Class A Division I Playoffs at a Glance
Region Champions: Irwin County, Swainsboro, Metter, Lamar County, Prince Avenue Christian. St. Francis, Darlington, Rabun County
Best First Round Matchup: Trion vs Commerce
Round 1 Upset Alert: Metter (vs.Temple)
Toughest Road to the Title for a Region Champ: Metter
Our Final Four Picks: Irwin County; Rabun County; Prince Avenue Christian; Brooks County
The Dark Horse: Commerce
Our State Champion: Prince Avenue Christian
This is looks like one of the deepest Class A playoff brackets that we have seen in a long while. Defending Class A Public Champion Brooks County will have their work cut out for them from the start. If the Trojans get past Bleckley County in the first round, a very explosive Lamar County team should be waiting for them. And then there is the potential to face a Commerce team that is playing really good ball with a stable of talented running backs. Of course we expect for Irwin County will certainly be a threat to win the title. They have been there and done that recently, with regards to wining in the playoffs. We like Irwin County and their ability to run the ball and play lights out defense.
Rabun County drops down to Class A DI this season and will look to finally get ofer the hump and make it into the finals for the first time in school history. We expect the Swainsboro Tigers to also have something to say about that as they seem primed to make a serious run this year under the guidance of Coach Scott Roberts. If the brackets fall the way that we believe, we could see a Swainsboro-Rabun quarterfinal game.
If we could be anywhere in the state this week for a Class A D-1 game, we’d likely be at Sam R. McCain stadium to watch the Trion-Commerce game. Trion has not Beaton Commerce in seven tries. We believe the Prince Avenue with their pass-happy offense, led by quarterback Aaron Philo will hoist the crown in Atlanta come mid December.
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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
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)