Walton, Lassiter Turn Back Upset Bids

Friday was a wild night in Region 5-AAAAAA high school football action, and that's putting it mildly.

Wheeler had Walton on the ropes in what would have been the upset of the year, at least in games played in East Cobb.

At the same time in Alpharetta, Milton was rolling out to a big, and surprising, lead against undefeated and second-ranked Lassiter.

But as the games wore on, the favorites figured out how to get back in their games, and ultimately win them, in very different ways.

Walton got a touchdown run from Tyren Jones and a touchdown pass from Price Wilson to D.J. Smith to erase a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit and nip Wheeler on the road, 24-23.

Lassiter quarterback Eddie Printz threw for four touchdowns in the second half and 409 yards on the night as the Trojans finally prevailed at Milton, 47-30.

In the first half, Lassiter (7-0, 4-0), couldn't stop Milton running back Peyton Barber, who rushed for three touchdowns to guide the Eagles to a 23-6 lead.

But after the Trojans pulled to within 10 at halftime, Printz and company were in control. He threw 41 yards to Willie Police for a touchdown to give Lassiter the lead for good at 34-30 to the start of the fourth quarter.

In a game played at Wheeler, Walton (5-2, 3-1), needed most of the final period at Wheeler to take down the Wildcats (4-3, 1-3), who had one only one of its previous 11 games against the Raiders.

Jones, who rushed for 223 yards, scored on a 22-yard run to cut the margin 23-17. Then Wilson, continuing to start at quarterback for the injured Parker McLeod, found Smith open for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Antony Price's extra point for Walton provided the slender margin of victory.

On Thursday night, another raucous game involved East Cobb schools. Pope hung on to beat Sprayberry 14-12, but it was how the game ended that mattered the most.

With a minute to play, Yellow Jackets missed a 57-yard-field goal attempt by Rodrigo Blankenship, as the ball hit the crossbar and bounced short.

The win gave the Greyhounds a 5-2 overall record, and 2-0 in Region 7-AAAAA subregion B. The heartbreaking loss dropped Sprayberry to 2-5, 1-1.

But the playoff hopes for all East Cobb teams remain very much alive.

Kell was off this week.