Third-ranked North Cobb came into its game Friday night as the highest-scoring team in Class 7A, averaging 40.9 points per game.
Playing in a steady rain, it took the Warriors almost a quarter and a half to find their way into the end against host Marietta. Once they did, they were unstoppable.
North Cobb (8-1, 4-0) scored on five consecutive possessions in the span of about two quarters and defeated the Blue Devils 35-9 to clinch the Region 3-7A championship for the second season.
Malachi Singleton accounted for all five of the Warriors’ touchdowns, passing for three and rushing for two. It was another dominant performance from the junior quarterback, who was 18-of-20 passing for 240 yards and rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries.
“He’s a program player, and he’s even a better kid,” North Cobb coach Shane Queen said. “He puts the team on his back. Thank God he’s only a junior and we’ll have him back for another year. Everybody gets 2 inches taller when he walks on the field, including the head coach.”
Singleton got North Cobb on the scoreboard with a 23-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 6:41 remaining in the first half, and his 30-yard touchdown pass to Sam Mbake with 1:12 left made it 14-0.
Two kick returns by Marquis Groves-Killebrew set up the Warriors for two more touchdowns early in the third quarter. His 35-yard return of the second-half kickoff gave North Cobb the ball at its 45, and Singleton scored on a 27-yard run five plays later.
Marietta was forced to punt on its next possession, and Groves-Killebrew returned the punt 24 yards to the Marietta 28. Singleton found DeNylon Morrissette for an 18-yard touchdown pass four plays later for a 28-0 lead with 6:30 left in the quarter.
Marietta answered that touchdown with one of its own, a 47-yard pass from Tyler Hughes to Luke Morgan two minutes later, and the Blue Devils appeared ready to get back into the game when they recovered the ensuing onside kick. Marietta drove deep into North Cobb territory and had first-and-goal at the North Cobb 9, but Hughes was stopped at the 2 on a fourth-down run from the 8, turning the ball over on downs.
North Cobb responded with the game’s signature drive, marching 98 yards in 18 plays, taking more than 10 minutes off the clock. Singleton’s second touchdown pass to Morrissette, an 11-yarder, made it 35-7 with 5:32 remaining in the game. Morrissette finished with 136 yards receiving on eight catches.
Hughes, who entered as the leading passer in Class 7A with 2,378 yards, went 19-for-34 for 196 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and he led the Blue Devils in rushing with 74 yards on 16 carries.
“It was raining, but we controlled the ball most of the night,” Queen said. “Tyler Hughes is a great talent, and coach [Richard] Morgan has one of the best programs in the state. We kept their guys in front of us except for one play. That’s what we stressed all week. We busted one coverage and they scored a touchdown. But we controlled the clock with our offense, and when you can keep [Hughes] on the sideline, you’ve got a better chance to win.”
The playoff situation for Marietta (5-4, 2-2) is unsettled heading into its final regular-season game next week against sixth-ranked Walton. The Blue Devils can still finish as high as second place or as low as a tie for the third, fourth and fifth spots.
North Cobb - 0-14-14-7 - 35
Marietta - 0-0-7-2 - 9
Second quarter
N - Malachi Singleton 23 run (Javier Morales kick), 6:41
N - Sam Mbake 30 pass from Singleton (Morales kick), 1:12
Third quarter
N - Singleton 27 run (Morales kick), 10:14
N - DeNylon Morrissette 18 pass from Singleton (Morales kick), 6:30
M - Luke Morgan 47 pass from Tyler Hughes (Ben Parrot kick), 4:36
Fourth quarter
N - Morrissette 11 pass from Singleton (Morales kick), 5:32
M - Safety (ball snapped out of end zone), 0:43
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