We are previewing all of the 2020 GHSA playoff games. We now take a look at Class 4A. This will be a four part series. This preview features games between Cairo – West Laurens, Benedictine – Troup, Northwest – Stephenson and Riverdale – Cedar Shoals.
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 Cairo Syrupmakers are the No. 2 Seed from Region 1. Cairo has only missed the playoffs twice since 1994. Cairo enters the playoffs winners of their last four games. All of their losses have come against playoff teams. The Syrup Makers are led by Tay Solomon and Kevin Speed on offense. Cairo is averaging 21.1 points per game while the defense is allowing 20.3. The Syrupmakers have defeated two playoff teams this year.
The West Laurens Raiders are the No. 3 seed from Region 4. The Raiders are in the post season for the sixth time in seven years. In those appearances, they have at least advanced to the second round. In eight games, quarterback Bradley Wilson has thrown for 1,106 yards and 8-TDs while running back Cordarrian Hickman has rushed for 706 yards and 10-TDs. Jacob Holsey leads the team with 81 total tackles while Caden Snell has intercepted five passes in the secondary. West Laurens has defeated two playoff teams this season and is averaging 22.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 15.8. We believe West Laurens will have just enough on offense to pull off a minor upset and win on the road. Raiders by 4.
The Skinny
The Benedictine Cadets are the Region 3 Champions. They are in the playoffs for the tenth straight season. Benedictine won the region title this year by an odd circumstance. The Savannah area schools in their region opted out of a regular region schedule. So the GHSA awarded Benedictine the title since they had no control over the decision by the Savannah Chatham School System. Nevertheless, the Cadets have defeated four playoff teams this season. Holden Geriner has thrown for 1,694 yards and 17-TDs. Trent Broadnax is his leading receiver with 687 yards and 11-TDs while Justin Thomas has caught 25 passes for 508 yards and 5-TDs. Holden Sapp leads the defense with 77 total tackles and 8.5 sacks. Benedictine is averaging 37.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 26.1
The Troup Tigers are the No. 4 Seed from Region 2. Troup is in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. The Tigers had won six consecutive games before losing to Carver on a questionable officiating call last week. Freshman quarterback Teo Todd has thrown for 680 yards and 5-TDs and rushed for 1,392 yards and 11-TDs. Anthony Ferguson has added 714 yards and 6-TDs on the ground as well. The Tigers are averaging 29.9 points per game this season while the defense is allowing 14.8 points per game. Troup has defeated one playoff team this season. The biggest question we have will be whether or not Benedictine shows signs of rust after not playing a game in almost a month. If Troup can jump on them early, we like their chances, but ultimately, we expect the Cadets to win by a touchdown.
The Skinny
The Northwest Whitfield Bruins are the No. 2 Seed from Region 7. Northwest is in the post season for the seventh time in eight years. The Bruins have advanced to the second round only once during that span. Northwest enters the game winners of their last three games. Quarterback Owen Brooker has thrown for 2,107 yards and 18-TDs. His top two receivers are Ray Morrison ( 42 receptions 835 yards, 9-TDs) and Matt Redmond ( 47 receptions 684 yards, 7-TDs). Adrian Reyes has added 653 yards on the ground. Redmond ha also intercepted 5 passes in the secondary. The Bruins have defeated three playoff teams and are averaging 29.7 points per game while allowing 23.4
The Stephenson Jaguars are the No. 3 seed from Region 3. Stephenson in the playoffs for the 21stconsecutive season. The Jaguars opened up their season winning their first four games, but have since dropped their last two. Their defense has been the story, allowing 8.1 points per game and shutting out two of their opponents this season. The defense is led by linebacker Tommy Smith. Meanwhile look for offensive linemen Giovanni Agbo and George Jackson to help set the tone for the Stephenson ground game. The Jaguars have defeated one playoff team, but we believe they have the defense to go on the road and pull off an upset. Jaguars by 6.
The Skinny
The Riverdale Raiders are the Champions from Region 5. Riverdale is making their fourth playoff appearance in five years. In that stretch, they have not advanced past the 1st round. The Raiders come into this game winners of their last four games. More impressively than that is the fact that they have shut out all of those opponents. The Raiders have defeated two playoff teams this season and are averaging 30.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 7.6 points per game.
The Cedar Shoals Jaguars are the No. 4 seed from Region 8. The Jaguars are making their fourth straight playoff appearance and have advanced to the second round in each of the past two seasons. They are led offensively by running back Jerdavian Colbert (626 yards, 5-TDs). Colbert is also the team’s top receiver with 16 receptions for 224 yards and 1-TD. Linebacker Teryone Campbell is tops on the team with 57 total tackles. Cedar Shoals has won two of their last five games and have not defeated a playoff team this season. The Jaguars are averaging 13 points per game while the defense is allowing 23.8. We think Avaun Rucker and Riverdale will advance this week. Raiders by 24.