CPA Chops Down Peachtree in Opener

CPA Lions
Photo by Phillip Kemp

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CPA. defending 3A State Champs, went to Georgia to pick some peaches.

On Saturday night, in Suwannee, the Lions beat highly ranked Peachtree Ridge and, behind a punishing ground game, extended their unbeaten streak to 34 games.

Nothing came easy or pretty to either team, especially early, but at the end of an explosive second half CPA had pulled away to a 35-21 victory.

A Tale of Two Halves

CPA received the opening kick, and methodically marched downfield. The Lions drained half the first quarter on the 61-yard, 14 play drive that John Orr capped with a short touchdown run.

CPA was about to dominate this game, right? Not quite. The two defense dominated the rest of the first half, which ended with the teams combining, minus the opening drive, for just eight first downs and 110 yards.

But in the second half, the CPA ground game and defense took over, capitalizing on three Peachtree turnovers.

Wallace Barrett, the CPA sparkplug on Saturday (17 carries, 71 yards, 2 total TD), scored in the third on an 11-yard run to put the Lions up 14-0. Peachetree responded with a touchdown drive, making it 14-7 with 8:51 left in the third.

In less than four minutes the teams combined for twice as many points and nearly as many yards as in the entire first half.

But it didn’t end there.  Barrett burst out of the chaos on the ensuing kick and ran free for a 90-yard TD return that  put CPA back up by two scores, 21-7.

Peachtree never looked in control again, as CPA forced two fumbles, recovered one, and picked off two passes.

In the fourth, Orr (9 carries, 19 yards, 2 TD) scored again. The running of Barrett, Orr and Chip Omer (18 carries, 43 yards) just pummeled Peachtree into submission.

Zack Weatherly, not having the best night in the air (5 of 9 for 41 yards), also contributed in a big way on the ground. In th fourth, Peachtree managed to pull within a touchdown, making it 28-21. Weatherly, who gained 53 yards on three carries, took off on a play and went 44-yards into the end zone, to seal the win, 35-21.

The Lions In New Hunting Grounds

On Friday night CPA plays its home opener versus Knoxville Catholic. Knoxville is a new opponent for CPA, who has an almost entirely new schedule this year, as we went over in our 2015 season preview.

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