We move on to the second round of the 2A GHSA Football Playoffs. Last week, all of the #1 seeds advanced to the second round. Region 1 and Region 2 advanced 3 teams into the second round. This preview features matchups between Dublin-Bremen, Hapeville Charter-Swainsboro, Thomasville-Pepperell and Rabun County-Toombs County. Please let us know if there are any errors. As always, thanks for reading. Best of luck to all the teams competing this weekend!
The Skinny
The Dublin Fighting Irish were upset the last week of the season, but bounced back to defeat Early County Friday night. The Irish are in the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season. Dublin has been involved in some high scoring games this year. They’ve reached the 70-point mark three times this season and are averaging 46.9 points per game. Dublin is 6-1 against playoff teams this season.
The Bremen Blue Devils are in the third round of the playoffs for the third time in four years. The Blue Devils have won their last six games and earned their fourth shutout of the season. Bremen has defeated four playoff teams this season. The Blue Devils also gave Callaway a scare earlier this season. We believe the Bremen defense will keep them in the game, but we think the Dublin ground game will prevail. We like the Irish by 15.
The Skinny
The Hapeville Charter Hornets are making their fourth straight playoff appearance. Hapeville earned their fourth shutout of the season last week. The Hornets are only allowing 8.2 points per game this season. They are 5-1-1 against playoff teams and the loss and the tie came by teams who are in a higher classification.
The Swainsboro Tigers downed Harlem on the road last week and will travel to Atlanta this Friday. The Tigers stopped a two game skid to end the regular season and are in the second round for the second year in a row. In all of Swainsboro’s wins, they’ve held the opposition to 14 points or less. We believe that All-Region Player of the Year Kade Youmans and the Seabrough brothers give the Tigers a fighting chance, but we expect Hapeville to prevail. We like the Hornets by three touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Thomasville Bulldogs held off Dodge County last week to advance to the second round for the third straight season. Thomasville has now won five consecutive games. They’ve also defeated five playoff teams on the season.
The Pepperell Dragons are back in the second round for the third time in four years. The Dragons have now won four straight games. The Dragons are 5-2 against playoff teams this season. The Dragons have one of the best young quarterbacks (Gage Moses) in Northwest Georgia, but we like Thomasville and their quarterback Ronnie Baker to prevail at home this week in a nail biter…Bulldogs by three.
The Skinny
The Rabun County Wildcats are in the second round for the sixth straight season. The Wildcats earned their second shutout of the season and are now 6-0 against playoff teams. The Wildcats have not scored less than 34 points in a game this season. The 38 they scored last week ties their second “lowest” production in a game this season.
The Toombs County Bulldogs are in the second round for the second time in three years. Last week they held off Hephzibah to advance. The 34 points that Hephzibah scored are the most that Toombs has allowed all season. The Bulldogs have now won three straight and five out of their last six games. We believe Gunner Stockton and the Wildcats will be too tough to handle at home. We like the Rabun County by 20.