Last-minute Walton football comeback stuns North Gwinnett

Walton football comeback

Dominick Blaylock scored an 11-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the game Friday to cap a Walton football comeback in a 27-24 victory over defending state champion North Gwinnett before a national television audience.

Blaylock was already having another marvelous game before he took the snap and raced down the left sideline, bowling over two Bulldog defenders as he pushed his way into the end zone.

Walton football comeback, Dominick Blaylock

It was the last of Blaylock’s three touchdowns, and helped the Raiders, ranked No. 3 in Class 7A, stay unbeaten at 4-0 in their first home game of the season at Raider Valley.

Walton led 7-0 and 14-7 before No. 4 North Gwinnett (2-2) roared back in the second half. The Bulldogs kicked a field goal with 5:42 to go in the game to take a 24-21 lead, setting up a thrilling finish.

The Raiders also played for a time without starting quarterback Austin Kirksey, who went out limping near halftime and returned in the final period.

“These guys just fight and fight and fight for each other,” Walton coach Daniel Brunner said after the game, hugging Blaylock, his baby-faced star who’s bound for the University of Georgia next season.

“I’m so glad I’ve got this dude here, the best player in the state of Georgia,” Brunner said. “He may look sweet, but he sure doesn’t play like it.”

Dominick Blaylock gets Walton on the scoreboard first late in the first quarter. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

The game kicked off earlier than normal because it was part of a national TV high school football doubleheader on ESPN2.

Blaylock gave Walton a 7-0 lead with 2:15 left in the first quarter on a two-yard run. On its next drive, North Gwinnett answered, with Tyler Goodson finishing off with a short TD for a 7-7 score.

By the time dusk turned to dark, the dramatics heightened.

Walton regained the lead at 14-7 on an eight-yard TD run by Kirksey. But with 29 seconds to play before halftime, he went out of the game, walking gingerly off the field. He was replaced by freshman Zac Rozsman.

Midway in the third quarter, and on fourth down, the Bulldogs drew even at 14-14 on a 38-yard desperation heave from JR Martin to Garrison Minor.

The Walton defense holds on third down.

North Gwinnett, whose only loss last season was to Walton in the Corky Kell Classic, went ahead for the first time at 21-14 with a touchdown with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

At the same time, Kirksey began limbering up on the sideline, as Walton players and coaches tried to figure out how to come from behind. The answer, of course, was with a whole lot of Blaylock, but the Raiders had to climb out of some holes they created for themselves along the way.

Upon Kirksey’s return, he led a drive that resulted in Blaylock’s second touchdown, which made the score 21-21 with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter.

On their next drive, the Raiders were driving deep when a first-down run by KD Alford (below) was nullified because of a penalty. That could have spelled doom for Walton, as well as Kirksey being sacked on the North Gwinnett 45.

That set up a third-and-27 for Walton, and Kirksey hooked up with Blaylock for a first down to the 12. Blaylock finished off the comeback, and the defending state champions, two plays later.

Walton’s defense held off the last chance for the Bulldogs, forcing three incomplete passes, then sacked the quarterback on the last play of the game.

 

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Walton’s football dream season ends in 28-21 loss to Colquitt County

Walton football
Dominick Blaylock (1) scored the first of his three touchdowns on Walton’s first possession of the game. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Dominick Blaylock did all he could for the Walton football team Friday in as big a game as the Raiders have played in several years in a Georgia Class 7A second-round playoff game.

But they committed two critical turnovers near the end of the first half that helped Colquitt County take the lead and pull away to a 28-21 victory at Raider Valley.

Walton had been undefeated, with an 11-0 record and a No. 3 state ranking coming in, and was backed by a loud home crowd, against Colquitt County (8-3 and No. 9). The game also was shown on statewide television, with a full crew on hand from Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

A near-full house looked on as Walton took 7-0 and 14-7 leads in the first quarter, thanks to big plays from Blaylock. A junior wide receiver who has already committed to the University of Georgia, he scored via the run the first two times Walton had the ball.

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

But the Packers, whose coaching staff includes former Walton head coach Mo Dixon, responded right away each time. It was with the game tied at 14-14 late in the second quarter that events began to turn their way, thanks to turnovers.

Colquitt County converted on both of them, an interception and a recovered fumble on a muffed lateral, to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

The Packers’ defense effectively shut down the rest of Walton’s offense, and took a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter. That would prove to be enough to hold off Walton, even after Blaylock scored a late third-quarter touchdown to give the Raiders a lifeline.

He ran for 54 yards and had 101 receiving yards for the game, but Colquitt County advances to the quarterfinals against Archer.

Walton enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history under first-year head coach Daniel Brunner, and will have many top players returning, including Blaylock and quarterback Austin Kirksey.

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

Walton football vs. Colquitt County

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