Lassiter, Walton Fall in the Late, Late Show

On a tough night for East Cobb high school football teams, the games involving Lassiter and Walton seemed like they would never end. 

The Trojans and Raiders faced McEachern and Hillgrove, respectively in an East Cobb-West Cobb doubleheader at McEachern Friday, and each game took 3-1/2 hours to play. 


Walton fell to Hillgrove 47-35 and Lassiter lost to No. 3 McEachern 42-28. 

Both games were televised on CSS, but that wasn't why the games took so long to complete. There were play stoppages several times to treat players -- and even a game official -- for cramps in the muggy weather. 

After Walton was worn down by Hillgrove's offense, which racked up more than 550 yards, Lassiter -- playing in its season opener -- didn't take the field at Cantrell Stadium until 10 p.m.

At halftime, the lights went out. That's because a timer was set for them to be turned off at midnight. After a 40-minute delay, play resumed, but the Trojans had no answer for McEachern's high-powered attack. 

Pope's season opener went even worse, as the Greyhounds were flattened by Marietta 63-13. Sprayberry lost at Kennesaw Mountain 48-27.

(MDJ game coverage.)

Wheeler, Walker and Kell were off. 

The schedule doesn't get any easier for Walton, which is 0-2 and plays its first home game next Friday against No. 5 North Cobb. 

Lassiter, 0-1, also is at home against Sprayberry (0-2). Pope (0-1) plays host to Wheeler (1-0) and Kell (1-0) is at Woodstock (1-1).

Walker (1-0) will be at North Cobb Christian (0-1) next Friday.