The Johns Creek Gladiators had several opportunities Friday to win comfortably over the Riverwood Raiders. However, mistakes and failure to execute in timely moments left the door open for the Raiders, who jumped at the chance to steal a victory, ultimately coming up short as Johns Creek won 40-32 in a Region 7-6A contest.
The Gladiators (4-1, 2-0) let two double-digit leads dwindle at the end of each half, and the suspense didn’t end until 1:26 remaining, when the Raiders (4-1, 1-1), attempting a game-winning drive from deep in their own territory, were called for holding in their own end zone, resulting in a game-ending safety.
That was after Gladiators led 38-25 with 4:37 remaining, but gave up a Raiders touchdown and then went three-and-out to give Riverside the ball with 1:41 remaining.
Earlier, in the first half, the Gladiators led 21-7 but gave up a pair of touchdowns in the final 51 seconds. After Jaden Harris’ 1-yard rush pulled Riverside to within 21-13. The Gladiators fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Raiders recovered on the Johns Creek 28. Three plays later, Raiders quarterback Avery Smith Zach Cigelski on a 1-yard pass to make it 21-19 heading into halftime.
“It’s just the little things,” said Gladiators senior quarterback Kyle Durham, who accounted for four touchdowns. “False starts, holding penalties here and there, turnovers — nothing we can’t clean up, though.”
The Raiders scored on the game’s opening drive, using six plays to go 68 yards, with Smith, committed to Toledo, scored on a 9-yard run to make it 7-0. Three plays into the Gladiators’ opening drive, on third-and-6, Durham ran 59 yards up the middle for a touchdown to tie the game with 8:42 left in the first.
With 9:00 left in the half, on third-and-1, Durham again ran up the middle of the field for a touchdown this time for 72 yards. With 2:24 left in the half, Thaxton Gallagher rushed 1 yard for the score to make it 21-7 before Riverside’s end-of-the-half run.
The Raiders would stop Johns Creek on the Gladiators’ first two possessions, but were unable to capitalize after turning the ball over on downs after both defensive stops.
With 4:09 left in the third, Durham hit running back Tylan Johnson for a 70-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-19, then added another touchdown their next possession when Durham threw another long touchdown pass, this one 46 yards to Josh Thompson with 1:16 left in the third to make it 35-19.
The Raiders would respond when Avery found Alan Reid for a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-25 with 7:21 left. The drive was kept alive on fourth-and-13 from their own 43 when Harris, also the team’s punter, faked a punt attempt and ran 15 yards for the first down. It was the first of two fourth-down conversions on the drive, with the other coming on fourth-and-2 from the Johns Creek 33.
On Johns Creek’s next drive, McRae Ball’s 30-yard field goal made it 38-25 with 4:37 left.
The Raiders would get their final points with 3:23 remaining on Avery’s 24-yard pass to Levi Linowes on third-and-17. When they got the ball back for their final drive, they started inside their own 1 thanks to a perfectly-placed Johns Creek punt.
The Raiders have already reached their win total from last year, when they went 4-5 and missed the playoffs for the first time in three years. They went 11-1 in 2019 and 8-3 the year before.
Avery was 31-of-43 passing for 391 with three touchdowns and no interceptions, also rushing 17 times for 57 yards and a score. Linowes was his leading receiver with 138 yards and a score on seven catches.
The Gladiators matched their win total from last season after also going 4-5, though they qualified for the playoffs a third straight year. They were 19-4 the previous two seasons. They were led by Durham’s 166 yards and two scores on 7-of-12 passing, and his 137 yards and two scores on just four carries. Johnson rushed 17 times for 124 yards to lead all rushers.
Riverwood 7 12 0 13 — 32
Johns Creek 7 14 14 5 — 40
R — Avery Smith 9 run (Tristan Garcia kick)
J — Kyle Durham 59 run (McRae Ball kick)
J — Durham 72 run (Ball kick)
J — Thaxton Gallagher 1 run (Ball kick)
R — Jaden Harris 1 run (kick failed)
R — Zach Cigelske 1 pass from Smith (pass failed)
J — Tylan Johnson 70 pass from Durham (Ball kick)
J — Josh Thompson 46 pass from Durham (Ball kick)
R — Alan Reid 7 pass from Smith (run failed)
J — Ball 30 FG
R — Levi Linowes 15 pass from Smith (Garcia kick)
J — Team Safety
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