Class AAAAA Playoffs at a Glance
Region Champions: Ware County; Dutchtown; Northside Columbus; Decatur; Creekside; Cambridge; Calhoun; Jefferson
Best First Round Matchup: Ware County vs Jones County
Round 1 Upset Alert: Decatur; Ware County
Toughest Road to the Title for a Region Champ: Cambridge
Our Final Four Picks: Ware County; Jefferson; Creekside; Cambridge
The Dark Horse: Kell
Our State Champion Pick: Creekside
We believe that Class AAAAA might be the most wide open classification this season with a handful of teams with a legitimate shot at the title. The Defending 5A champ, Warner Robins, struggled early in the season, but has come on strong to close the season. Perhaps a team that no-one is talking about is the Cambridge Bears who won their first region title in school history with their only losses coming to Class 7A opponents. Of course there are the perennial powers that we believe can make a run, like Cartersville, Ware County, Coffee and Jefferson to name a few. But as we mentioned before, we just don’t know believe any one of these teams is a clear-cut favorite to win the title. We believe that makes for this being one of the more exciting brackets.
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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 Loganville Red Devils are back in the playoffs for sixth time in eight years. They’ve also won nine games in the regular season for the first time since 2008. The Red Devils are winners of five out of their last six games and have defeated four playoff bound teams this season. Loganville is averaging 30.6 points per game behind and offense that has generated 220.9 yards per game on the ground and 123 yards per game through the air. Running back Solomon Leslie has been the bell-cow for the offense rushing for 1,382 yards and 15-TDs while quarterback Johnny Crowe has thrown for 1,203 yards and 16-TDs. Defensively, Loganville is allowing 16.4 points per game and has intercepted 13 passes this season.
The Dalton Catamounts are back in the playoffs after a two year hiatus. Dalton has won three out of their last five games, but did drop the last two regular season games. They are averaging 29.4 points per game while allowing 31 points per game. The Cats have defeated two playoff teams. Offensively, Tyson Greenwade is the big offensive threat for Dalton. Greenwade has rushed for 1,839 yards and is averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Dalton has won three of their five road games this season.
Loganville will have their hands full trying to slow down Dalton’s Greenwade, but the have the luxury of playing at home. We expect for the Cats to have trouble slowing down Solomon Leslie this week. We like the Loganville Red Devils by 8.
The Skinny
After getting off to a slow start going 1-4 to open the season, the Decatur Bulldogs have reeled off five straight victories to claim their first region title since 2004. Decatur is in the post season for the fourth consecutive year. The Bulldogs are averaging 32.5 points per game and allowing 27.4. Through 9 games, Decatur is averaging 268.7 yards per game through the air and 143.7 yards per game on the ground. Senior quarterback Harrison Hannah has thrown for 2,267 yards and 18-TDs. His top receivers this season have been Kenric Lanier and Kedric Lackey who have combined to catch 79 passes for 1,503 yards and 13-TDs. The Bulldogs have sacked opposing quarterbacks 23 times this season.
The Harris County Tigers have made their way back into the post-season for the fourth consecutive year. It has been a battle of fits and starts for the Tigers as they were only able to win two games this season, but that was enough to qualify them for the playoffs. Harris County is averaging 13 points per game and allowing 22.3. They have defeated one other team that qualified for the post season. The Tigers are averaging 156.1 yards per game on the ground and just 59.1 yards per game through the air. They only attempt about 6 passes per game. Running back Miguel Sevilla is tops on the team in rushing with 736 yards and 2-TDs.
Decatur certainly is the hot team coming in this week with their five game win streak, but something tells us they need to be weary of this Harris County team. Expect for Decatur to stuff Harris County’s run game to force them to throw the ball. We believe this one is a little closer than some might think, but we do like Decatur to pull away late. Bulldogs by 10.
The Skinny
The Ware County Gators return to the post season for the 21st consecutive season. The Gators went through the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2014. They’ve defeated six playoff bound teams this season, including a pair of region champs. Ware is averaging 35.6 points per game and allowing just a touchdown per game. The Gators have held their last five opponents to a total of just 27 points. They have a balanced attack on offense, averaging 155.2 yards per game through the air and 159 yards per game on the ground. Dae-Jeaun Dennis and R.J. Boyd have combined to rush for 1,228 yards and 15-TDs to lead the way for the Gators ground game. Quarterback Nikao Smith has thrown for 1,750 yards and 19-TDs.
The Jones County Greyhounds return to the postseason for the 9th straight season. They have won four of their last six coming into the playoffs with wins over three playoff teams. The Greyhounds have some impressive wins on their resume this season including victories over Class 6A Northside Warner Robins and a victory over region champ Dutchtown. They are averaging 28.2 points per game while allowing 21.4. Offensively, Dutchtown is averaging 202.1 yards per game through the air and 136.9 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Judd Anderson has passed for 1,537 yards and 13-TDs. Zion Ragans (40 receptions, 513 yards, 3-TDs) and Geo Wade (39 receptions, 495 yards, 2-TDs) are the team’s top receivers.
Jones County has advanced past the first round for the three previous seasons. However this Ware County team will be one of the tougher first round opponents all season. If there is a team, that could knock off Ware, it could be the Greyhounds. They will have to take care of the ball if they plan to pull the upset as that has been a bugaboo for them. We like the Gators at home, but not by much. Ware County by 5.
The Skinny
The Chamblee Bulldogs will host a home playoff game for the first time since November 30, 2007. The Bulldogs jumped back into a region schedule this season and have gone 7-2 this season. They have won four out of their last five games as they enter the playoffs, and have defeated three playoff teams this season. Chamblee averages 39.3 points per game on offense, churning out 195.6 yards per game through the air and 152 yards per game on the ground, (through the first eight games). Offensively they are led by quarterback Fabian Walker who has thrown for 1,563 yards and 18-TDs through 8 games. His top receivers are Jordan Thornton, Levi Bradham and Tristian Sizemore. Defensively, Chamblee is allowing 16.1 points per game and has sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times this season.
The McIntosh Chiefs are back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Chiefs have won four of their last six as they enter the playoffs. They are averaging 27.3 points per game, but allowing 32.1. They have defeated three playoff bound teams this season. Offensively, McIntosh is generating 287.1 yards through the air and 192.7 yards on the ground per game. Quarterback Tate Morris has thrown for 2,871 yards and 22-TDs. Morris also leads the team in rushing with 939 yards and 3 rushing TDs. Marcus Malone joins Morris in the backfield and has rushed for 787 yards and 11 TDs. Malone has also caught 43 passes out of the backfield for 719 yards and 7-TDs while Tyler Elwell leads the Chiefs in receiving with 45 receptions for 800 yards and 4-TDs.
McIntosh has proven they can really throw the ball all over the yard, but the question in this one is whether or not they will be able to put pressure on Chamblee’s Fabian Walker to disrupt their passing attack. We expect this to be a high scoring game, but we like the Bulldogs at home by a touchdown.