Class AAAAAA Playoffs at a Glance
Region Champions: Thomas County Central, Brunswick, Woodward Academy, Marist, Langston Hughes, Rome, Roswell, Gainesville
Best First Round Matchup: Brunswick vs Houston County; Douglas vs County Allatoona
Round 1 Upset Alert: (For Region Champions): Brunswick
Toughest Road to the Title for a Region Champ: Woodward Academy
Our Final Four Picks: Thomas County Central, Gainesville, Langston Hughes, Rome
The Dark Horse: Alpharetta
Our State Champion Pick: Langston Hughes
The Langston Hughes Panthers seem to be the odds on favorite to win the Class AAAAAA State Title. But there are plenty of teams that have the talent to hoist the trophy come mid December. Perhaps the biggest story in this Classification this season is the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. After winning no more than five games in the previous five seasons, they jump up to Class 6A from Class 4A and win the region title and go undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2007.
The Gainesville Red Elephants are another team that has had a resurgence. After winning no more than six games the last six season, the Red Elephants also reeled off an undefeated season, their first since 2009. Some potential interesting second round matchups include Langston Hughes vs Blessed Trinity; Woodward Academy vs Lee County; and South Paulding vs Gainesville.
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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 South Paulding Spartans enter the playoffs winners of six of their last seven games. This is the 3rd playoff appearance in four years for South Paulding and the second straight year coach Eric Robinson has led the Spartans into the post season. They have defeated three playoff teams this season and are averaging 37 points per game. The Spartans defense is allowing 30.6 points per game. South Paulding boasts one of the top running backs in the state in Jamarion Wilcox. Through the first 9 games, Wilcox had rushed for 1,805 yards and 24-TDs. As a team, South Paulding has averaged 134 yards per game through the air and 245.4 yards per game on the ground. Wilcox has the benefit of running behind two Madden Sanker and Isaac Keene who have helped paved the way for the teams combined 2,209 rushing yards in the first 9 games.
The Sequoyah Chiefs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The 2018 appearance matched their deepest playoff run in school history, (the quarterfinals). The Chiefs have defeated two teams bound for the playoffs this season. They are averaging 16.6 points per game and their defense is allowing 21.6. Sequoyah is 3-2 in region play which encompasses their last 5 games. In both losses, the Chiefs were shut out. The Chiefs offense is predicated around the ground game. Through the first eight games, Sequoyah is averaging 118.3 yards per game on the ground against just 68.8 yards per game through the air. They only throws the ball on average of 9 times a game.
The Chiefs defense has been pretty darn good late in the season, save for the Rome game. They will need a big night again this week as they try to shut down the leading rusher in Class 6-A. The biggest question is whether or not Sequoyah can score enough points this week. We believe the Chiefs can keep this one interesting, but we believe South Paulding has too much on offense. Spartans by 10.
The Skinny
The Allatoona Buccaneers season seemed to be in peril after the first two weeks of their region schedule. Yet, the Bucs have righted the ship, winning their last four games of the season. This is the 13th consecutive season Allatoona has advanced to the post season; all under the direction of head coach Gary Varner. The Bucs are averaging 21.7 points per game while allowing 18.2. Allatoona has used a combination of an impressive ground attack combined with a stifling defense. The Bucs are averaging 180.9 yards per game on the ground and 74 yards per game through the air. Jayden Ponder has rushed for 1,267 yards and 8-TDs. The defense has shutout their last two opponents and even scored twice on defense last week.
The Douglas County Tigers are in the post season for the fifth time in six years under coach Johnny White. The Tigers enter the playoffs wining four of their last five games. Douglas County has defeated three playoff teams this season. They are averaging 30.5 points per game and allowing 22.2 points per game. The Tigers are averaging 237.2 yards per game through the air and 154.9 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Sire Hardaway has thrown for 1,944 yards and 13-TDs. Duece Alexander, Monte Gooden and James Johnson lead the team in receiving. The Tigers have intercepted 22 passes on defense.
This game features two teams who have contrasting styles on offense. Douglas county will need to find a way to bottle up Jayden Ponder and force Allatoona to pass the ball. On the other side of the ball, we aren’t sure Douglas County has faced a defense as tough as Allatoona’s since the faced Langston Hughes. We like the Bucs defense at home to carry them this week. Allatoona by 4.
The Skinny
Langston Hughes is in the post season for the third straight season. The Panthers have gone unscathed this season as they’ve averaged 53.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.6 points per game. Hughes has defeated six playoff teams this season. The Panthers are averaging 274.5 yards per game through the air and 224.8 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Prentiss “Air” Noland has thrown for 2,745 yards and 37-TDs. Four different receivers have caught 20 passes or more on the year. Justus Savage and Jekail Middlebrook have combined to rush for 1,617 yards and 22 TDs. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times and intercepted 10 passes.
The River Ridge Knights are in the postseason for the third time in school history and for the second time in three years. The Knights have won two out of their last five games and were shutout in their last outing. River Ridge averages 24.5 points per game and are allowing 22.7 points per game. Through the first 9 games, River Ridge is averaging 178.6 yards per game through the air and 136.3 yards per game rushing through 9 games. Quarterback Ethan Spector has thrown for 1,467 yards and 11-TDs in those 9 games, while Jackson Head leads the team in receiving with 39 receptions for 453 yards and 5-TDs.
River Ridge seems to be facing mission impossible. We wonder how the Knights can find a way to stick around. Langston Hughes has not really been challenged this season, so we’d like to see how they respond in a close game. River Ridge would really need to have success running the ball and forcing a few turnovers. This just seems like too tall of a task this week. We like Langston Hughes by four touchdown.
The Skinny
The Alpharetta Raiders got hot at the right time, winning five of their last six games. The Raiders are in the post-season for the seventh straight season and for the 12th time in 13 seasons. They will be looking to get out of the first round for the first time since 2017. Alpharetta has defeated four playoff teams this season. The Raiders have been putting up some impressive offensive numbers, averaging 310.6 yards per game through the air and 120.6 yards per game on the ground. Alpharetta is averaging 39 points per game and allowing 24.4. Quarterback Ben Guthrie has thrown for 2,905 yards and 35-TDs. Four separate Raider receivers have caught at least 30 passes this season.
The Shiloh Generals have won four of their last six games entering the playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs, the Generals are making their third appearance in the last four years all under Coach Tino Ierulli. Shiloh has defeated one playoff team this season. They are averaging 30.4 points per game and allowing 18.5. Offensively, Shiloh is averaging 196.2 yards per game through the air and 148.3 yards per game on the ground through 9 games. In that same 9 game period, Jeremiah Harden has thrown for 1,766 yards and 21-TDs. Myles Smith and Nazir Griffin are top targets for Harden, as the duo has combined for 82 receptions, 952 yards and 11-TDs. The Generals secondary has intercepted 10 passes on the season.
Both of these teams are looking to get out of the first round for the first time in a few seasons. Alpharetta’s Guthrie led offense has shown an ability to really light up the scoreboard. We know that Alpharetta will challenge the Shiloh secondary. How will Shiloh respond and disrupt the passing game?We believe Alpharetta has the edge here in quarterback play. We like the Raiders by 9.