We are previewing all of the 2020 GHSA playoff games. We now turn our attention to class 3A This will be a two-part series. This preview features games between Appling County – Upton-Lee, Greater Atlanta Christian – North Hall, Oconee County – Dawson County and Peach County – Thomson.
Best of luck to all of the teams competing on Friday night.
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The Skinny
The Appling County Pirates have advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Pirates bounced back after dropping their final regular season game to Pierce County. They will host the Upson Lee Knights who went on the road last week and won to reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005. We expect Appling County to have a little too much firepower this week on offense for Upson-Lee to keep pace. We like the Pirates by 20.
The Skinny
Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. The Spartans are now 10-0 for the first time since 2014 and will face a familiar foe in former region rival North Hall. The North Hall Trojans advanced to the second round for the third straight season. They will look to use their ball control offense to wear down GAC. These two teams have faced off the previous four seasons with GAC winning all of those games. We believe North Hall has closed the gap, but we like GAC at home. Spartans by 12.
The Skinny
Oconee County got past Westminster last week after a 21-day layoff. The Warriors advanced to the second round for the second straight season. Oconee County has a dynamic offense that features Jake Johnson at receiver/tight end and West Weeks who can line up on either side of the ball and make plays. They will face the Dawson County Tigers who got past Adairsville last week to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. The Tigers have a dynamic offense of their own led by quarterback Zach Holtzclaw. Dawson County should keep it close for the first half, but Oconee County is a little more explosive. Warriors by 13.
The Skinny
Peach County is in the second round for the tenth time in eleven seasons. The Trojans recorded their second shutout of the season and have yet to surrender more than 14 points in any game this season. They will host the Thomson Bulldogs who advanced to the second round for the sixth straight season. Thomson has now won five consecutive games and put up 60 points for the second time this year. The Peach County defense will certainly provide a stiffer task for Thomson this week. We believe Thomson will score more than 14, but it won’t be enough to keep pace with Peach. We like the Trojans by three touchdowns.