Multiple North Murray Stars earn all-region recognition including Seth Griffin being named 6-AAA Player of the Year.

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As the 6-AAA All-Region teams are released, North Murray has plenty to Celebrate. For the second time in three seasons, A Mountaineer has taken home the Regions Top Honor.

Seth Griffin has been named the Region 6-AAA Player of the Year. The Junior QB passed for over 2800 yards and accounted for 32 touchdowns on the season. Griffin helped lead the Mountaineers to their 6th straight playoff appearance.

During the season, Griffin threw for 7 touchdowns against Murray County. The 7 TD performance ties him at 3rd on the All-time Georgia High school record list with other notable stars Trevor Lawrence, Jake Fromm, Deshaun Watson, and Stetson Bennett.

Several Mountaineers were recognized on more than one team.

1ST Team Selections
Offense:
WR- Jadyn Rice
OL- Austin Johnson
ATH- Judson Petty
Defense:
DL- Devin Hunte
LB- Liam Rogers
P- Owen Hannah

2nd Team Selections
Offense:
RB- Ethan Dempsey
OL- Carson Manis
OL- Carson Gibson
K- Owen Hannah
Defense:
DL- Carson Gibson
LB- Ethan Dempsey
DB- Judson Petty

Honorable Mention
Offense:
WR- Michael McDade
OL- Ryan Maton
Defense:
DL- Carter Sanford
LB- Logan Gray
LB- Taylor Frazier
DB- Walker James

North Murray’s season comes to an end with a first-round loss to top ranked Monroe Area

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MONROE—The North Murray Mountaineers season comes to an end in the first round of the GHSA playoffs. The Mountaineers struggled to contain Monroe Area QB Selation Straughter as the Hurricane Offense racked up 58 points.

The North Murray offense struggled to gain any ground against a stingy Monroe Area defense. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, The Monroe Area offense did not struggle.

Monroe Area scored on their first five possessions.

The first drive for Monroe area ended with a 5-yard Jahlun Flud touchdown rush. Senior QB Selation Straughter added another touchdown on the Monroe Area’s next drive. The 6-yard Straughter touchdown put the Hurricanes up 14-0 late in the first quarter.

After a 3 and out by North Murray, Straughter hit Flud on a 39-yard strike to move the ball to Mountaineer 3-yard line to end the first quarter. Straughter punched it in from the 3-yard line on the first play of the second quarter.

On the next Mountaineer possession, Straughter intercepted a Griffin pass and returned it to the North Murray 13-yard line. The Straughter pick set up a Bradyn Sorrow rushing touchdown. The extra Point was blocked by the Mountaineers defensive front. Monroe Area was now up 27-0.

Monroe Area would add another score before the half. With 4:30 left in the second quarter, Straughter hit Flud from 10-yards out. Flud’s second touchdown of the night put Monroe Area up 34-0 at the half.

Monroe Area added 24 second half points before the reserves took over.

North Murray did not find the endzone until late in the fourth quarter. Seth Griffin hit Jadyn Rice on a 45-yard touchdown with 2:34 remaining. A couple of minutes later, Taylor Frazier returned a Monroe Area fumble for a touchdown. The Frazier touchdown came with just 17-seconds remaining capping the scoring at 58-14.

North Murray finishes the season 7-4, Monroe Area moves to 11-0 and will host Peach County next week in the second round of the GHSA playoffs.

Notes: Seth Griffin finished the regular season leading the State in AAA passing. Jadyn Rice Finished the Season leading the State in AAA receiving. Senior Owen Hannah finishes his career as one of the highest scoring Mountaineers in school history. This is the 3rd straight Senior class for North Murray where the Seniors made the playoffs all four years of their High School career.

M 14-20-17-7–58
N 0-0-0-14–14

SCORING:
1st
M- Jahlun Flud 5yd rush (Ricky Valdivanos kick)
M- Selation Straughter 6yd rush (Valdivanos kick)
2nd
M- Straughter 3yd rush (Valdivanos kick)
M- Bradyn Sorrow 13yd rush (PAT blocked)
M- Flud 10yd pass from Straughter (Valdivanos Kick)
3rd
M- Straughter 40yd rush (Valdivanos Kick)
M- Valdivanos 35yd field goal
M- Jakyri Jones fumble return (Valdivanos kick)
4th
M- Ja’Tavious Byrd fumble recovery (Valdivanos Kick)
N- Jadyn Rice 45yd pass from Seth Griffin (Owen Hannah Kick)
N- Taylor Frazier fumble return (Hannah Kick)

 

North Murray clinches playoff spot with road win at LaFayette

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LAFAYETTE—On a cold night in laFayette, The North Murray Mountaineers wrapped up the regular season with a playoff spot clinching win. The 30-21 Mountaineer victory secured the fourth and final playoff spot for Region 6-AAA.

It was a slow start for both offenses. The teams would trade several punts throughout the first quarter as the defenses silenced the offensive stars for both teams.

The North Murray offense got on the board first. Late in the second quarter, Sr. RB Ethan Dempsey broke an 11-yard touchdown through the middle of the Rambler defense. The Mountaineers would go for two, but would fall short. The failed attempt left the score at 6-0 in favor of North Murray.

The Dempsey touchdown would be the only score of the first half between the two teams. The Mountaineers would take the 6-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.

The second half began with some excitement. Ethan Dempsey returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back for a block in the back penalty. The Mountaineers would start the drive at their own 23-yard line.

North Murray QB Seth Griffin connected on long passes to Skyler Williams and Jadyn Rice, leading the Mountaineers to the Rambler 21-yard line. A couple of plays later Griffin hit Dempsey on a 21-yard touchdown. An Owen Hannah extra point put the Mountaineers out front 13-0 with 9:34 left in the third quarter.

An unsuccessful onside kick from North Murray gave LaFayette the ball at midfield. The Rambler offense went to work on the short field opportunity. Several Ross Martin runs quickly led the Ramblers down to the Mountaineer 25-yard line. LaFayette QB Jaylon Ramsey put the Ramblers on the board the next play. Ramsey made his way down the sideline 25-yards for the touchdown,bringing the score to 13-7 in favor of the Mountaineers.

The ensuing North Murray drive stalled and they were forced to punt. Luckily for the Mountaineers, they had Owen Hannah. The Hannah punt hit a LaFayette player and was then recovered by the Mountaineers at the LaFayette 20-yard line. After a couple of penalties stalled that drive, Owen Hannah came in again and drilled a 32-yard field goal. The Hannah field goal extended the North Murray lead to 16-7 with just 3:31 remaining in the third quarter.

On the next LaFayette drive the Ramblers were led downfield once again by SR. RB Ross Martin. A steady dose of Martin runs brought the Ramblers deep into Mountaineer territory. Austin Tucker capped the LaFayette drive with a 10-yard rushing touchdown. The Tucker touchdown cut the North Murray lead to 16-14 with 10:29 left to play.

The Mountaineers wasted no time in answering the LaFayette touchdown. North Murray used a mix of Griffin passes and Dempsey runs to move down to the LaFayette 1-yard line in just a little over 4-minutes. Griffin stretched out for a touchdown from the one, and North Murray was up 23-14 with 6:01 to play.

A long kickoff return, aided by a facemask penalty on the Mountaineers gave LaFayette the ball at the North Murray 33-yard line. The Ramblers were backed up by a Carson Manis sack on Ramsey, forcing a 3rd and 34. Ramsey and Rambler receiver Sam Hall saved the drive by connecting on a 40 pass down the sideline for a first down. A few plays later, Ross Martin punched it in from 1-yard out. LaFayette drew to within two points at 23-21 with just 2:33 left to play.

The Mountaineers sealed the win on their next possession. Griffin hit Rice on a short pass and he forced his way down to the LaFayette 19-yard line. Ethan Dempsey would take it from there. Dempsey fought his way down to the LaFayette 7-yard line and then he took in on the next play. The Dempsey touchdown was his third of the game putting the Mountaineers up 30-21, and put the game out of reach for the Ramblers.

North Murray finishes the regular season 7-3 (5-3) and will play at Monroe Area next week in the first round of the GHSA playoffs. LaFayette finishes the season 4-6 (3-5) and 6th place in Region 6-AAA.

Notes: Jadyn Rice went over 1000-yards receiving on the season early in the game. Rice joins Landon Burrell (2019) and Connor Rice (2017) as the only 1000-yard receivers in school history. QB Seth Griffin entered Friday’s game with 2,419 passing yards and leading AAA for passing in the State. North Murray makes the playoffs for the 6th straight season. Ethan Dempsey ties a career high for touchdowns in a game with 3 (Southeast)

 

N 0-6-10-14–30
L 0-0-7-14–21

 

SCORING:

1st
No Score

2nd
N- Ethan Dempsey 11yd TD rush (2pt conv. Failed)

3rd
N- Ethan Dempsey 21yd Pass from Seth Griffin (Owen Hannah kick)
L- Jaylon Ramsey 25yd Rush TD (Jacob Brown kick)
N- Owen Hannah 32yd field goal.

4th
L-Austin Tucker 10yd rush TD (Brown kick)
N-Griffin 1yd rush TD (Hannah Kick)
L- Ross Martin 1yd Rush TD (Brown kick)
N-Ethan Dempsey 7yd rush TD (Hannah kick)

 

North Murray falls to Rockmart on the road 34-13.

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ROCKMART, GA.- Big performances by Rockmart’s Keyshaun McCollough and JD Davis powered the defending Region champs past North Murray 34-13 on Friday.

Play began with Rockmart fumbling away their opening possession of the game handing North Murray the ball at midfield.  The North Murray offense failed to reach the end zone and settled for an Owen Hannah field goal bringing the score to 3-0 Mountaineers. The Rockmart offense would capitalize later in the opening quarter when Keyshaun McCollough broke free for a 21 yard touchdown run putting the YellowJackets out front 7-3.

The Yellowjacket offense would find the end zone again early in the second quarter when Rockmart Quarterback JD Davis scrambled for a 9-yard rushing touchdown bringing the score to 14-3 in favor of Rockmart. The 9-yard Davis touchdown run was set up by a 35-yard Davis to Jakari Clark pass down to the North Murray 9-yard line.

Both teams would fail to produce anymore in the half and the two teams headed to the locker room with the Yellowjackets in front 14-3.

North Murray opened the second half with the ball and moved quickly downfield on passes from Seth Griffin to Judson Petty. The Mountaineers would find their way inside the Rockmart 20, but the drive would stall inside the red zone and North Murray would again walk away with an Owen Hannah field goal bringing the score to 14-6 Rockmart.

Rockmart wasted no time moving downfield on their next drive and capped it with a Davis to Dennis Sims 13-yard touchdown. The point after failed leaving the score at 20-6 in favor of Rockmart. Later in the quarter, Keyshaun McCollough would add his second rushing touchdown of the game bringing the score to 27-6 Rockmart.

The two teams would both add rushing touchdowns in the final stanza as McCollough found his way to pay dirt for a third time on the night, and Devin Hunte added a late 15-yard touchdown run for The Mountaineers to close out the scoring at 34-13 in favor of the Yellowjackets.

North Murray falls to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in Region Play. North Murray will host Southeast Whitfield next Friday night in a non-region matchup. Rockmart moves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Region play. Rockmart will be on the road next week at LFO.

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