Atlanta Middle School football wins district championships

Atlanta Middle School’s football programs wrapped up district championships last week with wins over the Tatum Eagles.

First Quarter - Atlanta received the opening kickoff, and got a big return, but fumbled the ball and Tatum took possession around midfield. Tatum put together a long drive and scored on a seam route. The Eagles added the 2-point run to make it 8-0. Second Quarter - Atlanta turned the ball over on downs, after a Brayden Thompson pass fell incomplete intended for Gaven Bumphus. The rabbit defense forced Tatum into a 3-and-out and took over in good field position after a short punt.

Kelvin Roberson got the Rabbs on the board with a nice 32-yard touchdown run. Thompson found Aiden Shields for the 2-point pass and the score was tied 8-8. On the ensuing drive, Shields recovered a Tatum fumble at the 46-yard line. On the first play KD Howell raced around the edge for a big run all the way to the Tatum 14-yard line.

Thompson found Roberson up the seam for a 12yard touchdown pass to put the Rabbs out in front 14-8. Just before the half, Aiden Washington took the ball away from a Tatum receiver for a nice interception. The Rabbs were unable to capitalize with little time left and took a 14-8 lead into the half. Third Quarter - Tatum put together a long drive that lasted the entirety of the third quarter and scored on an option play to tie the game up 1414. The Rabbs’ defense stuffed the 2-point try. Fourth Quarter - The Rabbits picked up one first down on their next drive but were unable to finish the drive turning; it over on downs. Tatum once again put together a 6-minute drive with their flexbone offense. Tatum punched it in with less than two minutes remaining to take the lead 20-14.

The 2-point pass attempt was incomplete. On the ensuing kickoff, Roberson sprinted to the edge, and set the Rabbs up in Tatum territory on a big return.

A couple plays later, Thompson rolled right, and found Roberson streaking up the sideline on the wheel route for a huge play. He was tripped up just inside the Tatum 10.

The Rabbs got into their jumbo formation on the next play. Roberson gets the ball to the one-yard line on the next play. Atlanta called a timeout with 16 seconds remaining. Thompson took the ball into the endzone on the QB sneak the very next play to tie the game. On the 2-point try, Thompson tossed to Roberson who got the edge and punched it into the endzone to give the Rabbits the lead with 15 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Tatum drive, Gaven Bumphus intercepted a Tatum pass, the Rabbits took a couple knees to end the game and capped off a great season with an undefeated district championship.

7B Atlanta 24 Tatum 6

Cole Hanner started the scoring with a 31-yard dash for the score. Cordemien Roquemore scored on a big run. Cole Hanner added a touchdown pass to Mason Gibson and Owen Thompson. Hanner also had an interception on defense.

8A Atlanta 44 Tatum 34

First Quarter - Tatum scored on their first play on a pass into the flats for a big catch and run to put the Eagles up 6-0. The Rabbits answered with a big drive of their own capped off by a 4-yard dash from TJ Rainey. Dre Simmons added the 2-point run to put Atlanta up 8-6. Second Quarter- Tatum answered the Atlanta score, aided by a pass interference call. A few plays later the Tatum receiver got behind the Rabbs’ defense for the score. The two-point run was good and Tatum was up 14-8. On the ensuing drive, Simmons got it going quickly, as he dashed around the left edge for a big 54-yard touchdown run. The 2-point run failed, to keep the score 14-14. Tatum put together another good drive and completed another pass over the top to take the lead 20-14. The 2-point run failed.

On the ensuing drive, Jamario Crawford got the Rabbs going on a nice run into Tatum territory. Simmons kept the ball around the right edge for a huge run setting the Rabbs up deep in Tatum territory.

Simmons found Breckin Wells on a slant route to put the Rabbs inside the 5-yard line.

On the next play, Simmons split out at receiver, catches the ball in double coverage and gets into the endzoneonapassplayfromJacobieSertuche.Sertuche found Rainey on the swing route for the 2-point completion. The Rabbs took the lead back 22-20 at the half. Third Quarter- Atlanta received the second half kick. Rainey got it going quickly on huge run deep into Tatum territory. A few plays later, Simmons scampers nine yards to the pylon for the score.

The 2-point run failed but Atlanta was up 28-20. Drake Fagan intercepted a Tatum pass on the next possession.

From there the Rabbs’ offense capitalized quickly, Simmons took the QB draw 64 yards for the touchdown. Jaylen Henderson caught a 2-point pass in the flats to put Atlanta up by two scores 36-20. Tatum answered on their next drive to put the score 36-26.

It did not take the Rabbs long to answer back as Simmons burst through the middle of the defense again, this time on a 54-yard run. He found Henderson again for the 2-point completion to make it 44-26 Rabbits. Fourth Quarter- Tatum put together a nice drive and got the 2-point completion to cut into the lead 4434. Atlanta turned it over on their next drive. Tatum moved the ball into Rabb territory, but the defense stuffed Tatum on a fourth-and-4.

Once again, the Rabbs turned it over on a fumble, but Hayes Highland gave the offense the ball back quickly with a nice interception. Simmons raced around the right edge, following offensive line, and a huge block from Rainey to pick up a much needed first down, allowing the Rabbits to get into victory formation, and take a couple knees to end the game.

Simmons finished the game with five touchdowns and more than 200 yards rushing. The Atlanta Rabbits’ eighth grade team captured back-to-back district championships.

8B Atlanta 18 Tatum 18

Jacobie Sertuche scored on a big run of 28 yards on the first drive. Noah Sheffield added two touchdowns on the ground.