We are previewing all of the 2020 GHSA playoff games. We now turn our attention to class 2A This will be a four part series. This preview features games between Heard County – Union County, Fannin County – Pace Academy, Northeast – Toombs County and Fitzgerald – Oglethorpe County.
Best of luck to all of the teams competing on Friday night. As always, thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment and share.
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The Skinny
The Heard County Braves are the No. 2 seed from Region 5. The Braves are in the post season for the twentieth time in twenty-one seasons. Heard County Quarterback Maurice Fench has thrown from 1,119 yards and 11 TDs while Ashton Bonner has rushed for 763 yards and 9-TDs to help pace the offense. Meanwhile, Chief Borders leads the team in tackles with 54. Heard County has won two of their last three games entering the playoffs. The Braves are averaging 24.5 points per game while allowing 25.5. Heard County has defeated six playoff teams this season. Interestingly enough, all but one of their opponents is in the playoffs this season.
The Union County Panthers are the No. 3 seed from Region 8. Union County is in the post season for the seventh time in eight years. Keyton Chitwood and Kaston Hemphill have helped lead the way for the Panthers offensively this season. Union County has not defeated a playoff team this year and comes into this week winning only one of their last four games and did not score more than 14 in any of those contests. They are averaging 17.4 points per game while allowing 23.4. Those numbers tend to tell us that Heard County should be favored. We happen to like them by four touchdowns this week.
The Skinny
The Fannin County Rebels are the Region 7 Champions. The Rebels are in the post season for the third straight year. Fannin County also went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1995 and claimed only their third region title in school history. Quarterback Luke Holloway has thrown for 1,595 yards and 24-TDs and also rushed for 565 yards and 7-TDs. Caleb Postell has also added 413 yards and 4 TDs rushing. Jalen Ingram and Cohutta Hyde have combined to catch 52 passes for 1,051 yards and 21-TDs. Micah O’Neal leads the Rebels defense with 79 total tackles while Dalton Ross has recorded 8.5 sacks. Fannin is averaging 43.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 10.3. They’ve defeated five playoff teams this season.
The Pace Academy Knights are the No. 4 seed from Region 6. Pace Academy is in the playoffs for the seventh straight season. However in the previous four years, they have not made it out of the first round. Quarterback M.J. Morris spearheads the Knights offensive attack alongside Deuce Jordan in the backfield. Pace has defeated two playoff teams this season and come into this week winners of their last three ballgames. They are averaging 30.1 points per game while allowing 10.7. Pace is not your conventional No. 4 seed and we expect for them to be able to go toe-to-toe with Fannin County. We believe M.J. Morris will outduel Luke Holloway and help Pace with the upset. Knights by 6.
The Skinny
The Northeast Macon Raiders are the No. 2 seed from Region 3. Northeast is in the playoffs for the second time in three years. Quarterback Trayvion Solomon has thrown for 1,797 yards and 19-TDs. While Kalik Evans has rushed for 762 yards and 8-TDs to pace the offense. Northeast has won four of their last five games and are averaging 28.1 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing 22 points per game. Northeast has defeated two playoff teams this season.
The Toombs County Bulldogs are the No. 3 seed from Region 2. The Bulldogs are in the playoffs for the fifth straight season. They are led by running back Derrick Mincey (889 yards, 16-TDs) and quarterback Chandler Lynn (645 rushing yards, 845 passing yards, 14 Total TDs). Tank Morris leads the team in total tackles while Brannon Usher has recorded 22 tackles for loss. The Bulldogs have won their last two games entering the postseason. They are averaging 31.7 points per game while allowing 19.1. They have defeated four playoff teams this season. We believe Toombs will have just enough on defense to hold Northeast at bay. We like the Bulldogs by a touchdown.
The Skinny
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes are the Region 1 Champions. Fitzgerald is in the playoffs for the 21st straight season. They went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2009. Fitzgerald is averaging 33.2 points per game in offense while the defense is allowing 11.8 points per game. The Canes have defeated seven playoff teams this season.
The Oglethorpe County Patriots are the No. 4 seed from Region 4 and are in the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The Patriots are averaging 13.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 23.5 points. They have not defeated a playoff team this season. In their three wins they are averaging 32.3 points per game, however in their three losses they are only averaging 5.5 points per game. The Patriots will be overmatched against Fitzgerald. We like the Canes by six touchdowns.