Cougars Maul Titans 48-18

Only four miles separate Chattahoochee and Northview High Schools, providing the makings for a classic neighborhood rivalry. Unfortunately for Titan fans, it isn't working out that way. Chattahoochee has dominated the series since Northview opened its doors in 2002, winning five of the six games played between the schools.

The beat down continued Friday night at Cougar Stadium.

It took only 73 seconds for the Cougars to score the game's first touchdown. Once again, Chattahoochee running back Gary Grace did most of the heavy lifting, taking a hand-off from quarterback Brendan Cross and
streaking 59 yards for the score.

Northview answered later in the first quarter when senior quarterback Justin Tuggle dove in from a yard out. The extra point was no good, making it 7-6 Chattahoochee. That was as close as Northview got.

Chattahoochee used a series of big plays to put the game away. Tailback Elton Ford exploded around the right side for a 75-yard touchdown near the end of the first quarter. On the first play of quarter number two, Cross hit wide receiver Mark Lang for a 47-yard gain to the Titans' three-yard line.

It got interesting from there. After the Titans stuffed Grace for no gain, Chattahoochee head coach sent in massive defensive lineman Jordan Toler to play fullback. The six-foot one-inch 275-pounder took most of Northview's defensive line with him as he plowed into the endzone for the score.

"Coach Carmichael came up with that," said Crowder after the game, referring to offensive coordinator Scott Carmichael. "We just wanted to get 'Big Boy' in there," laughed Crowder. "He's done so much for us, and for him to score was really huge."

Another defensive lineman scored for the Cougars in the third quarter when Stephan Howard scooped up a Tuggle fumble and rambled 21 yards for the touchdown, making it 28-6.

Chattahoochee blew it wide open in the fourth quarter with a 20-point explosion. A fifty yard kickoff return for a score by Ford, sandwiched between two touchdown scampers by Cross, made the final score Chattahoochee 48 - Northview 18.

The win moves the Cougars to 6-1 on the year and 2-0 in the sub-region. Northview drops to 3-4, 0-2 in the sub-region.

Chattahoochee failed to make the top 10 in this week's high school football poll even though the Cougars have beaten both Camden and Roswell, two teams that have been highly ranked this season. Crowder says the latest snub gives him a great motivational tool.

"We just have to keep winning and show them we deserve to be ranked," he said. "I knew this team was going to be something special based on how hard they worked in the spring to get ready for the season."

Next up for the Cougars is a visit to Alpharetta on Friday, while Northview travels to Centennial.