Class 3A is up next as we continue our Georgia High School Football Semifinal previews. This is a unique semifinals as it pits Region 1 against Region 5 in both matchups as Cedar Grove hosts Appling County and Pierce County hosts Carver-Atlanta. Carver Atlanta has come on strong and is certainly the underdog. Meanwhile, Cedar Grove, Appling County and defending champs, Pierce County have been ranked in our poll all season long. We believe that Cedar Grove has enough on defense to carry them to the title, but will their offense be able to points up against a great defense this week?
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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 Cedar Grove Saints have advanced to the semifinals for the sixth time in seven years. The Saints avenged last year’s loss to Crisp County in the quarterfinals. Since losing their regular season finale, the Saints have outscored their three playoff opponents 156-16. On the season, they are averaging 43.9 points per game while the defense is allowing 12 points per game. Rashad Dubinion had rushed for 1,564 yards and 23-TDs, while coming into the quarterfinals, receivers Janiran Bonner, Bernard Mack and Trevon Ferrell had caught a combined for 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 16-TDs. Quinterio Lawson leads the defense in total tackles while Adonijah Green leads the team in sacks with 16.5 entering last week’s game.
The Appling County Pirates are in the semifinals for the first time since 2011 and for the third time in school history. Like Cedar Grove, Appling County dropped their regular season finale, but have since rebounded and have outscored their three playoff opponents 97-35. On the season, the Pirates are averaging 34.4 points per game and allowing 9.1 points per game. The Pirates have not allowed more than 20 points in a game this season.
This game features two of the better defenses in Class 3-A. Darris Smith and the rest of the Pirates should make it challenging for Cedar Grove’s freshman quarterback Elliott Colson. But the Saints have plenty of weapons to help Colson along. We like Cedar Grove this week on the strength of their defense by 8.
The Skinny
The Pierce County Bears are the defending Class 3-A champions and are in the semifinals for the third time in four years and for the third time overall. Pierce County has won seven straight games coming into this week and had shut out their first two playoff opponents. This season, Pierce is averaging 31.3 points per game and allowing 7.9. During the regular season, the Bears shutout five of their opponents. The bulk of the Bears offense does by way of the ground game, as they average 232.3 yards per game. They only throw the ball about five times per game. D.J. Bell has been the work horse on offense with 1,638 yards rushing and 21-TDs. Meanwhile, Donelius Johnson leads the Bears in total tackles and sacks and Daytin Baker leads the secondary with five interceptions.
The Carver-Atlanta Panthers have won their last eight games and are in the semifinals for the first time since 2017 and for the fifth time in school history. The Panthers have an explosive offense, averaging just over 150 yards per game through the air and over 300 yards per game on the ground. Bryce Bowens leads the way at quarterback and he is flanked by two one-thousand yard rushers in Jarveous Brown and Quintavious Lockett, while Tobias Robinson leads the team in receiving. Defensively, Devonte Amasiani and Dialo Mosley leads the team in total tackles, while Terrell Lightfoot leas the team in sacks. Carver is averaging 36.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.3
Pierce County’s defense has certainly been more dominant this season, but Carver’s offense is definitely a force to be reckoned with. It’s a long drive from Atlanta to Blackshear and we believe that will have an effect on the Panthers along with a stout Pierce County defense. We like the defending Champs by 9 this week.