Towers’ defensive lineman Jacquez Harris scooped up a bad punt in the first quarter for a 43-yard touchdown return to put the Titans up 6-0 early in their eventual 35-18 loss to Landmark Christian on Thursday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Towers Titans saw the momentum shift to the Landmark Christian War Eagles following an hour lightning delay late in the first half of their 35-18 loss at Cobb (Avondale) Stadium on Thursday night.
Towers (1-1) scored with 3:28 remaining the first half on a 69-yard touchdown pass to Amari Morgan to go up 18-13 on the Eagles. As the Titans prepared to kickoff lightning intervened and the teams went to the locker rooms for an hour before the game could be resumed.
Landmark took the kickoff following the delay and drove to the Titans’ 23-yard line before the Towers defense stiffened to force a 40-yard field goal attempt. Jackson Bellotti rebounded from a blocked PAT to nail the 40-yarder as time ran out in the first half to pull the Eagles within 18-16 going into the short break.
The two teams exchanged fumbles to open the second half and a 23-yard run by Neroy Tugwell had the Titans moving but the drive stalled and Landmark took over on downs at the Towers 49.
Landmark quarterback Skylar Hamilton led the go-ahead drive hitting on passes of 26 and 14 yards to Jo’Van Freeney as the Eagles moved to the Titans’ 17-yard line. Hamilton then tossed 17-yards into the end zone to Freeney for the touchdown. A two-point attempt was stopped short by the Towers’ defense to keep the Titans within striking distance with 1:43 left in the third quarter.
A pair of penalties and two runs for a loss had the Titans in a fourth and 19 hole at their own 11 forcing a punt as the teams moved into the fourth quarter. Landmark set up at the Towers 49 to begin another scoring drive.
Hamilton finished off the eight-play drive going the final one-yard for the touchdown. Towers blocked the PAT again to keep the Eagles within 28-18 with 6:25 to play.
Freeney then sealed the game with 5:20 to play as the stepped in front of a Titan’s pass and returned it down the right sideline 30 yards for the pick-six play. Bellotti hit the PAT to make it 35-18.
Towers quarterback Quaricus Hurley had touchdown passes of 85 and 69 yards to Amari Morgan in the Titans’ 35-18 loss to Landmark. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Towers struck first as Landmark’s punter slipped on a put and the ball landed in the backfield where defensive lineman Jacquez Harris scooped it up for a 43-yard return for the touchdown. The two-point try failed and Towers led 6-0 with 9:39 left in the first quarter.
Landmark returned the favor when a snap over the head of wildcat Neroy Tugwell ended up in the hands of the Eagles’ Chase Brewington who picked up the loose football and returned it 20 yards for a score. Bellotti hit the PAT to give Landmark a 7-6 lead with 10:19 left in the first half.
Towers answered right back as Quaricus Hurley tossed over the top to a streaking Amari Morgan for an 85-yard passing touchdown with 9:53 left in the half. The try for two again failed and Towers held a 12-7 advantage.
Hamilton answered the score with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Freeney with 4:58 remaining in the half. The Titans blocked the extra point attempt to keep the margin at 13-12.
Hurley finished with 199 yards passing as he hit on seven of 15 and the two touchdowns to Morgan. Morgan finished with two receptions for 154 yards and the two scores.
Hamilton accounted for three touchdowns for the Eagles (2-1) as he passed for 140 yards on 13 of 18 passing and two touchdowns while running for 60 yards and another score.
FRIDAY GAMES
North DeKalb Stadium hosts a DeKalb County rivalry renewing for the first time since 2019 as the Chamblee Bulldogs (0-2) and Southwest DeKalb Panthers (0-1) collide with both teams looking for their first win in 2024.
Southwest DeKalb leads the series that dates to 1951 by a 14-2 margin with 13 consecutive wins. Chamblee won twice against the Panthers in the 1952 season for the Bulldogs two victories in the series. Chamblee has back-to-back losses to Pace Academy (9-10) and Tucker (0-33) to start the 2024 season The Panthers are coming off an open date following a season opening loss to Carver (21-34).
The Lakeside Vikings (0-2) are looking for their first win of the season as they host Macon County (1-1) at Adams Stadium on Friday at 7:30 pm. Lakeside is coming off a tough 17-3 loss to St. Pius last week while Macon County is coming off a 56-7 loss to Bowdon following an opening week win.
Cobb (Avondale) Stadium has the McNair Mustangs (1-1) hosting the Midtown Knights (1-1) in a 7:30 pm kickoff contest on Friday. McNair evened their record on the season with a 7-6 win over KIPP last weekend. Midtown knocked off Druid Hills 26-14 behind a pair of special teams scores.
Godfrey Stadium is the site of matchup between a pair of teams looking for their first win of the season as the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions (0-2) host the Salem Seminoles (0-2). The Lions have lost their first two games of the season to Heritage (Conyers) and Tri-Cities by a combined three points. Salem lost to Rockdale County (27-15) and Heritage (23-0) to open the season.
Hallford Stadium plays host to another DeKalb County vs. Rockdale County matchup as the Miller Grove Wolverines (1-1) entertain the undefeated Rockdale County Bulldogs (2-0). The Wolverines pulled out a 7-6 win over Therrell this past weekend to even their record. Rockdale County has wins over Salem (27-15) and Forest Park (35-6).
Six DeKalb teams go on the road on Friday with Cedar Grove (at Collins Hill), Cross Keys (at Rock Springs) and Stone Mountain (at New Manchester) taking on undefeated opponents.
Thursday, Aug. 29
COBB STADIUM
Landmark Christian (2-1) 35, Towers (1-1) 18
Friday, Aug. 30
ADAMS STADIUM
Macon County (1-1) vs. Lakeside (0-2), 7:30 pm
COBB (AVONDALE) STADIUM
Midtown (1-1) vs. McNair (1-1), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Salem (0-2) vs. M.L. King (0-2), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Rockdale Co. (2-0) vs. Miller Grove (1-1), 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
SW DeKalb (0-1) vs. Chamblee (0-2), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
Arabia Mountain (1-1) at Newnan (1-1), 7:30 pm
Cedar Grove (0-1) at Collins Hill (2-0), 7:30 pm
Cross Keys (0-1) at Rock Springs (2-0), 7:30 pm
Stephenson (1-1) at Dutchtown (1-1), 7:30 pm
Stone Mountain (0-2) at New Manchester (2-0), 7:30 pm
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Redan (1-1) at Therrell (0-2), 7:30 pm
OPEN: Clarkston (0-2), Columbia (0-2), Druid Hills (1-1), Dunwoody (1-1), Lithonia (2-0), Tucker (1-1)