2008 GACA North/South Game
Dec. 29, 2008
Site: Columbus Memorial Stadium
Score: South 17, North 0
Series Update: This was the 65th GACA All-Star game. The South leads 33-28-4.
Personnel
Coaches
North
- Chase Vasser (Chestatee, LB, MVP)
- Clayton Mcintosh (Bremen, QB)
- Michael May (Buford, QB)
- John Wilson (Clarke Central, QB)
- Mike Tamburo (North Gwinnett, QB)
- P.G. Standard (St. Pius, QB)
- Sam Burkhalter (Blessed Trinity, RB)
- Cody Getz (Buford, RB)
- Warren Norman (Chamblee, RB)
- Daniel Drummond (Flowery Branch, RB)
- D.J. Adams (Norcross, RB)
- P.J. Greene (Rome, RB)
- Mckay Matthews (Athens Academy, SE)
- Derek Ramsey (Calhoun, SE)
- Brandon Brown (Cedartown, SE)
- Zack Mayfield (Habersham Central, SE)
- Matt Crisafi (Blessed Trinity, OL)
- Jay Stansbury (Bremen, OL)
- Kellen Williams (Brookwood, OL)
- Dallas Lee (Buford, OL)
- Robert Finke (Carrollton, OL)
- Bryant Meeks (Fannin County, OL)
- Jacob Mwinami (Grayson, OL)
- Joe Pfeffer (Marist, OL)
- Pax Vestal (St. Pius, OL)
- Chan Cash (Stephens County, OL)
- Izaan Cross (Flowery Branch, DE)
- Josh Jackson (Gainesville, DE)
- Ryan Robinson (Mill Creek, DE)
- Derrick Lott (North Cobb, DE)
- David Paulsen (Walton, DE)
- Duran Christophe (Woodstock, DL)
- DeDe Lattimore (Cedar Shoals, LB)
- Blake Southerland (GAC, LB)
- Jonathan Davis (Tucker, LB)
- Zack Crosby (Jefferson, DB)
- Dean Haynes (NW Whitfield, DB)
- A.J. Bouye (Tucker, DB)
- Stephon Shelton (Westminster, DB)
- Wade Brogdon (Brookwood, K/P)
South
- Greg Reid (Lowndes, RB/DB, MVP)
- Angelo Pease (Cairo, QB)
- Keenan Grissett (Cross Creek, QB)
- Darius Slay (Brunswick, RB)
- Reginald Bryant (Cairo, RB)
- Washaun Ealey (ECI, RB)
- Gerald Demps (Lowndes, RB)
- Xavier Bacon (Northside Warner Robins, RB)
- Kyle Griswould (Shaw, RB)
- Adrian Alexander (SW Macon, RB)
- Danny Madison (Westside Macon, RB)
- Melzie Johnson (Bainbridge, SE)
- Jamal Patterson (Henry County, SE)
- Tavarus Simmons (Peach County, WR/DB)
- Ryan Storms (East Coweta, C)
- Telvin Nash (Griffin, C)
- Ray Beno (Newnan, C)
- Nick Siemer (Camden, OL)
- Colt Kennedy (Coffee, OL)
- J.C. Lanier (ECI, OL)
- Johnnie Farms (Perry, OL)
- Kartavius Head (Brooks County, DT)
- Dexter Moody (ECI, DE)
- Jerico Brown (Glenn Hills, DE)
- Chris Crenshaw (Jefferson County, DE)
- John Drew (Northside Columbus, DT)
- Shayon Green (Tift County, DE)
- Neal Rodgers (Toombs, DT)
- Tay Irvin (Troup, DT)
- Jimmy Staten (Ware County, DE)
- Meshack Williams (Worth County, DE)
- Qua Huzzie (LaGrange, LB)
- Nigel Mitchell-Thornton (Stephenson, LB)
- Demery Hawkins (Toombs, LB)
- Julian Burnett (Westside Macon, LB)
- Deangelo Smith (Camden County, DB)
- Rashad Smith (Dublin, DB)
- Shawn Williams (Early County, S)
- Jemea Thomas (Fitzgerald, DB)
- David Clark (Warner Robins, P)
Game summary
South MVP Greg Reid of Lowndes provided the game’s two touchdowns by returning two punts for scores as the South won 17-0. Both came late in the second quarter on consecutive returns, with the first one covering 89 yards and the second going 78 with only 16 seconds remaining in the half. That proved to be all that the South needed as its defense ruled throughout. Reid played a big role in that by teaming up with safety Jemea Thomas (Georgia Tech commitment) to control the secondary.
Stephenson linebacker Nigel Mitchell-Thornton and Northside-Columbus tackle John Drew led things up front. Mitchell-Thornton’s fourth-down solo tackle on Buford’s Cody Getz at the South’s 41 early in the fourth quarter proved to be the North’s last real threat.
LaGrange linebacker Qua Huzzie clinched the shutout with a late interception, and Warner Robins punter-kicker David Clark was a factor throughout by pinning the North team back for much of the game. Clark kicked a 39-yard field goal in the fourth.
The North’s defense also proved to be stout. Georgia-bound linebacker Chase Vasser finished with two tackles for loss, with a couple of more jarring solo tackles to claim MVP honors for the North. Tucker linebacker Jonathan Davis and Buford tackle Dallas Lee combined for three tackles for loss, and Lee had a fumble recovery.
North Gwinnett’s Mike Tamburo led the game in passing, going 2-for-8 for 33 yards. Cairo’s Angelo Pease led the South’s passing with 23 yards, going 5-for-13. The majority of the plays were hammered away on the ground, where North’s Daniel Drummond picked up a game-high 57 yards on 13 carries. No other North back broke 20 yards. Xavier Bacon led all South rushers with 51 yards on six carries, and Pease had 48 yards on nine carries.