Peachtree Ridge Notches Second Win, 28-16 Over Newnan

Updated Sept. 10, 2011

Diandre Atwater and Billy Best came up big for Peachtree Ridge on Friday night in a 28-16 win over Newnan. Coach Mark Fleetwoods' Lions have won two consecutive games and are picking up steam heading into their region schedule.

Atwater rushed 19 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns. Best completed 15-of-20 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. The Lions outgained the Cougars 441 yards to 264.

“The kids played hard tonight," Fleetwood said. "We had a lot of penalities and I have to change that.”

The opening minutes of the game looked like it might end with a Lions blowout. Before the fans could take a seat, the Lions were up 14-0 and the Cougars looked stunned. But the Cougars settled down and showed their grit and determination to come back and make it a game. They fought back to trail by only four points at halftime.

Peachtree Ridge roared out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter by scoring on its first two possessions. The first score came on the ground. Five consecutive rushes ended with a seven-yard touchdown by Atwater. The second score came through the air. Three consecutive passes ended with a 46-yard catch and run from Best to Joe Horn.

The Cougars fought back. On their second drive of the game, they answered with field goal to make the score 14-3. Then after a Lions drive stalled with a missed field goal, the Cougars marched 80 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10.

The Lions were their own worst enemy at times with six penalties for 77 yards in the first half. A second-quarter drive stalled because of the penalties and a fumble ended another drive with 6:42 in the third quarter at the Cougar 4-yard line.

The Lions owned the second half. The defense forced the Cougars to punt twice on three-and-outs and forced a fumble that turned into a touchdown.

With 4:10 left in the third quarter, Deante Brabham recovered a fumble to set up the Lions on the Cougars 28. Atwater turned the turnover into points less than two minutes later with a six-yard run. Atwater would score again at the 8:59 mark of the fourth quarter on a 13 yard end-around run that was keyed by a perimeter block from Joe Horn.

Newnan closed the scoring with a 42-yard touchdown pass reception by Cody Darracott with 7:11 remaining in the game.

“The defense played well tonight," Fleetwood said. "Give them some credit. Their quarterback is good and executed their offense well.”

Next week, the Lions (2-1) play at region foe Meadowcreek.

Region 7-AAAA Standings

(Through Sept. 9, 2011)

Team          All Games          Region        

Norcross                 3-0            0-0

Mill Creek                3-0             0-0

Duluth                     2-1              0-0

North Gwinnett         2-1            0-0

Peachtree Ridge      2-1            0-0

Collins Hill               1-2              0-0

Mountain View         1-2             0-0

Meadowcreek          0-3             0-0

Suwanee games-Sept. 9

Peachtree Ridge 28, Newnan 16

M.L. King 31, Collins Hill 14

Suwanee games-Sept. 16

North Gwinnett at Collins Hill

Peachtree Ridge at Meadowcreek