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 Newnan – Harrison, Grayson – Tift County, North Gwinnett – Cherokee, and West Forsyth – Meadowcreek .
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 Newnan Cougars are the No. 2 seed from Region 2. They have only missed the playoffs twice in the last 18 years. Newnan started the season 9-0 before dropping the final game by one to East Coweta. Newnan quarterback Michael Maginnis has thrown for 2,210 yards and 21-TDs. Josh Harris leads the team with 43 receptions for 744 yards and 6-TDs while Bryson Moss and Aubrey Carter have combined for 1,140 yards and 23-TDs. Steven Carter leads the team with 59 total tackles. Newnan has sacked opposing quarterbacks 22 times and intercepted 9 passes. The Cougars are averaging 36.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.9.
The Harrison Hoyas are the No 3 seed from Region 3 and are making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance. The Hoyas won the Class 6A state title but were reclassified last season and found it tough sledding the first half of the season. Harrison has bounced back to win three of their last four games. On the season Harrison is averaging 21 points per game and allowing 18.7. However, in their last four games, they are averaging 30.2 points per game and allowing16.5. Harrison seems to have figured some things out in the second half of the season, but we expect Newnan to have too much offensively. We like the Cougars by 16.
The Skinny
The Grayson Rams are the Region Champion for Region 4 and are making their 14th playoff appearance in 15 years. Grayson went through the regular season undefeated and outside of a scare from Mill Creek, were rarely challenged on the scoreboard. Grayson was already a threat to make a deep post season run, but then they were blessed to land transfer Jake Garcia to add to the depth at quarterback. Garcia and De’yon Cannon have combined to throw for 1,506 yards, and 14-TDs. Running back Phil Mafah is a tough customer. He’s rushed for 1,080 yards and 18-TDs and also caught 9 passes for 169 yards and 2-TDs. Jamal Haynes and Jaden Smith are the team’s leading receivers and have combined for 64 receptions, 1,162 yards and 12-TDs. Grady Bryant leads the team in total tackles with 61. Grayson has sacked opposing quarterbacks 35.5 times and have intercepted 13 balls. The Rams are averaging 40.4 points per game while allowing 10.2.
The Tift County Blue Devils are the No. 4 seed from Region 1 and are in the post season for the fourth time in six years. Tift enters the game losing their last three and is averaging 17.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 21 points per game. Tyler Parker leads the team in receiving while Chrishon Stephens leads the team in rushing. Perhaps the most imposing player for the Blue Devils is Tyre West. The junior defensive lineman is as physical as they come and leads the team with 8 sacks. Even with a player of West’s caliber, the Blue Devils have a tough row to hoe. We like Grayson by 4 touchdowns.
The Skinny
The North Gwinnett Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed from Region 8 and are in the playoffs for the 17th time in 19 seasons. North Gwinnett has been up and down this season but enter this game winning four of their last five. Seth Anderson and Bobby Ezzard lead the team in receiving while Marcus McFarlane is the team’s leading rusher. Through nine games, Kemar Brown led the team in total tackles while Kayden McDonald led the team in tackles for loss with 27 in that same stretch. McDonald and Justin Watson were tied with 11 sacks each through nine games. Jordan Hancock helps anchor the secondary while Barrett Carter will draw a lot of attention at linebacker. The Bulldogs are averaging 27.4 points per game while allowing 11.7.
The Cherokee Warriors are the No. 3 seed from Region 5 and are in the playoffs for the fifth time in seven years. The Warriors started the season red-hot winning their first six games including a win that halted the state’s longest win streak over Cartersville back in late September. Quarterback A.J. Swann has thrown for 2,194 yards and 21 TDs. He has a trio of talented receivers in Adarrius Harshaw (47 receptions, 814 yards, 7-TDs), Brady Bocherer (37 receptions -529 yards, 7-TDs) and Hayden Shockley (27 receptions, 377 yards, 4-TDs). Keith Adams Jr. is one of the top running backs in the state with 1,313 yards and 14-TDs. He runs behind a very talented offensive line including future D-1 linemen in Nasson Simmons and Ryan Chandley along with an unsung hero in Derrick Battle. Braesen Parker leads the defense with 126 total tackles. Cherokee is averaging 28.9 points per game while allowing 17.1. North Gwinnett should be favored in this game, but we believe the Warriors have enough talent on offense to hang with the Bulldogs and pull the upset this week. Cherokee by 2.
The Skinny
The West Forsyth Wolverines are the Region Champions from Region 6 and are making their 10th playoff appearance in the last 11 years. West enters the game winners on their last five games and are averaging 24.8 points per game while allowing 17.7 points per game. Standouts on offense for the Wolverines include running back Daba Fofana and tight end Oscar Delp. In six games, Fofana had rushed for 708 yards and 8-TDs while Delp has 43 catches for 730 yards and 9-TDs through 9 games. Kobe Haynes leads the team in total tackles with 84 while Drew Southern leads the team in solo tackles with 53. The Wolverines have intercepted 13 passes on the season.
The Meadowcreek Mustangs are the No. 4 seed from Region 7 and are in the post season for only the second time in school history. Meadowcreek enters the game dropping three of their last four games on the season. They are averaging 25.5 points per game, but allowing 36.2 points. If West Forsyth is at full strength, we expect them to win this game handily. Even if they are not, we still like the Wolverines by 20.