Roswell
Blessed Trinity Remains Undefeated
By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer | Published September 25, 2008
Blessed Trinity senior running back Sam Burkhalter had 24 carries for 137 yards and three touchdowns as the BT team defeated Washington-Wilkes High School 33-7, Sept. 19. Quarterback Kohl Hegetschweiler threw two interceptions but still completed 57 percent of his passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Blessed Trinity defensive backs Mitchell Smith and Jack Skole led Blessed Trinity’s defense with 11 tackles apiece. As a team they held Washington-Wilkes to 107 yards rushing and six yards passing. Blessed Trinity (3-0) goes on the road to take on Avondale High School (0-3), Friday, Sept. 26.
Holy Spirit Preparatory, Atlanta, rebounded from a previous loss with a 55-0 victory over Loganville Christian Academy, Sept. 19. They held a 35-0 lead at halftime. Holy Spirit quarterback Curtis Johnson completed 78 percent of his passes and threw for 298 yards. In addition to his four touchdown passes, Johnson also ran for one touchdown. Wide receiver Tre’ Blanchard, who was on the receiving end of two of the touchdowns, finished with nine catches for 139 yards. Holy Spirit (2-2) travels to Chula to play Tiftarea Academy (3-1), Friday, Sept. 26. Holy Spirit head coach Dan Pepitone said, “We lost to them in the playoffs last year in double overtime. It will be a great test for our team as we get ready for region play in two weeks.”
Our Lady of Mercy High School lost to Fairburn archrival, Landmark Christian School, on the road 47-13, Sept. 19. Mercy compiled over 400 offensive yards the week before, but against Landmark Christian they could only manage 165 total yards. On the other hand, Landmark Christian had 475 total yards, 438 of them on the ground. Mercy quarterback William Pearl was nine of 14 for 66 yards in the passing game. While Pearl ran for one touchdown, he also threw one touchdown pass to wide receiver Jarrell Bankhead. Mercy (1-2) returns home to face Eagles Landing Christian Academy (2-1) Friday, Sept. 26.
Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, came away from Monticello with a 7-7 tie against Piedmont Academy, Sept. 19. Piedmont scored on their opening drive, but the Pinecrest defense held the home team scoreless the rest of the game. Pinecrest quarterback Zach Wilson connected on a 19-yard touchdown pass with wide receiver Joe Neiner. Kicker Rico Garcia added the extra point. Pinecrest (1-2-1) plays at home against LaGrange’s Dawson Street Academy (1-3), Friday, Sept. 26.
St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, won their fourth in a row, defeating Carver-Atlanta at Lakewood Stadium 30-27, Sept. 19. It took a dramatic finish to continue the winning streak. St. Pius had to drive down the field 66 yards in 1:46 to score the game-winning touchdown with eight seconds remaining on the clock. It was a veer option play executed on a pitch from quarterback P. G. Standard to senior tailback Jonathan Carter, who went in for the score, his second touchdown of the night. Junior fullback Cole Moon also finished with 27 rushes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Standard added nine rushes for 37 yards and had a 66 percent pass completion rate. Junior linebackers Adam Hall and Robert Lucisano and junior defensive end Michael Wess led the St. Pius defense with nine tackles each. St. Pius had 219 total rushing yards, and Carver Atlanta had 226. Both teams had 97 total passing yards. In terms of time of possession St. Pius had the ball 7:18 more than its opponent, which might have been the difference in keeping Carver-Atlanta’s senior tailback Demond Dennis off the field. He finished with 219 yards rushing for the game. St. Pius (4-0) travels back to Lakewood Stadium to take on Therrell High School (0-4), Friday, Sept. 26.