Cedar Grove Blanks Pace Academy 49-0, Moves Back Into Region 5 Race.
Many scouts were on hand to wittiness the battle between The Cedar Grove Saints (4-2, 2-1) vs. The Pace Academy Knights (4-2,2-1). Cedar Grove was looking to carry on the momentum built on a 28-0 win against Towers last week, to keep pace in Class AAA Region 5. Where as Pace Academy was looking to bounce back after a loss to Westminster, last week. The battle in Region 5 is very tight fought, with 3 teams with 4-2 records, 1-2 in the region. Many called it a “Mini UGA Game” with both schools having at least 2 of their players committed to the University of Georgia. UGA Offensive Line Coach Sam Pittman was even in house, partaking in a very fertile recruiting atmosphere with a plethora of “already college sized” lineman on display. The Saints have a pair of offensive lineman committed to UGA in 3-star Justin Shaffer (6'6 325 pounds) and 4-star Netroi Johnson (6'5 330 pounds). Both schools have other highly-touted recruits committed to other schools. Tre Shaw is a 4-star Defensive Back committed to the University of North Carolina. Pace Academy 4-star Wide Receiver Trey Blount (6'2 190 pounds) and an offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (6'5 305 pounds) both are committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. Pace Academy has another offensive lineman in Jamaree Salyer (6'4 310 pounds), a major UGA target for the class of 2018.
The No. 9 ranked Cedar Grove Saints (Ellenwood, Ga.) put on an offensive clinic Friday Night against No. 4 Pace Academy (Buckhead, Ga.). Scoring a total of 12 touchdowns, The Cedar Grove Saints had trouble keeping the points on the scoreboard in the 1st half. The Saints scored 4 1st quarter touchdowns, all but 1 were negated by penalty flags. The Saints offensive line had running lanes open all night long for Jelani Woods, Grant Walker, and Darrell Neal, they just couldn't keep the holding calls to a minimum. Cedar Grove Sophomore Jadon Haselwood was the “hidden gem” in this game. He stood out over all the other highly-touted recruits on the field on the field Friday Night. He returned a punt 50-yards for a Cedar Grove score, after one of many 3-and outs by Pace Academy, late in the 2nd quarter.
He totaled 95 yards on Special Teams. Much of the same happened in the 2nd half as it did in the 1st half. Cedar Grove would capitalize on all of Pace's mistakes and turn them into to touchdowns, to eventually put the game far out of reach for the Knights. 3-Star Running back Deon Jackson (Duke commit) had a hard time finding running lanes, even behind the blocking of Thomas and Salyer. 2 of the best offensive lineman in the nation. Pace Academy and UGA Commit Trey Blount was only targeted twice the entire night on offense being used mostly on defense. He played Defensive Back, and even lined up at Defensive End for a few plays, across from hie friend and future teammate Netori Johnson. The Saints of Cedar Grove go to battle next Saturday night at Avondale Stadium at 7:30 against Stone Mountain, in hopes of keeping the winning streak alive in the Region 5. After a win like that against Pace Academy, they will move up the rankings.
Pace Academy will look to bounce back against McNair next Friday Night at 7:30 pm.
