Class 2A is the focus of our next Georgia High School Football Semifinal Playoff Preview. This week’s matchups feature the Thomasville Bulldogs as they host the defending Class 2A state champs, the Callaway Cavaliers while the Swainsboro Tigers host the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes. Notably absent from the semifinals this week is Rabun County, who got beat soundly last week by Thomasville. The Callaway Cavaliers seem to be peaking at the right time as they look to make their second straight trip to the finals. Meanwhile, Swainsboro is looking to make their first trip to the finals in 21 years, while Fitzgerald is looking to get back to the finals for the second straight season.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Skinny
The Thomasville Bulldogs perhaps pulled the biggest shocker in the semifinals by downing Rabun County last week. The win puts the Bulldogs in the semifinals for the second time in three years and for the 19th time in school history. The Bulldogs are winners of eight straight entering this week’s matchup. Thomasville is averaging 32.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 15 points per game,. Quarterback Shannen White has thrown for 1,705 yards and 21-TDs, while Malik Harper and Ricky Fulton have combined to rush for 2,038 yards and 28-TDs. Defensively, Ty Andrson leads the team in total tackles and sacks. The Bulldogs secondary has intercepted 13 passes on the season.
The Callaway Cavaliers are the defending Class 2-A champion, but they lost a lot of experience to graduation. Despite graduation, the Cavs have managed to find themselves in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season and have advanced to the finals for the sixth time overall. Callaway has won their last six games coming into this week’s matchup. They are outscoring their opponents 30.7 to 18.2 on the season. The Cavs offense is powered by quarterback DeShun Coleman, receivers Carlos Billingslea and Andrew Locke and running backs Kier Jackson and Amarion Truitt. The defensive line is anchored by Elijah Gunn up front. Callaway has outscored their three playoff opponents 103-58.
After watching Thomasville’s game last week, it would be easy to dismiss Callaway with any chance of winning this week. But the Cavs are the defending champs, so we would never count them out. Callaway will need to rely on Elijah Gunn to help set the tone on defense if they want to pul the upset. It will be much closer than some would think, but we like the Bulldogs by 6.
The Skinny
The Swainsboro Tigers advanced to the semifinals for the first time in 21 years and for the fifth time in school history. The Tigers are winners of their last nine games entering their semifinals matchup this week. They are averaging 31 points per game and allowing 9.3 and in the playoffs they have outscored their opponents 101-29. The Tigers rely heavily on the rushing attack, averaging 300 yards per game on the ground and just 33.9 yards per game through the air. In fact, the Tigers only average 5 pass attempts per game. Quarterback Ty Adams leads the team in rushing with 1,719 yards and 23-TDs, while Demello Jones has rushed for 662 yards and 10-TDs and Qindarius Brown has chipped in 630 yards and 5-TDs. Jones is also the Tigers leading receiver with 14 receptions for 294 yards and 3-TDs. Jerrod Steward leads the team in total tackles (132). The Swainsboro defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 24 times and forced 18 turnovers this season.
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes advanced to the semifinals for the sixth time in eight years and for the fifteenth time in school history. The Canes are winners of their last four games and have won seven of their last eight games. This will be their third straight game against a No. 1 seed. Fitzgerald has outscored their three playoff opponents 64-27. For the season, the Canes are averaging 24.1 points per game while allowing 12.1. While their offense has not been prolific as it has been over the last few seasons, it has been efficient, relying heavily on the run, but Sultan Cooper has provided a threat to pass to keep teams honest. Primary running backs for the Canes include DeNorris Goodwin (who scored all three touchdowns last week), Sylon Davis and Jakorrian Paulk. Linebacker E.J. Lightsey is one of the top players in the state and leads the Canes defense.
We expect this game to be low scoring and briskly played as both teams rely heavily on the run. We believe Fitzgerald’s defense will be the key to victory this week and like the Canes by 8.