Johns Creek football came out firing Friday night, building an early 14-0 lead against Lanier behind rushing touchdowns from Jake Blackwelder and Michael Hanley. Despite a strong start and competing for all four quarters, the Gladiators ultimately fell 43-14 as penalties and turnovers proved costly.
The Gladiators showed their offensive potential early, using the running game to establish momentum and put Lanier on its heels. However, costly mistakes and 105 penalty yards made it difficult for Johns Creek to sustain drives and maintain its early advantage.
Hanley led the Gladiators on the ground, finishing with nine carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. Blackwelder added 57 rushing yards on 11 carries and a score of his own. Through the air, Ben Feigin hauled in two receptions for 62 yards, while Akachi Nwizubo contributed one catch for 40 yards.
Defensively, Johns Creek was led by a tremendous effort from Dayo Nonye John, who recorded 18 tackles and a pass breakup. Nwizubo made his presence felt in the secondary with four tackles and five pass breakups, while Walker Edmondson finished with eight tackles.
Although the final score did not reflect the Gladiators' early momentum or their effort throughout the game, the team will look to learn from the costly mistakes and turn its attention to the next challenge.
Johns Creek returns home this Friday to face Alpharetta for Senior Night. The Gladiators will look to finish strong in front of their home crowd while honoring the senior class and its contributions to the program.
Next Game: Alpharetta at Johns Creek
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Johns Creek High School — Senior Night
