Pace Dominates Tigers in 30-Point Win

The clock finally struck midnight for the previously undefeated King's Ridge Tigers' Cinderella-like run as they as dropped their first game of the season, a 37-7 thrashing at the hands of the Pace Academy Knights.

It was a dose of reality for the first year GHSA Tigers, as they attempt to keep their playoff dream alive.

Pace Academy, a perennial Buckhead Region 5-A powerhouse has a mature football program and a student body over five times the size of King's Ridge. On the field, Pace suited up 40 players to King's Ridge 21. They started 10 seniors on both sides of ball to only three for the Tigers. Pace's edge in size, weight, experience and depth allowed them to control the line of scrimmage from the outset.

Pace jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on their first possession courtesy of a 29-yard touchdown toss from senior quarterback Will Brewster to D-1 recruit Josh Swan, also a senior, several plays after converting a third and ten. It was telltale, as the Tigers' defense allowed the Knight's to convert third and longs all night.

After a three and out by King's Ridge, Pace extended their first quarter lead to 13-0 -- after cashing in on a third and eight and a third and 14 -- on an eight-yard touchdown run by freshman tailback Denzel Franklin.

The Tiger's fumbled on their next play from scrimmage, setting up the Knights at the Tigers' 29. But the Kings Ridge defense stepped up, as Reade Midyette picked off a Brewster pass as he was under pressure from Will Aiken who came through undetected on a corner blitz. It was one of four impressive takeaways by the Tigers' defense on the night.

The best chance the Tigers had to claw their way back in the game came late in the first half. Trailing 20-0, a 40-yard completion from King's Ridge quarterback Jason McCoy to Devon Schmitt set up a first and goal. But the Tiger's couldn’t punch it in, coming up empty on fourth and goal from the four, as McCoy was sacked. The Knights then all but iced the game as Brewster hooked up with Ben Hayes on a 37-yard touchdown pass after converting a fourth and ten at mid-field, extending their lead to 27-0 at half-time.

The big plays of second-half both revolved around Pace's golden footed place-kicker, Arthur Omelian. The Ivy-League recruit, who gets 75 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, nailed a 50-yard field goal in the third-quarter, putting Pace up 30-0. But turnabout is fair play, and after a five-yard penalty backed Omelian 5 yards to the 35-yard line, his ensuing kickoff did not make it over the end line. Instead, Julian Champ electrified the home crowd with a spectacular 95-yard kickoff return down the left sideline for the Tigers only score of the night.

The Tigers get a bye next week before they play the top-rated team in their division, Wesleyan on the road October 8.