Source: Gwinnett Prep Sports

PHOTOS: Collins Hill at Peachtree Ridge Football

SUWANEE — Sam Horn threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns to lead Collins Hill to a 42-7 win over Peachtree Ridge in the Region 8-AAAAAAA opener for both football teams.

Horn completed 21 of 26 passes and threw two touchdown passes to Sean Norris and one each to Travis Hunter and Isaiah Richardson.

The Eagles (5-2, 1-0) also got 72 yards rushing and one touchdown from Spenser Anderson. Hunter caught eight passes for 94 yards.

“Our offensive staff did a good job just being patient,” Collins Hill coach Lenny Gregory said. “One thing we learned in those first six games is that we’ve got to be patient and take what the defense gives us. I felt like we were more prepared for the game. We had a great plan.”

Collins Hill, led by ever-present defensive lineman James Smith, was equally efficient on defense. The Eagles allowed only one run of more than 10 yards, that a 60-yard burst up the seam by Brandon Cade that prevented a shutout, and gave up only 247 yards.

“We fell asleep for one play,” Gregory said. “That’s the one thing we’ve been hammering home on our kids, you can’t take a single play off. One play can cost you. We almost played a perfect game.”

Peachtree Ridge (3-1, 0-1) was led by Cade with 106 yards on 16 carries. Nick Best was 8-for-17 passing for 92 yards, but was replaced in the third quarter by Kyle Kingsbury, who completed 6 of 13 for 52 yards and one interception.

It was the first game back for Peachtree Ridge after missing two games because of COVID-19

Collins Hill scored twice in the first half and took a 14-0 lead at halftime. The Eagles scored on a 31-yard pass from Horn to Hunter, who came away with the ball despite being double covered in the end zone. Horn found Norris wide open in the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Peachtree Ridge was its own worst enemy in the first half. The Lions suffered some key penalties, including an intentional grounding call, and two short punts that gave Collins Hill a short field.

Collins Hill scored on its first play of the second half. After Norris returned the kickoff to the 42, the Eagles struck quickly when Horn rolled right and found tight end Richardson in stride for a 58-yard score.

Peachtree Ridge answered with its only score. On the second play, Cade burst up the middle for his 60-yard run. But Collins Hill answered with a 16-play drive that ended with Anderson’s 1-yard run and added late touchdowns a 5-yard pass to Norris and an 8-yard run by freshman Cedric Nash.

The pregame ceremonies included a moment of silence in honor of Collins Hill’s hall of fame wrestling coach Cliff Ramos, who died this week after a long battle with cancer.