We are previewing all of the 2020 GHSA playoff games. First up is Class 7A. This will be a four part series. This preview features games between Denmark – Discovery, Collins Hill – Alpharetta, Parkview – Camden County, and East Coweta – Marietta.
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 Denmark Danes are the No. 2 seed from Region 6 and are in the playoffs for the second time in only three years of varsity competition. The Danes made the jump from Class 4A to 7A this year. Denmark is averaging 21.1 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.8 points per game. They are led by quarterback Aaron McLaughlin. The N.C. State commit has a big arm and at 225lbs is tough to bring down in the backfield.
The Discovery Titans are in the playoffs for the first time in school history. They are the No. 3 seed from Region 7. Their four wins on the year is a program best. The newest Gwinnet County school is in their fifth year of varsity competition. Discovery does most of their damage on the ground behind running back Richard Seay who has 1,048 yards and 9-TDs on the season. Defensively, Jibran Hawkins leads the team with 10 sacks. The Titans have forced 11 turnovers. On the season, Discovery is averaging 17.9 points per game while the defense is allowing 31.6 points per game. If Discovery can use ball control on offense to keep Denmark and McLaughlin on the sidelines, we like their chances. We think the Danes quarterback will be a little too much for Discovery this week. Denmark by 15.
The Skinny
The Collins Hill Eagles are the No. 1 seed from Region 8 and are in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. Entering the playoffs, the Eagles have won four straight and during that stretch, they are averaging 38.5 points per game while allowing 13 points per game. Collins Hill is led by a pair of highly rated juniors in quarterback Sam Horn (2,550 yards, 27-TDs) and receiver Travis Hunter (91 receptions, 1,219 yards, 17-TDs.) Hunter has also intercepted four passes in the secondary. James Smith leads the defense with 11 sacks. Collins Hill has forced 20 turnovers on the season.
The Alpharetta Raiders are in the playoffs for the tenth time in the last eleven years. The Raiders are the No 4 seed from Region 5. Alpharetta has been up and down this year. They beat a top-10 team in Roswell, but then dropped the last game of the season to a then winless Etowah team. They are averaging 22 points per game on offense and allowing 20.7 points per game. These two teams did meet earlier this season with Collins Hill winning by 8. Alpharetta is a dangerous team especially defensively with Jaden Slocum anchoring the secondary. However, we think the Eagles are finding their stride. We like Collins Hill by two touchdowns this week.
The Skinny
The Parkview Panthers are the No. 2 seed from Region 4 and are in the post season for the sixth consecutive season. Parkview has lost two of their last three games after reeling off four straight wins. Through the first 8 games of the season, the Panthers have been led by the running back duo of Cody Brown (807 yards, 7-TDs) and Tyler Curtis (614 yards, 10-TDs). Jared Brown has emerged as the team’s leading receiver with 32 receptions, 616 yards and 8-TDs through eight games. Parkview is averaging 28.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 23.1 points.
The Camden County Wildcats are the No. 3 seed from Region 1 and are in the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Junior quarterback Joshua Brown has thrown for 1,338 yards and 13-TDs. His top receivers are sophomore Deonte’ Cole (40 receptions, 663 yards, 7-TDs) and senior Shawn Hardy (29 receptions, 446 yards, 3-TDs). Junior linebacker Jadin Jones leads the team with 72 total tackles while Hudson Tucker has 14 sacks on the season. Both Parkview and Camden County are storied programs and no strangers to success in the playoffs. We give the nod to Parkview, as Camden has to travel a long way from the friendly confines of St. Mary’s down in Southeast Georgia. We like the Panthers by 13.
The Skinny
The East Coweta Indians are the Region Champions from Region 2. The Indians are no strangers to the post season as this will be their 23rd appearance in 24 years. East Coweta enters the game winners of their last six games. The Indians are led by running back Jayden Bolton who now stands at 1,256 yards and 13-TDs. Amariyon Moss leads the team in receiving with 39 catches for 625 yards and 8-TDs. East Coweta is averaging 33.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 20.3 points per game. The Indians only loss this season was to Top-10 ranked Norcross back in September.
The Marietta Blue Devils are the Class 7-A defending State Champions. This season, the Blue Devils are the No. 4 team from Region 3. Last week, they got a big win over Walton to qualify for the playoffs. Before that game, Marietta had dropped their previous three matchups. The Blue Devils are led by Tyler Hughes at quarterback who has thrown for 2,349 yards and 24-TDs. Hughes also leads the team in rushing with 483 yards and 8-TDs. Marietta is averaging a healthy 30 points per game but allowing 36.5 points per game. Marietta’s air raid offense gives them a punchers chance, but we like East Coweta by two touchdowns this week.