Team Statistics

Tonight's Match-up - The North Gwinnett Bulldogs
3rd Round of the AAAAA Playoffs

When the Bulldogs of North Gwinnett step on Brodie Field for tonight's GHSA AAAAA quarterfinal match-up with Tift County, they will make history. For the first time in their program's history, the Dogs will play a 13th game in a single season.The No. 2 seed out of Region 7, North Gwinnett has only made it to the playoffs only 6 times since 1960, but has seen better times recently. The Dogs form Suwanee are making their third trip to the playoffs in as many years despite a revolving door at head coach. North Gwinnett has had four head coaches in the last four years. The current head dog is Bob Sphire. He was preceded by Matt Moore, who is now the Troy University offensive line coach. Last year, Sphire was the head coach at Lexington Catholic, an ultra-successful high school in Kentucky. Utilizing the spread offense, Sphires went 100-17 in his final 10 seasons and won the AAA state title last season. He was asked to interview for the quarterbacks coach at the University of Kentucky before coming to North Gwinnett. Sphire's new team is on quite a roll this year. North Gwinnett sports an 11-1 record with the only loss coming 31-10 at home against Norcross on November 10th. Nationally ranked Norcross is 12-0 ranked number 1 in Georgia and hosting Warner Robins tonight. Ranked No. 4 in the Atlanta Journal Constitution poll (Tift is No. 2) and No.6 in the GaSports.com/Coaches Poll ( Tift is No.3), the Bulldogs are fast gaining respect around the state. They were No.1 before the loss to Norcross. The Bulldogs are avenging 30 points a game on the offense and allowing opponents 12 points per game. Only twice has North Gwinnett been held to as low as 10 points. The Bulldogs have had two shutouts in the last month and allowed a touchdown or less five times. In the playoffs, North Gwinnett defeated Chattahoochee 21-17 before roughing up Region 5 champion Etowah 31-7 last week. Etowah had two first- half touchdowns called back on penalties in that game which was tied 7-7 at the half. Running back/ return man Tyler Jarry brought back the second- half kickoff 67 yards to Etowah 13 -yard line to set up the Dogs' go ahead touchdown. After ensuing Etowah possession ended in a punt, Bulldog wide receiver/return man Ryan McDaniel returned that punt 52 yards to Etowah's 15 setting up a North Gwinnett' s field goal that made the score 17-0 very early in the third quarter. Running back Evan Giles, who lead North Gwinnett in rushing with 18 carries for 84 yards, scored the third Bulldog touchdown. It came after a 55-yard, 9-play game-sealing drive. The last North Gwinnett TD came on a 25-yard Cameron Demps interception return. Sophomore quarterback Michael Tamburo is the Bulldogs' main man. The 16-year-old picked up 74 yards rushing on 11 caries last week and scored the team's only first half touchdown. He was 10 out of 13 for 110 yards passing the ball with one interception. Entering the playoffs, Tamburo (6'6'' and 165lbs) has completed 7- percent his attempts (150-214) for 1,674 yards, with 19 touchdowns. He was second on the team with 215 yards rushing and eight TD's. Tamburo's primary target is McDaniel (6'3'' 195lbs) senior. While complete statistics were not available by last Sunday evening's press time, McDaniel had 58 receptions for 808 yards and 13 TDs after just ten games.