BJHS rally falls short at North Gwinnett

Nick Beavers breaks loose for a 61-yard touchdown run late in the Patriots' 42-20 loss to North Gwinnett Aug. 28.

North Gwinnett running back Donnie Miles scored three touchdowns in the first half and the Bulldogs accounted for 21 points in the second quarter Aug. 28 to take down the Bob Jones Patriots, 42-20.

The Bulldogs struck first when Miles scored from 7 yards out to go up 7-0, and then the North Gwinnett defense went to work.

The Patriots drove deep into North Gwinnett territory on the ensuing possession, but quarterback Jeffrey Moss lost the ball on a handoff exchange, and Miles scored nine plays later on a 21-yard run to go up 14-0.

The Bulldog defense went right back to work on the next possession as Timothy Hill intercepted Bob Jones quarterback Zach Freeman, leading to a Joe Jones 15-yard touchdown seven plays later to increase the lead to 21-0.

“They’re probably as good of a football team that we will play this year,” said Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose., whose team will also play non-region games against Hoover and Spain Park. “They were so good rushing the ball.”

The two teams traded punts before the Bulldog special teams went to work when Braden Hager fumbled a Patriot snap, and Dante Johnson picked the ball up and scampered 20 yards for the North Gwinnett touchdown to increase the lead to 28-0.

The Patriots cut the lead right before halftime on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Freeman to Ole Miss commitment Collins Moore, but the damage was already done.

“We ran the ball effectively,” said North Gwinnett head coach Bob Sphire. “I bet we had a million first downs.”

Meanwhile, the Patriots were limited to just 3 rushing yards in the first half.

The Bulldogs wasted no time getting back on the board in the second half when quarterback Scott Hosch connected with Tyler Nemac on a 23-yard pass, but the Patriots answered with a 28-yard field goal to leave the score 35-10.

Hager added a 26-yard field goal to start off the fourth quarter, but North Gwinnett quarterback C.J. Uzomah connected with Adonis Johnson from 11 yards out to close out the Bulldogs scoring, 42-13.

Bob Jones added one last score on a 61-yard screen pass from Moss to Nick Beavers.

The Patriots will begin Class 6A, Region 8 action Sept. 3 at Hazel Green.