A slow start had Johns Creek facing a two-score deficit early in the second quarter of its Corky Kell matchup with the Gainesville Red Elephants, but by the final frame, only the lightning could stop the Gladiators; the game was delayed—and eventually called—with 9:27 remaining and a 26-10 Johns Creek advantage.
Gainesville’s Marquis Ross put the Red Elephants on the board with a 14-yard run following a successful conversion on 4th-and-short in Johns Creek territory, and teammate Giovanni Martinez added a 27-yard field goal before the end of the opening quarter. Johns Creek got its first points on a short run from Antonio Gilliam and knotted it up with McRae Ball’s 28-yarder, then took a 12-10 lead with 2:02 left in the half when Alex Cunningham came up with a 3rd-down sack and Terrian Williams blocked the ensuing punt for a safety out of the back of the end zone. Senior quarterback Kyle Durham connected with Brandon Palmer for a third-quarter score and found Josh Thompson in the fourth, who hauled in the pass and ran 50 yards down the sideline for the final points of the night.
Durham was 9-of-20 passing for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Tylan Johnson led Johns Creek on the ground with 13 carries for 141 yards. Gilliam finished with three carries for five yards and a touchdown. Both Palmer (20 yards) and Thompson (51 yards) had one reception each – both for touchdowns.
(Photo Credit: @PaFootballNews)
