VARNELL, Ga. — The announcement over the PA system came seconds after Kace Kinnamon took a knee to finish off Coahulla Creek’s 37-16 home win over Gordon Lee on Friday night, and while the Colts’ fans stood and cheered, the players and coaches took it in stride.
The victory, which raised the team’s record to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in GHSA Region 6-AAA, set a program high for wins in a season in the Whitfield County school’s 11th year of varsity football. Third-year head coach Danny Wilson, while pleased with the Colts setting the mark, is focused on an even more lofty goal: earning a postseason berth.
“That obviously is good for our school and kids, but we’re more worried about that 3-0 record in the region right now,” said Wilson, who led the Colts to four wins last year, which was two more than in any other season. “It’s going to get tougher as we get going, but anytime you can be undefeated at this point in the region, it’s exciting.”
Kinnamon, a senior, completed 17 of 23 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns to lead a Coahulla Creek offense that rolled up 407 yards and scored on its first five possessions. His first two scoring passes went to Manny Dominguez (six catches, 99 yards), covering 5 and 51 yards.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night’s Chattanooga-area high school football games)
Those sandwiched a massive 21-play Gordon Lee drive that ate up more than 10 minutes, but the Colts held on two plays inside the 5-yard line to force a field goal.
“It was a momentum builder for sure,” Wilson said of the defensive stand. “It was a lesson that happens anytime you play the wing-T. It takes you a couple of series to get adjusted to it, but we did a good job after that first drive. Overall I thought we played better than I thought we could tonight.”
Five plays after the field goal, Kinnamon hit Dominguez for the big score to make it 14-3. The receiver caught a 20-yard pass and made two tacklers miss en route to the end zone. Coahulla Creek added a field goal as the half ended for a 17-3 lead.
Hopes faded for Gordon Lee (2-4, 1-2) just three plays into the second half when senior defensive lineman Hudson Mardis sacked Kade Cowan, forced a fumble and recovered it at the 29. Moments later, Kinnamon hooked up with Will Douglas for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
Kinnamon went 4-for-4 on the next drive, which ended with junior running back Karim Bradley scoring on an 18-yard run to make it 30-3. Bradley finished with 150 yards on 18 carries.
Gordon Lee’s usually potent ground game was limited to 177 yards, 60 coming in the waning moments with reserves in. Holt Roberts topped the Trojans with 60 yards on 17 carries, with Nate Dunfee adding 49 yards.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.