Wolverines maul Tigers

Johnson rambles for 231 yards and 2 TD’s

Union Grove H.S. Stadium - McDonough, Georgia

Union Grrove running back Donvan Johnson ripped through the Tigers for 231 yards and 2 TD's.

Union Grove running back Donvan Johnson was practically unstoppable against Stockbridge as he ripped through the Tigers hard-hitting defense; just a junior Johnson followed his 100 plus rushing performance last week against Ola H.S. with 231-yards and two touchdowns performance tonight. I’m sure if you asked Johnson about his performance he would first give credit to those big bad Wolverines upfront: OT- Bryson Strickland (6-3, 275), OG-Tyler Rachels (510, 205), C-Alex Mosley (6-0, 275), OG-Tim Roberts (6-1, 260), OT-Mark Speir (6-6, 260), I know I would have. 

The Wolverines struck early in the first quarter when quarterback Ty Moore dropped back a spotted WR-Rashad Muhammad behind the Stockbridge secondary and hit him in stride; Muhammad did the rest as he raced 69-yards for the touchdown. Kicker Kevin Roberts tacked on the PAT to put the Wolverines up 7-0.

The Union Grove defense forces Stockbridge QB-Benn Carr to fumble.

Union Grove would get the ball back a few minutes later when Stockbridge quarterback Benn Carr fumbled while scrambling; Union Grove’s DB-Jonathan Akins recovered the fumble on the 42-yard line.

Johnson went right to work putting a sweet stiff-arm on a Stockbridge defender as he ripped off 27-yards to the Tigers 19-yard line. The Stockbridge defense led by LB-Thad Rachell, LB-Tim Lawrence, DB-Deuntez Williams and DL-Marquez Purter manned up and stopped the Wolverines on forth down at the 12-yard line.

Union Grove’s defensive front was just as big and talented as their offensive front with the likes of DL-Wes Mena (6-1, 280), DE-Anthony Williams (6-4, 230), LB-Dareon Mays (6-0, 220) and LB-Drew Bullard (6-0, 210) and that made it real hard for Stockbridge to sustain a ground attack early on.

The Wolverines closed out the first quarter when Roberts, who has one of the strongest legs I’ve seen so far this season drilled a 32-yard field goal to make the score 10-0.

In the second quarter the Stockbridge offensive line started affording Carr a little time to pass; his quick flip to WR-Marcellas Pope was turned into a 37-yard gain to the Union Grove 38-yard line. Once again the Tigers drive stalled and the Wolverines took over on downs.

Thad Rachell breaks loose on a 74-yard touchdown run.

Johnson’s vision and ability to cut back at the right time is uncanny and it was on full display when he busted loose for 34-yards to the Stockbridge 21-yard line. Joey Haugabook took a wide receive screen and turned it into a sweet 21-yard touchdown run but a penalty against Union Grove wiped out the play and forced a long field goal attempt. I’m not sure what long is for Roberts who drill this one from 40-yards out to give the Wolverines a 13-0 lead heading in to the half.  

Stockbridge came out in the third quarter and quickly got back into the game when Thad Rachell, who is one of the top defensive performers in the state put on his running back shoes and blew past the Wolverine defenders on his way to a 74-yard touchdown run. The PAT cut the lead to 13-7.

The touchdown fired up the Tigers defense as they held down the fort and got the ball back for the offense. Carr’s pass to WR-Kevin Burke picked up 15-yards and a first down out to the 37-yard line. Rachell’s 11-yard burst moved the ball out near midfield but a penalty wiped out the play. Facing a third and long Carr launched a long pass down field to Pope that hit him right in the hands and he dropped it. That play really hurt the Tigers because it would have given them a huge first down at the Wolverines 28-yard line.

Union Grove would retake the momentum when Moore went deep to WR-DeAndre Crockett for 32-yards to the Stockbridge 24-yard line. On the next play Johnson darted his way 24-yards for the touchdown. Roberts kicked the PAT to make the score 20-7.

Union Grove DE-Anthony Williams sacks Carr.

At the end of the third quarter junior Anthony Williams who was a territory at defensive end all night for the Wolverines made a big play when he dropped punter Nick Porter on the Stockbridge 9-yard line after a bad snap.

Johnson topped off an outstanding game when he scored his second touchdown of the game from 4-yards out on the first play of the forth quarter to push the Wolverines lead up to 27-7.

On the ensuing kickoff Pope seemingly made up for an earlier drop when he raced 99-yards for a touchdown but once again the Tigers were called for a penalty that would wipe out a big play. They would score late in the game but it was to little too late as they fell to 1-1 losing to Union Grove and their former Head Coach, Steven Collins.    

 The Final Score: Union Grove 27 – Stockbridge 14

Game Day Players:

Union Grove: RB-Donvan Johnson, QB-Ty Moore, K- Kevin Roberts, WR-Rashad Muhammad, DE-Anthony Williams, LB-DrewBullard, The Offensive Line.

Stockbridge: RB/LB-Thad Rachell, DB-DB-Deuntez Williams, QB-Ben Carr, DL-Marquez Purter, WR-Marcellas Pope