The Warriors lost one of four fumbles, two of four interceptions were returned for touchdowns and Lovejoy rolled to a 63-42 victory in Friday’s Class AAAAAA state semifinal at Twelve Oaks Stadium.
North Cobb (11-3) held a 14-point lead after J’Vonte Herrod — who had 13 carries for 79 yards — scored the first of his two touchdowns off a 21-yard option run into the end zone 5 seconds into the second quarter.
But the tide turned in a big way for the Warriors on their next possession.
With North Cobb facing second-and-10 at the Lovejoy 25, the Cinwon Whitehead intercepted Tyler Queen’s pass attempt. Four plays later, Travis Custis scored on a 63-yard run to bring the Wildcats to within seven — 21-14 — midway through the quarter.
Custis’ run sparked a 28-0 run for Lovejoy (13-1), which outscored North Cobb 35-21 in the second half en route to the victory. Brandon Davis had an interception return of 74 yards during the game-changing run, and Montrell Custis returned another pick 59 yards for a touchdown that put the Wildcats in front 35-21 with 8:51 to go in the third.
Lovejoy advanced to its second straight state championship game, and will take on Norcross for the title next Saturday at the Georgia Dome. The Wildcats lost the Class AAAA championship to Tucker last season
North Cobb, meanwhile, saw its season come to a close, one round shy of reaching the state finals for the first time in 54 years.
“You can’t take anything away from (Lovejoy), but when you have five turnovers, it’s disappointing,” North Cobb coach Shane Queen said. “You can’t beat a top-five team like that turning the ball over. They did what they had to do. They made plays and turned our turnovers into points. This time of the season, you can’t turn the ball over five times.”
Cameron Albright’s interception set up North Cobb’s first touchdown as Tyler Queen connected with Xavier Borishade for a 31-yard strike early in the first quarter.
But a fumbled punt led to Lovejoy having first-and-goal at the 7, and Travis Custis scored from 5 yards out to tie the game.
North Cobb answered right back with a 10-play, 61-drive, capped by Queen’s 6-yard touchdown run. Then, on the Warriors’ next possession, Herrod’s run put North Cobb in front by 14.
Nick Miller had a long kickoff return following Montrell Custis’ interception return for a score, which set up a 26-yard touchdown pass from Queen to Miller to pull North Cobb to within 35-28. But Lovejoy scored on two of its next three drives to stake a 49-28 lead, and Tyrell Brown’s interception return of 35 yards set up Travis Custis for a 26-yard touchdown run and a 56-28 lead with 11:07 remaining in the game.
Herrod found the end zone again from 8 yards out on the Warriors’ ensuing possession, but a sack from Isaiah Lyles on fourth down late in the fourth quarter led to Travis Custis’ 22-yard score.
Borishade returned the kickoff 78 yards for North Cobb’s final score with 4:09 remaining, and Lovejoy collected two first downs on its final drive to run out the clock.
“In a game like this, when turnovers turn into touchdowns — who knows, we could have been in the ball game,” Shane Queen said. “I’m just proud of our kids for not giving up. They answered every time. When they went down on a turnover, we went back down and scored, so our kids fought. But that’s a great football team, and probably the best football team we’ve played all year. My hats are off to them. They have a chance to win it all next week.”
Travis Custis had 31 carries for 291 yards and five touchdowns.
“There’s a reason he’s going to Georgia Tech,” Queen said of the Lovejoy senior. “He’s a great back and broke a lot of tackles, and those big offensive linemen wore us down.”
Lovejoy quarterback Alejandro Bennefield completed 11 of 23 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. JuMichael Ramos, another Georgia Tech commitment, had three catches for 82 yards and a score, while Davis caught four passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Queen was 10-of-26 for 186 yards, four interceptions and two touchdowns. Borishade had four receptions for 99 yards and a score. Miller caught three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown, and Herrod had three catches for 52 yards.
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I am pretty certain that Griffins have have moved on in all ways from NC football....they have two sons being heavily recruited and that is way more important that getting on a MDJ blog worrying about NC's performance in the playoffs. Their vindication came in the McE vs NC game and that was a perfect way to CLOSE that chapter in their life. What you have are a bunch of other folks IN HOUSE who don't sound too happy with the situation over there but you rather try and blame the Griffins. Trust me when I tell you that what is going on over at NC is the least of that family's concerns....their our looking forward not in the rear view mirror. Sorry...your dirty laundry is being thrown out by somebody in the house.
1st, Ill clarify for it for you, #14 Starts on both sides of the ball and has all season and most all Special teams and has highest the highest number of minutes played on the entire team, so your "oppErtunity to start or play significant minutes" comment makes you look like you are just trying to stir the pot.
2nd #33 STARTS and has started the entire year, had a 1,000 rushing yards give or take a couple and is starting to get pounded by big time recruiters. AGAIN, you look ridiculous making these 100% false accusations.
Short changed??? Look at the few that have transferred? Looks to me like they got shortchanged, some of us played until week 14, some didnt, dont think thats short changed. And what stinks for you, whoever you are trying to stir the pot, we'll be back next year with an offense that may average 50 instead of 42. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
It's like you all were just lying in wait, pretending to pull for the team to be successful. Fact is, if you got your wish and #15 was replaced but the next guy struggled in a similar manner, the same ones would have been screaming "Why'd Queen pull him so soon?!!"
And yes, If a Corner gets roasted 2-3 times in a row, he is replaced, if a D-lineman gets driven off the ball play after play, he gets replaced, when an wr drops ball after ball, he gets sat, if an O-lineman gives up qb sacks, he gets benched, if a QB fumbles then throws 3-4 picks, 2 for TD's, he should have been replaced. Thats coaching 101.
Looks to me instead of pointing fingers at the QB who runs an offense that puts up 42 ppg, you ought to look at the defense that gave up 63 points that easily could have been 70. Missed tackles all night, some looked scared to tackle #22, All players trying to strip the ball rather than make a tackle. DB’s getting run over by L J players.
And whats with special teams, the kickoff team has been dreadful all year, bad snaps throughout the year and if you take a couple runs away that #12 has made, the return team has been non-existent. Do the coaches tell the kicker to NOT kick in the endzone or is he doing it only when he wants to. They do an onside kick Friday night and the players run by the ball like they’ve never practiced it before. The only consistent part of special teams this year has been the kicker on extra points. Special teams are a 1/3 of the game, treat it that way.
The coaches may want to spend less time running offensive plays at practice and more time on defensive fundamentals and special teams.
Queen was the reason North Cobb was there. He was the main reason they had a 21-7 lead. He may have had a bad game overall, but he gave them the best chance to win. Period. End of story.
It looked to me like it was one of those "dance with the one that brought you to the dance" rather than ditching your date at prom after going out with them all year long.
There were missed tackles by 14 as well as others on defense. However, if a player is having a bad game, he gets taken out of that game. It happens in all other sports. 15 can play, but he had a bad game that impacted everything else that occurred. No team can win when the qb has 5 turnovers and 2 pick sixes. 15 should have been replaced.
#1. Stop talking about the Griffin's; I promise you, they are not talking about you. They are talking about scholarship offers for their boys who have top notch schools fighting to pay for their college. Leave them alone. They did what was best for their family. I admire them. Stop it. Get over it. Khalass.
#2. This Warrior Team is not only #3 in the state, 110 in the nation, but also finished higher than any other Warrior Team in 60 years. This Warrior Team has shattered records in Cobb County leaving a legacy as the highest scoring team ever to play football in Cobb County. Whatever you choose to disect about the LJ game, the facts are still the facts.
#3. This team believed in themselves. Their parents and community believed in them. Their coaches believed in them. They worked very hard for what they achieved this year, and I am very proud of them. You will not take that away from them. We win as a team, we loose as a team.
Keep it postive or keep it quiet.