Rivals Recap: Atlanta finale

The high school football regular season wrapped up in Georgia this week, with playoff spots being decided across all classifications. With so much on the line, there were plenty of quality matchups, including Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy vs. Atlanta (Ga.) B.E.S.T. Academy on Thursday night, and Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan at Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian on Friday. Pace ultimately came out on top in rather convincing fashion with a 29-6 victory. Rivals100 quarterback Davis Mills led GAC to a thrilling comeback victory over Wesleyan 35-31. Here are the best news, notes and observations from the two games.

I was impressed with...

If you only watch the NFL, it's easy to get used to quarterbacks operate a no-huddle, two-minute offense in clutch situations. When guys like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning lead their team down the field for a game-winning score in the fourth quarter, it's almost expected. But after and up-and-down game on Friday night, 2017 Rivals100 quarterback Davis Mills came alive late in the fourth quarter for GAC. After leading his team to a score to take the lead at 29-28 with less than five minutes left, Mills got the ball back with his team down 31-29 and just 1:21 on the clock. He promptly answered by leading his team 80 yards down the field, capping the drive off with a 44-yard touchdown pass with just :12 left on the clock. Mills was 6-of-8 passing on the drive and also had 16 yards rushing. The clutch performance was impressive to see, especially considering Mills plays on a team without any other FBS skill position players.

Class of 2017 four-star offensive lineman Andrew Thomas already has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and others and he was dominant while starting at left tackle on offense and defensive tackle on defense for Pace. Thomas is 6-foot-5 and close to 300 pounds but moves like a player much smaller. His athleticism and fitness level allow him to play both ways and I think he has potential to be an early impact player at the next level.

I was surprised by...

Class of 2017 prospect Deon Jackson played both ways for Pace Academy and was one of the most impressive players on either team. When he wasn't breaking up a pass or flashing impressive speed in running down players on defense, he was toting the ball on offense. Jackson weighed in at 5-foot-11, 182 pounds back in the spring, but looks even bigger now. Jackson will have to decide whether he wants to play offense or defense at the next level, but I think he has potential to play Power Five football as a running back or as a safety. He's waiting on his first offer.

Mills' main pass protector is Vanderbilt commit Devin Cochran, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound prospect who looks much improved over his form last season. Cochran still needs to improve his consistency as a run blocker, but he was very impressive while protecting Mills on Friday night. Vanderbilt jumped on Cochran early and he appears to be a very nice pickup for the 'Dores.

Mills will travel west to visit StanfordClick Blount said after the game that recent coaching changes at MiamiClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. have him taking a bit of a step back when it comes to recruiting, especially considering those two programs were two of his first offers. While he's being patient as both schools conduct their coaching searches, other programs like Notre DameClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and AlabamaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. will get Blount on campus this month.Here to view this Link. next week and the Cardinal continue to look like a very real option for him. Mills has said he plans on staying patient and won't be pressured by other quarterback dominoes falling, and the Cardinal appear to be content to wait him out. UCLAClick Blount said after the game that recent coaching changes at MiamiClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. have him taking a bit of a step back when it comes to recruiting, especially considering those two programs were two of his first offers. While he's being patient as both schools conduct their coaching searches, other programs like Notre DameClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and AlabamaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. will get Blount on campus this month.Here to view this Link. also remains a factor in his recruitment, as does MichiganClick Blount said after the game that recent coaching changes at MiamiClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. have him taking a bit of a step back when it comes to recruiting, especially considering those two programs were two of his first offers. While he's being patient as both schools conduct their coaching searches, other programs like Notre DameClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and AlabamaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. will get Blount on campus this month.Here to view this Link. and Michigan StateClick Blount said after the game that recent coaching changes at MiamiClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and South CarolinaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. have him taking a bit of a step back when it comes to recruiting, especially considering those two programs were two of his first offers. While he's being patient as both schools conduct their coaching searches, other programs like Notre DameClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. and AlabamaClick Pace Academy is loaded with talent in the 2017 and 2018 classes, including four-star wide receiver Trey BlountClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. (2017), multi-offer 2018 offensive guard Jamaree SalyerClick Other observations...Here to view this Link., 2018 defensive end/fullback Realus GeorgeClick Other observations...Here to view this Link. and 2018 wide receiver/defensive back Tony AddisonClick Other observations...Here to view this Link.. The school has done a nice job of producing talent in recent years, and it appears that trend will not only continue but improve.Here to view this Link. will get Blount on campus this month.Here to view this Link.. With the way things are shaping up, Mills will likely see how the coaching carousel shakes out, take another round of visits and then announce a decision next year.

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