Courtesy of Sonny Kennedy

They say success lives in Gwinnett County. And in the world of high school sports, that is especially true. The two Class AAAAAA regions made up predominantly of Gwinnett programs are like the Eastern and Western Divisions of the SEC, where the good teams are among the best in the state and the middling teams are good enough to win many other regions.

HEATED COMPETITION

In keeping with that reputation, Parkview and South Gwinnett were locked in a four-team tie for first place in Region 8 prior to last week’s games against Berkmar and Brookwood, respectively. The Panthers have already knocked off what is considered by many to be one of the best teams in the country in Grayson. The Comets, on the other hand, have won all of their six games by more than 13 points and their two losses were to Grayson and Norcross, two of the top five teams in the state.

South Gwinnett is led by quarterback Jordan Ramey and running back Josh Boyd. In a win over Archer on Oct. 26, Ramey threw for a score and ran for another.

Senior running back Chris Carson leads Parkview with 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Carson missed the Central Gwinnett game due to an injury, but returned last week for the Berkmar game.

Also returning to the Panthers’ sideline in the Berkmar game was quarterback Rob Young- blood, who missed all but the first three games of the season after breaking his collarbone.

GO WITH FLOWE

Parkview coach Cecil Flowe had to get medical attention in the loss to Central Gwinnett, but stalked the sideline last week and will be back again this week. Flowe had surgery in 2006 for an abnormal heartbeat and suffered similar symptoms during the game against the Black Knights.

The Panthers owned this rivalry, winning 10 in a row from 1993-2006, but South Gwinnett has won three of the last five. Parkview, however, took last year’s meeting 20-7. The Panthers lead the all-time series 20-9. Flowe’s program has won four state titles while the Comets have been to the playoffs in two of the past three seasons under coach John Small. South Gwinnett, however, has not yet won a state championship.