Game Recap: Mill Creek Takes Down Norcross 49-17

<p>In one of the biggest games in Gwinnett County, top-ranked prospect [player_tooltip player_id='34015' first='Caleb' last='Downs'] led his 1-0 Mill Creek team over to Norcross to take aon a talented Blue Devils team with lots of D1 talent. Mill Creek squeaked past Walton in the season opener, but looked like a true 7A title contender after dominating Norcorss on the road.</p>   <p>Here are some top performers from Mill Creek's big victory...</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='34015' first='Caleb' last='Downs'] - ATH - Mill Creek</strong></p>   <p>The elite athlete and Alabama commit showed why he's one of the top overall prospects in the country on Friday night. The playmaking defensive back made big plays all night on defense, offense, and special teams. An instinctual defender, Downs was all over the field and showed off his natural instincts not only in coverage, but against the run as well. He closed well on the ball carrier, sniffed out screens, broke up jump-balls and returned his lone INT back for a touchdowns. He was outstanding as a receiver, catching six passed on offense for 70 yards. He also scored one rushing touchdown in the victory. Overall, Downs played 95 snaps, made 10 tackles, caught 6 passes for 70 yards, had a rushing touchdown, and one pick-6. More importantly, Downs helped lead Mill Creek to a big win and a great 2-0 start to the season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1563529621475557377?s=20&t=4bM1Pe6ELSsoDw1F0Pk1pQ </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1563314920133120002?s=20&t=4bM1Pe6ELSsoDw1F0Pk1pQ </div></figure>   <p></p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327232' first='Hayden' last='Clark'] - QB - Mill Creek</strong></p>   <p>One of the more underrated QBs across the state, Clark showed poise, accuracy, and playmaking ability in Mill Creek's dominant win. Clark threw three first-half TD passes and made it look easy at times. He was smart with the football and showed enough mobility to escape the pocket and find a receiver down the field. He marched Mill Creek down the field early and often, got his playmakers the ball, and led his team to a big victory. He's clicking right now and off to a fantastic senior season. Against a talented Norcross defense, Clark threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the big victory.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1563309305813618688?s=20&t=4bM1Pe6ELSsoDw1F0Pk1pQ </div><figcaption><br></figcaption></figure>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='326298' first='Zion' last='Taylor'] - WR - Norcross</strong></p>   <p>It may have come in a losing effort, but it's easy to see the D1 talent he possesses. The Georgia Tech commit showed lightning speed on one particular play where he took an inside slant 80-yards for a score. He's quick, elusive, and has burst down the middle of the field. He's a dangerous runner in the open field and couldn't be tracked down by any of the talented Mill Creek defensive backs. Look for Taylor to continue scorching defenses throughout the 2022 season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1563310188652019712?s=20&t=4bM1Pe6ELSsoDw1F0Pk1pQ </div></figure>   <p></p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='34057' first='Lawson' last='Luckie'] - Norcross</strong></p>   <p>Like Taylor, Luckie had a solid game for the Blue Devils, but it came in a losing effort. Either way, it's easy to see why the in-state Georgia Bulldogs pushed so hard for his commitment. He has plenty of size at 6-foot-3 225-pounds and the ability to earn big yards after the catch. He runs well, can line up in multiple positions, and can be tough to bring down by just one defender. When he gets rolling, he's going to pick up yards in a hurry. He blocked well on the edge, and in the passing game, he's always a big target who can reel in the ball. He didn't have a perfect game, but he still stood out in a game full of D1 talent.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1563302871428280322?s=20&t=4bM1Pe6ELSsoDw1F0Pk1pQ </div></figure>

In one of the biggest games in Gwinnett County, top-ranked prospect Caleb Downs Caleb Downs 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Mill Creek | 2023 State GA led his 1-0 Mill Creek team over to Norcross to take aon a talented Blue Devils team with lots of D1 talent. Mill Creek squeaked past Walton in the season opener, but looked like a true 7A title contender after dominating Norcorss on the road.