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by Joshua Woods
The week one opening game in the Georgia High School Association between the host Westlake Lions and visiting North Cobb Warriors was our first Football Hotbed Game of the Week and it definitely lived up to the billing. North Cobb held on to defeat Westlake 21-17 in the season opener for both teams Friday at the Lions Den.
Going into the final drive of the game, Westlake was out of timeouts and had to cross the goal line to win with under a minute left. The Lions began the drive in their opponent’s 35-yard line after a 25-yard kickoff return from Christian Peterson and a face mask penalty.
The Lions, reached the Warriors’ 9 after another North Cobb penalty gave Westlake a first down following a fourth-and-3 with under a minute left.
Westlake ran the ball on their first play from scrimmage, but RJ Johnson’s attempt to spike the ball on second down was ruled a fumble recovered by the Lions, forcing the clock to continue to run. By the time Johnson attempted to spike the ball again on third down, the officials ruled that time had expired, giving North Cobb the victory.
Final play on the game! Where Westlake thought they had time left on the clock https://t.co/r3JeCvwOyo pic.twitter.com/KzObGBWoNM
— Coach Ryan (@CoachWoods8) August 20, 2022
Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) Super 11 Malachi Singleton rushed 16 times for 110 yards to lead North Cobb (1-0). He also completed 13 of 25 passes for 92 yards. Michigan Commit, Ben Hall had 12 carries for 94 yards and a score, while David Mbadinga totaled six carries for 61 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown run that gave the Warriors their 21-17 lead with 3:28 left in the contest.
2nd Rushing TD from @ThebenjaminH to put North Cobb back in the lead with 8:59 left in the game
— Coach Ryan (@CoachWoods8) August 20, 2022
North Cobb 14
Westlake 10 pic.twitter.com/IsDXKitOk7
Westlake never trailed in the first half and took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter behind an 11-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Jones. North Cobb quickly answered back, driving 74-yards on eight plays on its ensuing possession. Mbadinga had two rushes of 10 yards and Singleton also had a 10-yard carry during the drive, that was capped by Hall’s 30-yard touchdown run to knot the score at 7-all with 11:44 left in the period.
Following a scoreless third quarter with Westlake leading 10-7, the Lion’s Den erupted in the fourth quarter as the game became interesting. North Cobb took its first lead after Hall capped 14-play drive with a 4-yard scoring run to put the Warriors up 14-10.
Peterson’s 69-yard kickoff return on the ensuing possession eventually led to Jai’den Thomas’ 8-yard touchdown run after Avieon Terrell caught a 28-yard pass from Johnson to convert on big third-and-16, putting Westlake up 17-14 almost midway through the fourth quarter.
Great catch by 4⭐️ @nationwide_av to get one foot in bounds to set up first and goal pic.twitter.com/Of0uvKxX9F
— Coach Ryan (@CoachWoods8) August 20, 2022
Two big fourth conversions were need by the warriors on their game winning drive to keep their hopes alive including a big catch by Xavier Jackson who made a major catch across the middle and took a hit but held on for the warriors. The drive was capped of by a 30 yard rushing touchdown from David Mbadinga to give North Cobb the 21-17 lead with 3 minutes left in the game
Thomas rushed 26 times for 146 yards and a touchdown to lead Westlake. Johnson was 6-of-11 passing for 95 yards and a score. Jabari Jones had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
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