FCA East/West Game features big defensive plays [VIDEO]

The Annual FCA East/West Classic was held on Thursday night at Cherokee Bluff in Flowery Branch. The game, which featured some fun rules on kickoffs, punts, and field goals, ended in a 14-7 final, as the East team earned the win.

While the teams were full of talent from tons of local schools, including on offense – it was the defense that shined. Right from the start, the first play from scrimmage featured a strip sack and scoop-and-score by the East team, as East Hall’s Jamyus Demory took it to the house for the early 7-0 lead.

Threatening again, the East team was turned away on their own fumble, as Lumpkin County’s Wolf Harbin knocked the ball loose to give it back to the West team.

The East again got the ball, and looked ready to score again when East Hall’s Jamarcus Harrison found his own Vikings teammate Chasen Jones for a big pass play, setting them up to start the second quarter in the red zone.

With a 1st-and-10 inside the 15 for East to start the second, the West defense made a huge stand. North Hall’s Buddy Clark was among those who came up with big hits. But it was Cherokee Bluff’s own Brett Pierce who intercepted Harrison at the 2-yard line, preserving the 7-0 score.

Chestatee’s Ben Plemons had the biggest offensive play for the West team to get across midfield with a 20-yard run, but no points came off that drive. To open the second half, Harrison kept for a 3-yd TD and the 14-0 East lead.

Plemons had another chunk play, but the ball was punched free at the end of the run, and the East team recovered. The turnovers continued, as Lane Morris of Banks County was intercepted on a deep ball thrown with precision to Cherokee Bluff’s Malcolm Millsap. East Hall’s Kymani Hester took it straight out of Millsap’s hands, again turning away the West.

The same thing occurred a bit later, as Morris threw a pass right in Millsap’s basket on a go route, and a juggled ball was collected by Flowery Branch’s Brooks Recinella, who had a big return on the interception.

The favor was returned as Harrison was picked off around the 10-yard line on a deep ball by Millsap. You couldn’t script a better ending to the game or for Millsap primarily. Playing on his home field in his last home game, he returned the pick 90 yards for a TD to avoid a shutout as the horn sounded. The game ended with a 14-7 East win.