North Gwinnett Rolls Past Collins Hill

Updated 7:15 a.m., Sept. 17, 2011

Joseph Jones ran for three touchdowns Friday night as visiting North Gwinnett rolled to a 34-10 victory over Suwanee rival Collins Hill.

The Bulldogs (3-1) took a 20-10 halftime lead and added two scores in the third quarter to win their Region 7-AAAAA opener. Collins Hill fell to 1-3 with its third straight loss.

"It wasn't easy," North coach Bob Sphire said after the game. "I know the score looked like it was. Our offense was rough in the first quarter, but we played well in the second quarter."

Jones scored on runs of 2, 7 and 4 yards in the second quarter as the Bulldogs came to life after falling behind 3-0 in the first quarter.

Collins Hill cut the score to 14-10 in the second quarter. Tevin Holliday recovered a fumble in the end zone after QB Brad Johnson had hit Tyler Henderson on a 10-yard pass and run. The Eagles' other score came on a 40-yard field goal by Mitchell Blanchard.

Sphire praised Jones' running (68 yards, 13 carries) and his offense's versatility.

"Joe ran hard ... he made a lot of yards after initial contact," Sphire said. "He was primed for a breakout game (after a preseason injury.)"

Sphire also noted that seven North receivers had interceptions.

North's Jordan Washington recovered an Eagles fumble to lead to Jones' second TD.

North QB Scott Hosch was 19 of 28 passing for 203 yards and one touchdown. Jordan Parker led the Eagles in rushing with 57 yards on 15 carries.

Donnie Miles had a 14-yard TD run in the third quarter for the Bulldogs, and Hosch connected with Chad Scott on a 24-yard TD pass with 5:04 to play in the third quarter for North's other scores.

Since losing to top-ranked McEachern in the season opener, North Gwinnett has won three straight by margins of 41, 18 and 24 points.

Next week, North is at home against Meadowcreek, while Collins Hill travels to Duluth.

Region 7-AAAA Standings

(Through Sept. 16, 2011)

Team          All Games          Region        

Norcross                 4-0            1-0

Mountain View         1-3             1-0

North Gwinnett         3-1            1-0

Peachtree Ridge      3-1            1-0

Duluth                     2-2              0-1

Collins Hill               1-3              0-1

Mill Creek                3-1             0-1

Meadowcreek          0-4             0-1

Suwanee games-Sept. 16

North Gwinnett 34, Collins Hill 10

Peachtree Ridge 55, Meadowcreek 6

Suwanee games-Sept. 23

Collins Hill at Duluth

Meadowcreek at North Gwinnett

Mountain View at Peachtree Ridge