Schools

North Georgia Academy Falcons Advance to National Championship Game

Diana McDaniel, a North Georgia Falcon's mother, tells how the Falcons defeated the Baton Rouge Christian Patriots and what's ahead for the team.

The North Georgia Falcons traveled to Panama City Beach, FL, earlier this month to play in the 2010 National Homeschool Football Tournament. The No. 2 North Georgia Falcons defeated the No. 4 nationally ranked Baton Rouge Christian Patriots, led by Division 1 quarterback Stevie Douglas, 59-24 in the semifinal round.

The Falcons were led by senior quarterback, Tim Howard, and wide reciever Riley Davis. Davis accounted for four touchdowns, catching two touchdown passes from Howard and intercepting two passes and running them back for touchdowns, one of them 95 yards. The win extended the Falcons unbeaten streak to 11 games and gave them an 11-0 record going into the NHFA Championship game against Maryland Christian later this month. Maryland Christian Saints Football, is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes team out of Bel Aire, Maryland and are the Mid-Atlantic Christian Conference Champions.

The Falcons scored on their first possession and went up 7 – 0.  That score held through out the first quarter.  The Falcons scored again in the second quarter to go up 14 – 0, however, Baton Rouge came back with the passing of quarterback Stevie Douglas who fired a 70 yard touchdown pass to their fleet-footed 4:2-40 wide reciever T.J. Dixon which brought them to within seven points of the Falcons. The first half ended with North Georgia leading 14-7.

Third quarter was an offensive show for both teams as Baton Rouge went on top early 21-14, but North Georgia adjusted their defense and began putting heavy pressure on Douglas that gave him little time to set up and throw.  This proved to be the formula in stopping his accurate cannon-arm passing.  North Georgia picked two of his passes and ran them back for touchdowns.  Falcon kicker, Brett Snyder added the extra points.  North Georgia goes up 28 – 21.  

Fourth quarter saw both teams score and stay within one score of each other until midway through when North Georgia's Riley Davis returned a Baton Rouge punt for the score.  Brett Snyder added the extra point.  Falcon defense held Baton Rouge at bay for the remainder of the game.  Quarterback Tim Howard threw for a couple of touchdown passes to Zane McDaniel and to Ryan Rivers for two more scores.  The extra points were Tim Howard to Zane McDaniel and that put the game out of reach for Baton Rouge.  

This was the hardest hitting game North Georgia has played this year.  Unfortunately, NG lost their No. 1 tackler, senior Ben Keeling, to a knee injury and senior kicker Brett Snyder with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus that will require surgery.  Baton Rouge also lost their wide reciever T.J.Dixon with a broken ankle.

With Keeling and Snyder out for the season, North Georgia will have to play their best game to diffuse the high powered Maryland team.  They are big, fast and well conditioned along with a lot of depth at every position.  Currently, they are 13-0 with numerous D-1 prospects on their roster.  This will be a tough defensive battle with a low score or a blow out.  Stay tuned.




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