RINGGOLD, Ga. — A year after playing for a state title, Atlanta’s Carver High School looks like a legitimate contender for another deep run in the GHSA Class AAA football playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Ringgold Tigers, they were on the first step of the ladder for the Panthers.
Senior quarterback Bryce Bowens aired out his fifth touchdown pass of the game on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, leading the Panthers to a 44-28 first-round victory Saturday night at Don Patterson Field.
Bowens finished with 280 passing yards for the visitors, and Z’yeek Bowens had more than 200 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns for Carver (7-3), which earlier this season led 16-15 at halftime over Class AAAAAAA power Buford before losing 44-16. The Panthers, Region 5’s No. 3 seed this season, lost to Cedar Grove in last year’s AAA final.
Region 6 runner-up Ringgold (7-4) fought to the finish as freshman running back Haddon Fries ran for two scores and senior quarterback Ross Norman also ran for a touchdown and threw for another. The Tigers cut their deficit to 18-10 with 1:52 left before halftime when Norman connected with Ty Gilbert deep down the left sideline for a 48-yard score.