Sandy Creek makes statement; Westover game moved up

Sandy Creek tailback Eric Swinney rushed for 220 yards on 34 carries in the Patriots' impressive win over Archer.

Credit: David Purdum

Credit: David Purdum

Sandy Creek tailback Eric Swinney rushed for 220 yards on 34 carries in the Patriots' impressive win over Archer.

Any talk of perennial AAAA power Sandy Creek taking a step back this season appears to be premature. The Patriots, who have not lost in the regular season since Week 1 of the 2009 season, extended that streak Friday with 21-13 come-from-behind win over AAAAAA Archer at the Corky Kell Classic. Sandy Creek star running back Eric Swinney rushed for 220 yards, quarterback Trey Walker threw two touchdown passes in his first varsity start , and Sammy Brown and Antonio Trapp each had interceptions in a second half that saw the Patriots erase a 13-0 deficit.

"We were very proud of how our guys played and how the responded when things weren't going great," Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker said in a text message Saturday morning. "It showed a lot of character and toughness."

Walker praised his team's focus and practice intensity leading up to the opener against an Archer team that finished the 2013 regular season undefeated. Clearly, it showed Friday. The Creek will once again be a force to reckon with in AAAA.

More photos from the Corky Kell Classic

Opening tie: The Howard (Macon) Huskies battled Lamar County, a AA state finalist last season, to a 19-19 tie Friday. The Huskies, who have won only three games over the last two seasons,  built a 13-0 halftime lead and never trailed, but needed a blocked extra point after a fourth-quarter Lamar County touchdown to secure the tie. According to the Macon Telegraph, the coaches agreed to end the game after regulation instead of continuing into overtime.

Offensive explosion: Southeast Whitfield running backs Tyler Brown and Devin Fields combined for five touchdowns in a 45-0 opening win over Coahulla Creek on Friday. The 45 points are the most the Raiders have scored since the 2011 season.

Heat adjustment: Westover's opener against Lee County was moved to 9 a.m., Saturday due to concerns about heat. The game was broadcast on ESPNU. Westover features the state's No. 1 prospect in defensive tackle Trenton Thompson, who is committed to Georgia. Check AJC.com for Saturday's results.

DeKalb thriller: Looking for its first win over SW DeKalb since 2005, Columbia held a 12-6 lead late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold on and fell to 1-12 in its last 13 meetings against the Lions' county rivals. Columbia mounted a late drive, but was intercepted deep in SW DeKalb territory.

Squandered lead:  Worth County, hoping to bounce back from last season's 3-7 mark, built a 13-0 lead over Fitzgerald, only to see the Purple Hurricanes scored 27 unanswered points and hold on for a 27-20 win.