Class AA Playoffs at a Glance
Region Champions: Fitzgerald, Spencer, Appling County, Thomson, Callaway, South Atlanta, Rockmart, Fellowship Christian
Best First Round Matchup: Worth County vs Northeast (Macon)
Round 1 Upset Alert: Fellowship Christian
Toughest Road to the Title for a Region Champ: Spencer
Our Final Four Picks: Rockmart; Pierce County; South Atlanta; Appling County
The Dark Horse: Cook
Our State Champion: South Atlanta
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes are the defending Class AA champions and will look to get back to the finals to hoist the trophy for only the third time in school history. It won’t be any easy task as there are a few perennial powers that were reclassified into Class AA. That should make this tournament just as challenging to win, if not more as in previous seasons. Fellowship Christian might have the toughest first round draw for a No. 1 seed facing a North Murray team that can really light up the scoreboard. Some interesting potential second round mathups include Thomson vs Cook; Appling County vs. Northeast and ELCA vs Fellowship Christian. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Fitzgerald back in the final four, but we have them getting beat by Rockmart in the quarterfinals. Other teams that certainly have the pedigree to make a run at a state title include, Callaway, Pierce County, Appling County and Northeast. We are going with South Atlanta as the State Champ on the strength of their running game and Key’Juan Brown.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Skinny
The Putnam County War Eagles have now made it into the post season for the fourth consecutive year. Putnam County is 4-1 in their last five games, with their only loss during that stretch coming at the hands of Thomson, the region champion. The War Eagles have defeated four playoff bound teams this season. They are averaging 28.1 points per game on offense and allowing 11.9 points per game. They are a run first team, averaging 201 yards per game on the ground and 78.8 yards per game through the air. It’s been the duo of Tamarion Peters, (877 yards, 14-TDs) and Rashod Daniel, (471 yards, 5-TDs) that has led Putnam County on offense. Darrell Bland Jr. does lead the team in receiving with 24 receptions for 358 yards and 2-TDs. Jalon Kilgore has also had an impact on both sides of the ball this season for Putnam as he leads the team in total tackles (56), is tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions and is also third on the team in rushing and second in receiving.
The Toombs County Bulldogs are back in the post season for the sixth time in seven years. The Bulldogs have won two of their last five games entering into the playoffs with both wins coming in the las two weeks. They have defeated three playoff bound teams this season and are averaging 27.5 points per game and allowing 14.6. Toombs averages 195.3 rushing yards per game and 133.6 passing yards. Tank Morris, (633 yards, 12-TDs) and Tamarien McArthur, (629 yards, 6-TDs) have led the team in rushing this season. The Bulldogs throw the ball about 15 times per game. When they do go to the air, expect for Lagonza Hayward to be a primary target as he leads the team in receiving with 34 catches for 546 yards and 6-TDs.
As you can see in the stats, both of these teams will look to establish their respective ground game this week. Both teams will also use running back by committee. We believe Toombs County is battle tested in region play and should certainly be around in the 4th quarter. However, we like Putnam County at home by 2 on Friday.
The Skinny
The Northeast Macon Raiders have qualified for the post season for the third straight year and for the fourth time in the past five years. The Raiders are winners of four out of their last five games. Their three losses have come by a combined 4 points. They are averaging 40.5 points per game on offense and are heavily reliant on the ground game. The have racked up 2,783 rushing yards as a team this season with Nick Woodford getting the bulk of the carries. Woodford has rushed for 2,262 yards and 34-TDs. Johnny Williams helps anchor the offensive line that has paved the way for Woodford and the Raiders this season. Northeast is allowing 14.1 points per game on defense.
The Worth County Rams are back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Rams started the season red hot winning their first six games, but have gone 2-2 since then to close out the season. The Rams have defeated five playoff bound teams this year. Worth is averaging 206.5 yards per game through the air and 142.9 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Chip Cooper has thrown for 2,050 yards and 19-TDs. His top receiver has been Parker Weaver, (52 receptions, 605 yards, 7-TDs) and D’ontae Fulton, (51 receptions, 724 yards, 8-TDs).The aforementioned Cooper is second on the team in rushing with 599 yards and 12-TDs while frehsman Kaden Chester leads the team in rushing with 736 yards and 8-TDs.
The biggest question will be whether Worth County will be able to slow down the Northeast ground attack. This is a big offensive line for Northeast and we just don’t know if Worth will be able to scheme against them. We like the Raiders by 8.
The Skinny
The Fellowship Christian Paladins were reclassified up to Class AA this past offseason, but the jump in classification did not stop the string of seven consecutive post season appearances. The Paladins also won their fourth consecutive region title. Fellowship Christian got off to a slow start this season, losing three of their first five games, but they responded in the second half of the season with five straight victories to close out the regular season. They have defeated five playoff teams this season. The Paladins offense is averaging 28.3 yards per game and is led by quarterback Caleb McMickle and running back Conrad Givers. The defense is led by linebacker Kyle Elphick and is allowing 15.7 points per game.
The North Murray Mountaineers have also qualified for the post season for the seventh consecutive season. The Mountaineers have won three of their last five games entering the post season and have defeated two playoff teams this season. Going into last week, quarterback Seth Griffin was the the leading passer in Class AA with 2,411 yards through the air. His two top receivers are Judson Petty (894 receiving yards through 9 games) and Jadyn Rice, (915 receiving yards through 9 games.) The Mountaineers can surely light up the scoreboard, averaging 41.4 points per game, but their defense has also given up a healthy 35.7 points per game.
This game has the makings of a shootout. Fellowship Christian should be on guard against the high scoring Mountaineers. We believe the Fellowship Christian defense will find a way to get a stop when it matters most in this game. Fellowship by a touchdown.
The Skinny
The Cook Hornets have not missed the post season in the 21st century. The Hornets are winners of three of their last five games as they enter the playoffs. They’ve defeated five playoff teams this season. Cook is averaging 33 points per game and allowing 25.5 points per game. Through eight games the offense is averaging 118.8 yards per game through the air and 101.1 yards per game on the ground. Offensively, Drew Folsom and Jatorian Kennedy have helped to pace the Hornets.
The Ace Charter Gryphons are back in the playoffs for the second straight season. This has by far been the best season for Ace in their short five year history of football. Ace Charter closed out the season with a loss to region champion Spencer, but prior to that, they had reeled off four straight wins.The Gryphons are averaging 134.3 yards per game through the air and 208.4 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Kaleb Scarbary has thrown for 1,291 yards and 17-TDs. His top receivers have been Bryce Whitley (31 receptions, 625 yards, 8-TDs) and Sam Whitley (25 receptions, 507 yards, 7-TDs.) Running back Aaron Davis leads the team in rushing with 1,373 yards and 17-TDs.
The Gryphons have put up some big numbers offensively, but we believe the Hornets might be a step up in competition for them this week. We like Cook at home by 12.