The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
McEachern showcases offense in Corky Kell Classic victory
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson threw two touchdown passes, Christian Mason ran for two scores and McEachern dominated from start to finish Saturday in a 48-10 victory over Brookwood in the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The victory gave McEachern a chance to showcase a talented offense that features a four-star quarterback recruit, two four-star wide receivers and a three-star running back.
Del Rio-Wilson, a junior who has committed to Florida, was 15-for-18 passing for 251 yards and ran for 55 yards on eight carries. Jordon Simmons, the three-star running back, rushed for 30 yards on seven carries and caught four passes for 57 yards. The Indians’ leading rusher was Mason with 59 yards on eight carries.
Javon Baker, a senior wide receiver committed to Alabama, had five catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. Four-star junior Dacari Collins had four receptions for 48 yards.
In all, McEachern finished with 478 total yards against a Brookwood team that gave up just 15 points per game last season but returned no defensive starters.
“We have some weapons on the outside and some weapons in the backfield,” said Franklin Stephens, making his debut as McEachern’s head coach. “Carlos is like a big running back. When he’s running the football, that’s a 200-something pound kid, along with all the other guys we’ve got. It’s our job as coaches to figure out how to put it all together week in and week out. If the good Lord blesses us with health, we’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”
Stephens, who was hired from Ware County to replace longtime Indians coach Kyle Hockman, came in with a career record of 133-26-1 and two state championships after serving stints at Ware, Lamar County and Tucker. Hockman, who was 103-32 with five region titles in 11 seasons at McEachern, left to take the head coaching position at New Hampstead in Savannah.
Brookwood scored its only touchdown on its first possession of the second half, driving 32 yards in four plays after recovering a pooch kickoff to open the third quarter. Tyler Knight ran 5 yards for the score to cut the lead to 20-7 with 10:44 to play in the quarter, but the Broncos never got closer. McEachern scored touchdowns on its next three possessions and led 41-10 going into the fourth quarter.
McEachern was forced to punt on its first possession of the game but scored on three of its next four to lead 20-0 at halftime. The Indians drove 33 yards in four plays for their first score after an interception set them up. Mason ran for 27 yards on three carries on the drive, including the final two for a touchdown with 5:49 remaining in the first quarter.
Del Rio-Wilson threw two 8-yard touchdown passes in the second quarter, one each to Gary Simpson and Baker.
Brookwood alternated its quarterbacks, junior Jack Spyke and freshman Dylan Lonergan, throughout the game, but neither was able to get the offense going. The Broncos were outgained 24670 over the first two quarters and finished with 236 total yards. Lonergan was 6-of13 passing for 93 yards with one interception. Spyke was 4-for-8 for 103 yards. Eli Kohl rushed for 53 yards. — CHIP SAYE
Mill Creek 38, East Coweta 6: Mill Creek left Gwinnett County football fans with a good taste in their mouths after Week 1 as the Eagles (1-0) pounded fellow Class AAAAAAA foe East Coweta in the final game of the Corky Kell Classic late Saturday night.
The Eagles essentially put the game on ice on their first possession of the second half. Junior receiver Khamari Glover got things off to a good start when he returned East Coweta’s punt 21 yards up the near sideline to the East Coweta 46-yard line. A pass interference penalty and a 13-yard reception by Parker Wroble on a tipped pass set up Chancellor Lee-Parker’s 17-yard touchdown run.