Football - 2008
Cedar Grove vs. Dunwoody
By Larry Williams
Sep 25, 2008, 07:30 EST

Cedar Grove “Saints” vs. Dunwoody “Wildcats”

Dunwoody outscores Cedar Grove

Claytor scores 3 TD to key Wildcats explosion

Avondale Stadium – Avondale Estates, GA

Dunwoody's Dalon Claytor gets a big block from OL-Tre Lazenby on his way to 3 touchdowns.

Avondale Estates, GA – Just like the rest of Metro Atlanta this past weekend the Cedar Grove Saints ran out of gas against the Class 4A forth-ranked Wildcats from Dunwoody. After scoring 21 first half points turnovers and a stout Dunwoody defense limited the Saints to just six second-half points in the loss.

Dunwoody Head Coach James Teter knew going into the game against Cedar Grove and their high-octane offense that his Wildcats were going to have to be at the top of their game on both sides of the ball if they were going to stay undefeated; it wasn’t easy but they did just that.

On the Wildcats first offensive possession quarterback Erik Cooper went deep to TE-Malcolm Mitchell who bobbled the ball before hauling it in for a 43-yard gain to the Cedar Grove sixteen-yard line. On the next play RB-LeFloyd Phillips rambled 16-yards for the touchdown. The PAT by Austin Breed made the score 7-0.

This was just the beginning of the offensive explosion that took place in the first half as Cedar Grove responded with a 35-yard touchdown run by quarterback Stanley McBride. Kicker Emmett Brown’s PAT split the uprights to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:37 left in the first-quarter.

Cedar Grove quarterback Stanley McBride and wide receiver Vincent Dallas are truly a Leathal Weapon.

On the ensuing kickoff Dunwoody’s Will Crochet almost broke it, returning the ball 40-yards out over midfield. An 18-yard run by WB-Dalon Claytor moved the ball to the Cedar Grove twenty-nine yard line. A few plays later Claytor would put the Wildcats back in front on a 3-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-7 after Breed’s PAT. 

Cedar Grove got a big return of their own from Justin Traylor to give them great field position on the Dunwoody forty-six.  A forth-down conversion gave the Saints a first down on the thirty-four. McBride then went up top to receiver Vincent Dallas who blew pass Dunwoody’s Andy Mills to haul in the pass for 34-yards and a touchdown. The PAT failed making the score 14-13 at the end of the first-quarter.

NOTE: If the college recruiters loved former Cedar Grove wide receiver Josh Jarboe, they are going to go crazy over Dallas by the time he becomes a senior if he continues to develop. Vincent Dallas, who stands 6-1 and weighs in at 175lbs is just a sophomore and already he displays the skills of a polished wideout.

The offensive explosion continued in the second-quarter; two big runs by the Saints hard charging RB-William Pratcher picked up 26-yards spotting the ball on the Wildcats thirty-four yard line. Then the Saints lethal passing combo of McBride to Dallas worked their magic again when they hooked up for 25-yards and a touchdown. Pratcher scored the two-point conversion to give Cedar Grove their first lead of the game 21-14.

Dunwoody defensive linemen Zachary Sahlu (56) and Malcolm Mitchell (80) close the hole on running back William Pratcher.

Dunwoody didn’t waste anytime responding, runs of 24 and 12-yards by Phillips gave the Wildcats a first-down on the Saints forty-four. A swing pass from Cooper to RB-Treavor Scales, who had been held in check up until this play picked up 23-yards to the fifteen. Phillips picked up fourteen more yards to make it first and goal. Scales finished things off with a short touchdown plunge. Breed’s PAT tied the game at 21-21.

With less than 4:00 minutes to play in the half there was a series of plays and penalties by Cedar Grove that changed the whole complexion of the game in Dunwoody’s favor. McBride broke loose for 45-yards to the Dunwoody six but a penalty wiped out the play, making it first and twenty-five from their thirty-six. The Saints then proceeded to get two more consecutive penalties that made it third down and thirty-five from their twenty-six yard line. Dunwoody’s DB-Tracy White picked off the third-down pass attempt at the Wildcats thirty-two yard line with 1:19 left in the half.  

The Saints meltdown continued when their defense hit the field; after a big third down sack on Cooper by DE-Detric Pace, DE-Jeremy Wheeler and DL-Jamel Dobbs, Pace threw a deliberate elbow and hit Cooper in the facemask. A “Unsportsmanlike” penalty was called giving Dunwoody a big first down that they ended up converting into 23-yard field goal by Breed and a 24-21 halftime lead.

There wasn't a lot of defense but there were some big hits like the one Casey Horton put on LeFloyd Phillips (6).

Dunwoody continued to capitalize on Cedar Grove mistakes as the third quarter got underway; touchdowns by Crochet and Claytor pushed the Wildcats lead up to 38-21.

McBride and Dallas hooked up one more time for Cedar Grove in the forth quarter but it was a case of to little too late for the Saints.

Dalon Claytor capped off a big game scoring his third touchdown and Scales finished off the Saints with a 30-yard touchdown scamper, as the Wildcats remained undefeated at 5-0.

Final Score: Dunwoody 52 – Cedar Grove 27

Game Day Players

Dunwoody: QB Erik Cooper, WB-Dalon Claytor, RB-Treaver Scales, RB-LeFloyd Phillips, WR-Will Crochet

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