Paulding Co vs East Paulding: Recap/Scouting Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a packed house at The Bone Yard to watch County rivals (6A) Paulding County Patriots take on the (5A) East Paulding Raiders. The Patriots entered the game 0-2, the #12 (5A) Raiders were 1-0 after upsetting North Paulding last week on the road 43-23. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots looked strong on their opening defensive series backing the Raiders up to their own 1 yard line and forcing them to punt from their own endzone. Paulding Co would take over with great field position inside the Raider 30 but were held to a FG try from the 23 yard line. East Paulding's <strong>"Wolf" Walker</strong> ('25 6'2 215), a Marshall LB commit, was able to get a hand up and block the attempt keeping the score 0-0 halfway through the 1st Quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Paulding was able to move the chains on their next series with some tough North South running from Senior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1080824' first='Javen' last='Parker']</strong> (5'9 190) before <strong>QB Chantz Bouknight</strong> ('25 5'10 165) took the keeper around the left side, weaving in and out of traffic, for a 61 yard TD, his 1st of two long TD runs on the night. <strong>End of 1st Q East Paulding 7 Paulding Co 0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders were able to extend their halftime lead to 17-0 with a 53-yard FG from Rice kicking commit <strong>Landon Shaffer</strong>, that would have been good from 58. Right before the half closed Bouknight hit Junior WR<strong> Jaymon Harris</strong> across the middle for a 38-yard TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829678607100522670","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829678607100522670 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paulding Co wasn't done and marched 50 yards in 1:22, aided by the long pass and catch below from Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1566569' first='Mason' last='Bryant'] to Junior ATH Andre Gianopulos, to set up a 33 yard FG for the Patriots as time expired. <strong>Halftime East Paulding 17 Paulding Co 3 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829679640048255464","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829679640048255464 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2nd half was all East Paulding. Bouknight scored on his 2nd long TD run, this one from 60 yards out, and Shaffer connected on a 36 yards FG to give the Raiders a commanding lead headed into the final stanza. <strong>End of 3rd quarter East Paulding 27 Paulding Co 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The young guys finished up the game in the 4th Q with highly touted freshman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='994376' first='Bode' last='Spence']</strong> throwing a 15 yard TD pass to round out the game. <strong>Final: East Paulding 34 Paulding Co 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Uncommitted Players that Caught my attention:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>East Paulding</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 QB Chantz Bouknight:</strong> The East Paulding QB is not the biggest guy in the room at 5'11 165 but he has the wheels. Has opened the 2024 season in breakout fashion accounting for 8 TDs in the Raiders 1st 3 games. Elusive in the backfield and has break away speed if he gets a crease. Has the speed to play SB/DB at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1080824' first='Javen' last='Parker']:</strong> The 5'9 190 RB is a work horse. Solid physical build that can get you 25-30 carries a game. Great North South runner that loves contact and moves the chains. The Region OPOY in '23 has offers from UMass, North Alabama and West Georgia and will be a solid addition to a program next Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 Brodie Burge:</strong> The Senior 5'10 195 LB is active in the middle. He was all over the place on Friday making tackles. Aggressive with good quickness and hard to get a had on. Had a bone crushing sack as seen below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829689092235206996","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NwGaFootball/status/1829689092235206996 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 Kewan Donald: </strong>The big NG is listed at 6'2 415 but plays a lot lighter. An absolute run stopper in the middle for the Raiders. Quick on his feet, gets off the LOS quickly and loves to tackle. The big man power cleans 315 and with a few seasons in a college weight/conditioning program he would be a force at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Paulding County Patriots </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 [player_tooltip player_id='1566569' first='Mason' last='Bryant']:</strong> The Patriot QB has good size at 6'4 202. Good pocket presence with roll out ability and is not afraid to tuck and run if need be. Accurate downfield passer that threw for 285 yards on 30 of 34 attempts in their Week 1 game vs Hiram. Bryant missed all of last season, slowing his recruitment, but is 100% healthy this year and has already caught the attention of a few programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'26 [player_tooltip player_id='681194' first='Andre' last='Gianopoulos'] :</strong> The 5'10 175 ATH is entering his 3rd Year as a Varsity starter for the Patriots. He accounted for nearly 1000 yards his freshman season and is a Swiss Army knife for the Patriots. He can line up in the back field and take the handoff or move to the outside and stretch the field with his speed. He picked up several MVP awards at off season Camps this off season and we fill like his recruitment will really pick up next Spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'25 Anthony Bell:</strong> The 5'11 160 WR has good speed and hands and is able to stretch the defense. Physical receiver that doesn't shy away from contact. Good router runner and does the little things well without the ball in his hands. Has picked up some next level interest lately with Bluffton being his 1st official roster spot offer. More to come for this young man. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/kingdombellz/status/1829683275545075886","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kingdombellz/status/1829683275545075886 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>'26 Riley Jeffries:</strong> The 6'0 160 multisport athlete makes a great slot receiver. Good hands and quickness and not afraid to catch the ball across the middle. A go to target in the Patriots offense that is able to pick up yards after the catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->