We continue with our semifinal previews as we take a look at the Georgia High School Football 5A Semifinal matchups. The four teams that advanced are Creekside-Warner Robins and Calhoun-Blessed Trinity. The Calhoun vs. Blessed Trinity game is a rematch of a contest that Calhoun won down in Roswell on October 8th. Meanwhile, Warner Robins is the defending champs and will face perhaps the best defense remaining in class 5-A as they travel to Fariburn to play Creekside. We still like Warner Robins but there will be no easy path to a state title as all four of these teams are talented enough to win it all.
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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
The Skinny
The Creekside Seminoles are into the semifinals for the first time since 2013 and the third time in school history. The Seminoles enter the semifinals winners of their last three games as they have bounced back from the loss in their regular season finale. The Seminoles are averaging 151.9 yards per game through the air and 206.2 yards per game on thee ground. Quarterback Ny’Quan Lett has thrown for 1,961 yards and 22-TDs and has rushed for 639 yards and 8-TDs. Cameron Burch leads Creekside with 850 rushing yards and 15-TDs. Burch also leads the team in receptions while Derrick White leads the team in receiving yards (678) and receiving TDs (9). Vincent Hill is tops on the team in total tackles while Javeon Miller has recorded 22 sacks this season. The Seminoles have sacked opposing quarterbacks an astounding 64 times this season. Creekside has outscored their three playoff opponents 89-65.
The Warner Robins Demons are the defending Class 5-A champions and are in the semifinals for the fifth straight season and 18th time in school history. The Demons relied heavily on the ground game last week as JaFrederick Perry rushed for 291 yards and 5-TDs on just 14 carries. Perry has now rushed for 1,148 yards and a team leading 18 rushing TDs. The Demons are averaging 201.5 yards per game through the air as quarterback Christon Lane has thrown for 2,289 yards and 29-TDs. However, Lane only attempted 9 passes last week in the victory. Daveon Walker and Deuce Petty have combined to catch 88 passes for 1,711 yards and 22-TDs.The Demons are outscoring their opponents in the playoffs 137 to 58.
This game would make a fantastic state title matchup. The Demons seem to just plug and play with different running backs and still manage to get the job done. Creekside’s defense should keep this game relatively close throughout, but we believe Warner Robins is too explosive on offense. We like the Demons by 6 on the road.
The Skinny
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets advanced to the semifinals for the second time in four years and for the 15th time overall. The Jackets have bounced back from a regular season loss to win three straight en route to this year’s semifinals. They have defeated No. 1 seeds in consecutive weeks and have logged some pretty impressive mileage traveling from Calhoun to Waycross two weeks ago and last week over to Athens to face Clarke-Central. Calhoun is averaging 39.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.8 points per game. In their three playoff games, the Jackets are outscoring their opponents 115 to 70.
The Blessed Trinity Titans have won five straight games coming into this week and are in the semifinals for the fourth time in five years and for the sixth time overall. The Titans have also defeated two No. 1 seeds en route to the semifinals. Overall Blessed Trinity is averaging 31.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.2 points per game. They have outscored their three playoff opponents 118-40. Justice Haynes continues to prove he is one of the best backs in the state after rushing for 5-TDs last week.
This is a rematch of a region game that Calhoun won back on October 8th. The Jackets have plenty of offense but they’ll have to find a way to contain red-hot running back Justice Haynes. That’s much easier said than done, but Calhoun has plenty of weapons of their own. It will take a team effort, but we like Calhoun by 3 at home.