aside got a great game going on here on football Fridays in Georgia Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by DV HD when by learning about safe usage of prescription opioids, half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking in oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.
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Be kind to your mind lit Drug free fourth quarter in College Park 63978 Westlake Leading number one Running three.
Cedar Grove 4034.
Matt Stewart along with Wayne Gandy, Jon Nelson, Hannah Goodin and our fabulous GPB Sports team.
Glad to be back out at it.
You're on the south side of Atlanta.
So first and ten for Cedar Grove, the wonderful way just the second time these two teams have played, but nonetheless, a big rivalry game.
All these kids played against each other and with each other in youth Ball on the South side, Coles is going to wind up and throw to the far side incomplete looking for Devin Carter.
Carter six catches 106 in his first game with the Saints.
This is one of those drives if you're the Saints this is about trying to set up some field position where you're putting the ball in and the troubles you're having in the kicking game here.
You like to get a couple of first downs even if you don't score just so you can switch the field position.
You got enough time on the clock to do that.
It doesn't really get that feel that you're going to be to drive the ball 70 yards against this defense.
So you want to make a couple of plays here if you Elliott Colson, and try to set your offense up and better field position second down and ten he's going to keep it and nice tackle in the backfield right there by Holman You can see why Jim Moore and the UConn Huskies like him a lot really coming alive here in the second half.
Getting off blocks here, 44 working out of the middle hustling to the ball.
You can see the effort right here.
That's what you love about you see your guy like that, 60 to 65.
The effort to make the point he was All-Region first team defensive lineman a year ago here in region two 17/3 down and long for cedar grove once again trying to make your defense declare where the pressure is coming from.
Secondary look like he's playing more zone this play Colson steps up to avoid the rush but he's in deep trouble back there They got him he gets away going to throw it out of bounds wisely so my goodness was fortunate to avoid the deep quarterback sack Christian Petersen coming with the pressure that's you know the kind of talent.
E.J.
Colson has two great athletes just playing Chase right there on Betts trying to pull him at first you see Christian Peters teammates in the future, possibly at UCF.
Yep.
So fourth down and Cedar Grove unable to do anything with it.
They're going to have to punt it away.
And here's that field position with the kicking game where you give Wesley it a good fielding by McKinstry here that you're already standing on the 50 watch that they're going to be coming hard after this thing.
Johnson got it away and he booms it over the head of McKinstry Man.
It took a huge bounce and McKinstry finally corrals it at the 25.
Watch out and McKinstry up to the 37.
We do have a flag.
I was looking for it to get a block in the back here on the return team.
Yeah.
Any time you get a kick like that and you get a big loop the return and he's trying to get to the other side of the field, you know, there's a good chance you're getting a block in the back somewhere.
And initially the ref let's see right there.
No, I don't.
That's holding right there.
And then that little shell shot in the back and there was the shovel in the back.
So there you go.
That's exactly one of the best receiving team to your ability.
First down, this is the flipping of the field here, Matt, where you see you got to take advantage of this.
This is one of the biggest plays there came.
Yes.
One of the big plays in this defense, this defensive stand.
You got to go out here and then putting him on a three and out.
We let them get the ball back up to the 50.
We've got to get this short field for our offense.
So that was a 47 yard punt, a 12 yard return, then 15 on the penalty.
So remember, McKinstry was standing at the 50 yard line and the ball is being placed down at the 90.
So 31 yards to the worse than what they were expecting.
Bransford gets that run and gets stuck right there.
The line of scrimmage.
Nice job knifing through the defense there by Wesley Brown, those high modal versatile guys that can from that safety to linebacker six three 200.
Nice job by him high ceiling his coach John Adams believes he's going to be a big time prospect he's still branchburg running hard crashes out across the 30 and picks up the first down and once again able to get out to the edge and we've seen the kind of speed he has when he gets out into the open field.
Good blocking on that right side long sweep out to the pass smart big time pick up right there for that first down.
Bransford Junior has 12 offers, including Penn State.
Nobody really jumping out so far in the recruiting process.
He's got a long way to go, but he's a good looking back.
Ten carries for 114 pass in the air.
Travis Smith got broken up.
Slaughter did a good job coming in from behind and knocking it away.
Nice job there by Joseph Slaughter breaking on that ball.
A lot of room he's given Travis Smith big body cutting in front of him looking his receiver down the whole time right there If you Sean Smith maybe get that ball down a little on the numbers and hit him on the numbers.
He can make the catch.
But nice job up there by Joseph Slaughter then offered by army and Samford second down and ten Bransford again running hard up the middle Keith Bass making the tackle for the Saints.
Now the clock is going to start being a factor here as we approach six and a half left in regulation.
And because this is a out of classification game, it's up to the coaches as to whether if the game finished tied as whether they would even have overtime, that's got to be a coach's decision in agreement because it's not 278 teams, it's a seven and a38.
So we'll get Nelson working on that if we need to.
Bransford points out the block and gets to the 50 yard line, ten yard pickup up the flag down and by have a family holding offense to your children who play third down and like what we've seen from Bransford you know he's going to be a big time prospect and he's going to be big for Westlake here this season.
Are all their bags for Branford's, the guy that's really kind of standing out as we roll through this evening, get late in the game, he's going to give them a guy that can really kind of bleed the clock out at the end of the game.
He's definitely showed you he can run inside the tackles and he has the speed and the elusiveness to get outside the box.
Big penalty right there.
The Christmas ball back make it a third and 13.
Well, it's going to be third and eight Hard count once again, both encroachment, both for two backs have had success tonight.
Chertoff using the hard count number to get the team jump off side of it.
The defense to the player down some of that similarity.
We talked about defensive philosophy, both of these defense he's known for time to come after run, blitz, pass blitz, and now Smith Rush gets it out of there quickly.
Oh, what a tackle right there by Barnes to drop ody keep him from getting the first down.
Keith who came up big for him last year whenever Russell got hurt, comes up with a big play right here.
Great job of avoiding want Gaston coming in kind of shielding him off, able to bounce outside and still get out there and make that tackle fast, steady and solid.
As his coach said, one of those sideline sideline who never quits on a play.
So Bobbit on the punch.
He's standing at the 22 and I can gets it out of there going to hit at the 45 and roll out of bounds at the 37.
That's where Cedar Grove goes on offense And we're down to our final four and a half minutes here in College Park Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Cigna Health Care.
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Welcome back to West Lake.
Just over four and a half to go.
And yes, Matt, I am going to use the R word regulation.
We'll get to that in just a second.
Let's go to the Web game and.
It is what we anticipated it was going to be.
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It is now 935 Warner Robins on a rushing touchdown, 3935 Warner Robins 122 to go GPB Dawgs Sports.
I did catch up with both coaches.
The answer to overtime is yes.
John Adams wanted the reps to be in this kind of a situation.
Rico Zackery agreed So right now we might be heading to the O word if we are tied at the end of the R-word.
Matt Yeah, I'm not surprised by that decision.
To defensive minded coaches.
The way they coach you, you know, they're going to play it to the whistle, they're going to play it to the end.
I always got a long way to get there.
439 Westlake on top by six and Cedar Grove back on offense, Colson fires the walker not going very far.
Sebastian Wimbush making the tackle.
I have a personal foul tacked on to that late hit it's check the call from the officials right here 15 yard mark off right now would be very big one right here at the end you could see whistle foul targeting defense 15 yard penalty.
It definitely kick ball in the parameters of targeting right here.
I know they didn't he didn't hit the mark but I think it was just the act.
The runner was down and someone came late.
Well, targeting isn't always helmet to helmet.
If you lead with the crown of your helmet, that also is targeting a big penalty right there.
It is huge.
Gives him the ball at the 44 and we got a lot of time for 28 and both teams have all three of their timeouts remaining, trying to find to get back to the Titanic.
What a game we've had here in the opener both of them here on GPB on the website as well Been a fun night of football here Colson down to the 19 yard line maybe shaken up a little bit as a leg call him in the head after he went down That's a 25 yard pickup quarterback draw all the way right there by Eliot Colson.
Middle of the field, open up.
And these are the kind of hard runs he's had it.
He did take a hit right there at the end able to get up tough, tough quarterback.
It's close.
He's shown that tonight 13 carries 69 yards rushing going to hand off to Beau Walker made a man miss in the backfield and Walker down to the 14 yard line Oliver in on that tackle for the Lions but Cedar Grove threatening to tie this game up.
We're now under four to go taking their time.
Want to use as much of the clock as you can.
You don't want to use it in a way that breaks your rhythm but you do want to give it a little Westlake's on.
SMITH If you can, if you score keeper Olsen Got some room in Olsen inside ten yard line.
He's such a heady player.
WANE Even when he's beyond the line of scrimmage he's still doing that pump fake and the defenders freeze He's just a natural reaction you're going to freeze for a second and that's what the coach talks about when Coach Adams talks about those intangibles, he seems to be very aware of where he is on the field, where everyone is the all places to try to get an extra yard or two.
Nice job.
They're feeling the air and crashing down and going out and getting those big yards.
Now, he never really pumped feet, but he slowed down like I might pull up and throw here in first and goal to go for Cedar Grove under 3 minutes to go now heading to a big finish here in college park Walker gets it trying to clear the edge just decides to cut up in there.
There's no running room.
Kendall Walker Kendall Farmer buries him along with Wimbush.
Now it's going to be second down the hammer once again, showing that hustle from the inside.
Him and Holman the hustle they showed working down the line of scrimmage, always staying in the play right there.
Him tracing that play is what keeps Bo from being able to ever cut upfield.
Farmer Day by Farmer Yeah he's had a big game committed to app 21 other offers UMass an army All-Region defensive lineman a year ago.
Oh wow Coleman spins one way, then the other.
He's got the short field over They're going to cut off and get down.
Touchdown!
What an effort by E.J.
Colson to get into the end zone and tie the game in 40.
E.J.
Colson here pressure in his face seems like it maybe has some kind of silicone spray on him.
No one can get a gram of grass of his jersey.
The instincts, the athletic ability still, keeping his head up, trying to look downfield.
Finally deciding to take off and run and just the effort and as I keep alluding to, that was the kind effort he showed on the first run of the game, that kind of I'm here to win spirit.
Now he's going to hold on this.
Patty Brock gets it up and puts it through and Cedar Grove with a 4140 lead with 139 to go Westlake going back on offense for a final chance when we get back football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is presented by the governor's Office of Highway Safety reminding you to be safe on every trip.
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Dawg.
If I'm telling you my store, I'm also telling you your And when you are telling me your story, I'm also hearing pieces of my story.
And so that's one of the things I love about poetry, about storytelling, about any of it.
You want to come to the main and I tell you what, so what we have here is we have an amazing collection of local storytelling, but at the main stage you have storytellers from all over the world.
Often people feel isolated in their stories and when they come to an event and they hear these stories, then they often leave like, Oh, it's not just me, you know, like, you know, I'm not the only one that got out of school early and fell down in the mud in the rain one day, you know, or whatever the circumstance may be.
You just hear these stories where you're like, Oh, I thought it was just me.
It's not just me.
And that always makes everyone feel more included included.
Final 139 in College Park, Cedar Grove on top by one short kick right in the middle of the field, fielded at the 30 yard line.
And that's where Westlake will go on offense, 61 yards away, 98 seconds to work with Wayne.
They got all three time and time out.
And that is key when you're talking about trying to get a two minute drive going, really only need a field goal.
How much you trust your kicker in that situation.
First of all, you got to get in that get down the field to even try.
But you got a lot of time.
Sean Smith to work the field.
Well, their kicker, Joseph Bobbitt, first year football.
He's been on the wrestling team, so they might be going for the touchdown.
That's a big ask for a first year football player to try to win a game.
SMITH Heavy Rush gets it out of there and it's caught at the 45 incomplete could not come up with it.
Zyon Williams the intended target two catches 60 yards, including a 49 yard touchdown for Williams in this game it's like a dare playing off.
Got to keep everything in front of him, make Sean Smith make the throw Houdini with the catch and run on the swing pass out of the backfield Nice pick up right there Going to bring up third down and three for the ball not going to turn out as Sean Smith They still haven't used a timeout Smith this side long throw and let's see where they that he's close to the first down and he's not going to be he doesn't have it he's going to be short Travis Smith caught him had to come back to get it and he's going to be a yard short.
It's fourth and one good job of coming back to the ball but had to come way back past the line of scrimmage the 24th and fourth and two walk in to here and you see the girl not biting on the hard count right there playing disciplined defense.
Let's play.
I want to give him anything easy.
That is the first timeout used by Westlake gives them to remain.
Now let's take a look at that last play.
I mean initially he had the first down, but he had to come back in as momentum takes him.
He catches it really right there on the 50 a long throw out here from this out route.
See he catches that thing right there.
The 49 year by night.
So probably I'm thinking he should have been at the 49, not the 48 minimum.
Definitely stopped by the Titans at the 49.
So They got short changed a yard.
Right.
They definitely still make it a four for one.
I'm here.
Do you trust your own line up front?
The way you've been able to run between the tackles and Bradford?
And you know that's interesting.
They burned the time out right there that really closes the door because if they'd gotten stopped here and still had three timeouts remaining, theoretically they could use those timeouts, get the ball back now with only two really kind of closes the door on that option.
They've got to convert on this play right here.
Going to give it to Bransford Bransford and second effort.
He got it.
I think they got it You see the judge here on the near side they move the sticks but look where the ball is.
It's barely nudging the 50.
That's a first down by an eyelash for Westlake Smith going to follow his blockers.
All kinds of running room for Sean Smith down inside the 25 yard line.
Nice recognition by Smith looking on the back side.
There's just no one out there to bring him down on gas and collapse that backside.
Smith taking advantage of it for the big game 26 yard pickup.
Well, look at Sean Smith.
I just love the calm demeanor of this young man directing this offense in a tight situation.
Up top, Paul Touchdown, Wesley Travis Smith over the shoulder exploiting the one point matchup all night has been Sean Smith out on the edge once again going to the big target Travis Smith matched up with Joseph Slaughter six four versus 510 And what a beautiful catch right here Give your receiver chance.
Throw it to the back of the end zone and you're not going to see a better catch this week than right there.
Kind of a blind catch when you look at it.
It went directly over his head helmet.
Great grab there by Travis Smith.
That's a great description.
It really was a blind catch.
I mean, there was a there had to have been a time as that ball was approaching that he lost it.
He lost the ball, and then it was in his hands.
As you see this system.
Wow, What a rally by Westlake here in the final 2 minutes.
You look at Sean Smith.
I mean, this is just his third game as the varsity starting quarterback and he is collected a one on one matchup lead receiver.
And you can see right there when the ball the flight of the ball goes into an area where I'm not sure that he didn't try to do it until it his head to hit his hand.
I don't know if you ever saw I agree with you.
He was tracking it and then he didn't see it till it hit his.
Now watch this formation here.
Swinging gate formation.
Let's see.
Let's see.
They're going to try to get the two.
Then shovel it in the air and it's broken up.
So the score remains 4641.
But the field goal is out of play now as that was intercepted by Tony Forni and he's flat on his back.
Doesn't hopefully he's going to be okay.
This is just kind of shot put it into the air and came down hard on his back.
His back right there.
Just the two players going up 40 and slaughter to try to knock the ball the way Tony grabbing it and just falling on his back.
Hopefully just the wind knocked out of it and then didn't want with his ribs or anything.
But after all of that, Matt Reese lined up for special team.
And that has been the mystery of this game.
How will the special teams play out?
We see some nice returns.
We've seen a touchdown run earlier by McKinstry and.
You hit the nail on the head, though.
Travis Smith just made a catch.
You will not see a better catch than that in any of the games, high school or college this weekend.
Fantastic play.
Look at this.
Now, when does he see this ball?
This game's coming in now.
Here's the opening kickoff.
And Beau Walker, they've got the ball in great field position.
Man, I would not have wanted to surrendered.
Here's another look at that touchdown catch right here coming in over his shoulder, that outside shoulder.
Look at that.
But my gosh, they just gave the ball to E.J.
Colson at the 48 yard line.
We had three time out.
So he can definitely scramble.
He can use his feet.
We've seen him pick up 30 yards on the play.
This game is not over.
Ability not to be able to just keep the ball out of the end zone is showing up right here, no doubt.
And the fear of kicking it deep also, showing up how the referee is trying to get the man can't play.
He can't play.
Why Cedar Grove is Westlake, man.
Everybody's town, man trying to play while the team is on the field.
The is so much fun to be back in the high school football environment.
The ball is thrown and that is caught.
Devin Carter, 28 seconds to go.
Carter's had a fabulous debut with the Saints here tonight.
Your mission of your E.J.
Colson and this offense is to really set yourself up.
You have at least that last play where you can throw it into the end zone and try to score it.
Win this game.
Carter seven catches for 112 low snap Colson gets it looking downfield as he's running now across the line of scrimmage and a first down steps out of bounds many of time 19 seconds you have those three timeouts so he's got the ball at the 30 to 90 seconds.
He's now in a place where he can throw to the end so he can throw to the end zone and the receivers can run real routes that just get lost.
You can actually run a route where you can try to score here.
This situation, keep your eye on Devin Carter.
Don't play too soft if you're Westlake on the back end.
Colson Here comes the rush.
I think we had movement pre-snap.
I think we're going to get to offsides.
Oh yes Defense five yard penalty.
But what happens is you lose 3 seconds in the process.
Oh, unless they put the 20 back on, which they should do.
It's a dead ball fouls or the clock should not have.
You think it should go back to Swanage Adams campaigning for his 30 seconds up here.
He have 000.
I think the referee's trying to get the 3 seconds back on the clock.
These are all scenarios that you practice every you only go on Thursday as an offense.
That's three timeouts.
He can go where he wants to hit the ball.
E.J.
Colson, Colson, go one for the touchdown.
There was contact here on the nearside and no flag.
It looked like McKinstry and the wide receiver got caught up a little bit right there.
Now it's going to be second down and five.
They still have all three timeouts.
A lot of contact right there.
McKinstry.
Yeah, to let it go, really not really sure why the referee didn't call that second down and five ball, 27 yard line, Colson and Carter having a little meeting there.
Well I mean, I wouldn't be focused on him unless they're tricking us right here.
Colson.
Oh, man, he's in trouble.
Spins away from it, throws on the run.
Got him an open walker.
Walker gets out of bounds at the 19 yard line and now down to 6 seconds remaining.
Let's see where they've stopped the clock.
I think they've stopped it at eight.
Oh, nice job.
Once again, avoiding the pressure right up in his face late dogged there by the linebackers coming in late Christian Peters Westlake going to burn their second time out Come on let's like oh unbelievable We fought past the great game and that's what they have decided to give us.
8 seconds left in the game.
You still have three timeouts.
It is possible.
Leave a chance, Matt, for two plays if you see the group, very possibly.
Maybe you can get something.
I think that.
5 seconds.
Yeah, I think that's pushing it.
But you're on the 20 in right here I got believe you really just have to trust Colson and go to the end zone.
Yeah, you got to try to end zone.
In any case you definitely have to talk to Coach Adams about anything underneath.
Get the ball, get down so we can call the time out.
Those are the conversations you have to have in the huddle and find yourself not in the end zone.
Get down.
Don't just be.
Maybe the final play right here may be time for another.
Beyond that.
But only 8 seconds left on the clock.
Cedar Grove trying to knock off the 718.
Colson got Walker standing beside him.
Colson right in the middle.
It's called Leslie.
Did they get a timeout?
They did.
Andrew Leslie comes up with a clutch catch inside the five yard line.
Nice job by the offensive line.
Look at this pocket to throw that ball.
Little sidearm throw to get that in there to Andrew Leslie.
Look at that side.
Arm through beautiful touch and as we talked about, get the ball and get down.
If you don't see yourself in the end zone, get the time out.
And now all plays, especially when you talk about a guy like E.J.
Colson, all plays are on the board.
He's in a great position where he could run the ball.
Is everything is there for this offense to win this game.
Ball has been put down at the six yard line.
Just the second catch of the game for Andrew Leslie, who came in as the go to guy for E.J.
Colson in the first two games.
You see Adams right there on top of it, then looks back over his shoulder.
Please tell me there's still time, but his prayers were answered.
2 seconds left on the clock and from the lions in this defense, as it has been all night long, you just have to keep eyes on Colson.
You've seen his ability stay in the play and you've got to be able to corral here.
This is the play.
So he is going to probably keep the ball in his hands and try to make something happen.
So here we go.
Only 2 seconds remain empty backfield here.
Only Colson standing by.
So John Adams runs down to get another time out right Timeout Senegal one of the few times we've not tonight we've seen an empty backfield so they're trying to maybe get a look at something of where to guide their young quarterback where to go.
Well you got lots of options where the ball could go.
Ball goes to Colson number one like you already out.
He might just run it into the end zone.
If he can get a broken field to spread out field, he can take it in himself.
You got Beau Walker.
You can go to Leslie, who's come up big.
Devin Carter has had a huge game, seven catches in the game.
So just all kinds of places it would go.
But you make a great point on the empty backfield.
If I'm Cedar Grove, I want to get this field as spread out as I possibly can.
I want to make sure everybody is accounted.
Everyone's in front of you.
You understand who we are.
The pressure comes from and that's your guy.
Show them something they haven't seen all night.
What a way for us to kick off the 2023 season.
We'll be at the big orange jungle next Friday night of North Gwinnett Park.
View coach Eric Godfrey, now the coach at North Gwinnett, will be going up against his former school and his alma mater.
And it's a grand empty backfield putting game in AJ Colson's hands.
Here we go.
And we've got a penalty here.
False start Here by Andrew Leslie.
Just the lack of concentration often by your ability or something that changes the dynamic.
Now the ball's at the 11 a little bit more difficult to run it in from the 11.
Let's see if the St offense finds some play where you get Colson on the move, you're going to get outside the pocket and play a little sandlot football score this touchdown timeout called by Cedar Grove before the ball was snapped Come out, come out.
Well we've already seen some sandlot football here tonight, a two point conversion and just think about how big that two point conversion stands right now.
If they score, they win.
If they didn't get that two point conversion score doesn't necessarily give them the win, they'd have to get a two point conversion.
But they've got to get the story right here.
And all three time outs have now been used up by Cedar Grove, and Westlake has one remaining.
Now, if you're Coach Adams, do you change your philosophy at two or three plays when you tried to spring that empty backfield on them?
Now, do you bring Bo Walker back to the backfield expecting pressure maybe to help out and give E.J.
Colson more time?
Because now you're working from the 11 instead of working from the six yard line.
What a Night by E.J.
Colson, who's been a warrior, got his team on the verge of a big win.
Here goes that Westlake defense on the verge of coming up with the big win here comes down to one play in College Park.
It's time for Colson firing and broke it up.
Westlake wins.
Lyons survived the upset bid for the number one team in three and Westlake now three in row on the season Mark are you sure is game three celebration in as broken out for Westlake Great job right there Christian Peters I think got his hand on that ball As you see Elliott Colson working the field put a little palpable heat on that ball.
But number five hitters coming in the four star knocking it down, good protection, good pocket, trying to get it in there to receivers in the same spot I think it was was it finds number six who gets his hand in there just a little bit.
Yeah it was high fives the safety just got a fingernail on that thing and tipped the ball and made it uncatchable and you're right.
Well, we started out the night saying, well, even though this is just the second time they've ever played, this is a rivalry game.
And I think the explosion of emotion that you just saw told you just how big of a rivalry game it is and the respect that this Westlake team and crowd has, knowing how good Cedar Grove is as we keep talking about one of those teams, they're classified as great.
So you can put them in the ring with anyone and they're going to give you a fight what a game here.
A lot of miscues, but a lot of great moments, a lot of brilliant plays by these quarterbacks.
You see John Nelson grabbing Rico Zachary.
We'll be hearing from him in a moment.
Plus, stick around.
And we'll name our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.
So many candidates to choose from.
And this is what turned out to be the winning score coming with one minute, less than one minute left on the clock.
And the catch by Travis Smith on the pretty pass from Sean Smith, autographed there by Travis Wayne.
Great to be back with you here on sight dynamic night.
We're going to send it down to John Mills.
Thank you very much, Matt.
We'll catch up with the QB coming up in just a little bit.
We might even do a hot change with this here with the coach.
I think you can officially breathe now.
Yeah, that was a tough one.
But that's two great teams, two great programs going at it.
Man.
That's what high school football is all about.
What a great player the quarterback is.
Let's go through that last drive and the clutch behavior once again of this team not quitting this entire night in this back and forth.
What was it like having Sean making sure that that throw was there for Travis and Travis with an unbelievable catch or so?
I mean, Sean's a gym rat and he'd been working so hard for this moment, like he works harder than anybody I've ever coached.
I mean, he's here on the weekend every other day.
So, I mean, he prepared himself for that moment.
So it's not I'm not surprised by just because just because of the preparation and another crazy win, another time where you're putting up close to 50 points.
What does it say?
Where do you think you are right now this early in the season?
I know we'll play for quarters and we've been working on it for, you know, ever since January.
We do four quarters every day in our workout.
So I know we'll do that.
You know, we got a lot of things to clean up, but that's a that's a really good football team right there.
No doubt about it.
Thanks for your time.
Thanks for being a part of football Friday's.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Hot change, Sean.
Come on in.
He is our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.
The towel goes like this.
And the hat messed up the Georgia Cotton Commission.
The natural choice for Georgia.
And our natural choice from a lot of different choices tonight.
What was it like out there?
You can breathe, man.
Yeah, we do have crews out there.
Have fun.
We work hard every day.
We work it out.
Women enjoy every day.
And it all came out on game night.
Go through that last drive for me.
I know that in a game like this, where it's back and forth, you've got to keep calm.
What was it like there in the huddle?
A real chaotic what we are bringing together as a whole, and we got it done.
So I have one more question for you before I send it back upstairs.
Where do you think you are right now as a team?
You put up 50 last week in Caudill, 46 tonight and a big win.
Where do you think you guys are?
What do you think needs to be worked on as you continue to go here?
Non-regional I we can work on a lot of things but we got bigger goals just win this game tonight and I think we do a lot more and get a lot better.
We made a lot of mistakes tonight and we could do a lot better and put up more points.
We had the game even more points in 46.
He's the QB.
He's our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game, Georgia Cotton Commission, Natural choice for Georgia, Our natural choice for QB tonight Congratulations MVP on a huge game 87 points.
What a way to kick off 2023 Matt, what a way to kick it off.
And I tell you what, we started out.
I mean, he's had big shoes to fill here.
RJ Johnson was an absolute stud in this program for four years, threw for over 9000 yards.
This young man, the young man, Coach Rico Zach, recalls a gym rat, stepped up, played big, calm, cool, collected, delivered the win for and he's always he always looked like he was inside his self.
He knew what he wanted to do with the ball.
He knew how to deliver it.
And his poise is what led this team to victory.
4641 the final.
You might want to include Westlake in your group of state championship contenders in seven eight.
What a fabulous game here on our opener.
And now for Wayne Gandy, John Nelson, our producer Glen Hannah Gordon, our entire Emmy winning GPB sports team.
I'm Matt Stewart.
Good night from the South Side.
Loved it.
Glad be back.
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