Cobb high school football Archives

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry — *Jeremiah Pruitte (right) gets a high-five and more after his first touchdown catch for Wheeler. (East Cobb News photos and video by Wendy Parker)*

Jeremiah Pruitte caught two touchdown passes and Taylor Smith ran back an interception 91 yards for another score as Wheeler defeated Sprayberry 40-20 Friday Night.

The Wildcats (2-0) were playing their first game at home. Sprayberry had the early momentum on its first drive but fumbled near the Wheeler goal line, and the Wildcats recovered.

Wheeler struck right away, with Zack Atkins scoring on a long touchdown pass.

Sprayberry scored a touchdown on its next possession when Aaron Bibbins ran into the end zone on quarterback keeper. But Wheeler blocked the extra point to make the score 7-6.

Although they mounted a comeback in the second half, the Yellow Jackets (0-2) would get no closer.

It was the first game between Sprayberry and Wheeler since 2013.

*The Wildcats got big plays all night when they needed them, this one on an open-field run by JD Thomas (12), who also scored a touchdown.*

*Young Wheeler fans line up before the game to greet the Wildcats.*

*Deonte Trotman gains against Wheeler’s defense as Sprayberry tried to close a 31-13 deficit in the third quarter.*

*Pruitte (13), a receiver who’s 6-foot-6, was tough for Sprayberry’s defense to handle all night.*

Pruitte’s second touchdown pass from Chidi Ogbonna came with 2:02 to play in the third quarter, and gave Wheeler a 31-13 lead.

Sprayberry fought back in the fourth quarter, as Bibbins scored another touchdown on a keeper to make the score 31-20.

But he made some crucial mistakes down the stretch. The Jackets were driving to Wheeler’s goal line when he was intercepted by Derrick Dunn. Later, he was sacked in the end zone for a safety.

With the score 33-20, Sprayberry was knocking on the door again in the final minute of the game. Bibbins aimed a pass toward the goal line, but Wheeler’s Taylor Smith reached up and picked the ball off, then ran it back 91 yards for a TD and the final scoring of the night.

In other games involving East Cobb teams, Walton came from behind on the road to defeat Collins Hill 29-25.

In another East Cobb rivalry game, Pope led Lassiter 7-0 at halftime, and then the Trojans scored two touchdowns to take a 14-7 lead.

The Greyhounds came back with a touchdown of their own, but missed the extra point. Lassiter added another touchdown late for a 20-13 win.

Two more East Cobb rivalry games take place next week. Lassiter remains at home against Kell, which was off this week. Pope’s home opener next Friday is against Walton.

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East Cobb football — *Walton coach Daniel Brunner at an East Cobb kickoff breakfast in August.*

First-year Walton football coach Daniel Brunner has been named coach of the year for 2017 by the Cobbhsfootball website, and Raiders’ star receiver Dominick Blaylock was tabbed as offensive player of the week.

Blaylock led the 22-man all-Cobb team that was released just before Christmas, and that includes three other players from East Cobb high schools.

They include Walton linebacker Malik Adams, Kell offensive lineman Johnathan Bass, and Lassiter defensive back Derrik Allen.

Brunner, a former assistant at Walton, led the Raiders to an unlikely 11-1 season, after the program came off a losing season under Mo Dixon in 2016.

Walton’s only loss came in the state playoffs to eventual state runner-up Colquitt County, where Dixon is now an assistant. In Brunner’s first game, in the Corky Kell Classic, the Raiders defeated North Gwinnett, which went on to win the Georgia Class 7A state championship.

Brunner, who was named Cobb coach of the year by The Marietta Daily Journal, is a graduate of Roswell High School and also coached there before coming to Walton.

Before the season started, he inaugurated “Raider Day,” a jamboree-style event that included all the Walton football teams, from varsity down to the grade school-level.

With Blaylock, who has committed to play at the University of Georgia, and Adams returning, Walton is expected to contend in the region and state in 2018.

Bass was part of another Kell state playoff team under Brett Sloan, a former Walton assistant in his first year as head coach. Bass has signed to play at Georgia State University.

Allen, considered one of the top high school players in the country at his position, had another strong season for Lassiter, whose state playoff streak ended this season. He has signed to play at Notre Dame.

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