We are down to our last Georgia High School Football Semifinal Playoff Preview as we take a look at Class-A Private. This week’s matchups feature the Eagle’s Landing Christian (ELCA) Chargers hosting the Trinity Christian Lions while Fellowship Christian hosts Prince Avenue Christian. Trinity Christian has been steamrolling teams this season and already has a big win over ELCA, but expect the Chargers to keep this one a little close. Meanwhile, Fellowship Christian is looking for their second trip the finals while Prince Avenue Christian is the defending champions and have a very impressive aerial attack. We still like Trinity Christian to hoist the trophy in the end.
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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
For so long the ELCA Chargers have been the standard for Class A-Private. ELCA is in the semifinals for the tenth time in eleven years and for the 12th time overall. The Chargers have won five consecutive games and have outscored their two playoff opponents 91-35. On the year, they are averaging 27.4 points per game while the defense is allowing 21.2 The Chargers are relatively balanced averaging 140.8 yards per game through the air and 167.7 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Charlie Gilliam has thrown for 1,831 yards and 16-TDs while Brandon Hood has rushed for 1,300 yards and 17-TDs.
The Trinity Christian Lions are in the semifinals for the second consecutive season. (Trinity Christian has only been a GHSA school for four years.) The Lions have run away from all of their competition this season. They are averaging 53.2 points per game while allowing just 8.5 points. Their closest game was a 31 point victory over this week’s opponent, ELCA, back on October 1st. In their two playoff games, they have outscored their opponents 104-21. The Lions are averaging 298.4 yards per game through the air and 143.3 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback David Dallas has thrown for 3,307 yards and 41-TDs. His top receivers are Joshua Dallas (52 receptions, 1,043 yards, 14-TDs), Aaron Gates (39 receptions, 650 yards, 8-TDs) and Bryce Wilcox, (41 receptions, 597 yards, 9-TDs).
These two teams met earlier this year with Trinity Christian wining big. We believe this game will be a little bit closer, but we like the Lions to win again this week. Trinity Christian by three touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Fellowship Christian Paladins are in the semifinals for the second time in three years and for the third time school history. The Paladins are winners of their last eleven games. They are averaging 35 points per game while allowing 14.4. In their three playoff games, Fellowship has outscored their opponents 96-28. The Paladins are averaging 137 yards per game through the air and 153.7 yards per game on the ground. Through the first eleven games of the season, quarterback Caleb McMickle has thrown for 1,594 yards and 18-TDs. Josh Milhollin has been McMickle’s top receiver with 38 receptions for 708 yards. While through that same period, Nick Persiano leads the team in rushing with over 800 yards and 20-TDs. Meanwhile, Josh Cole leads the team in total tackles and tackles for loss.
The Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines are the defending Class-A Private Champions and are in the semifinals for the fifth time in six years and for the eighth time overall. Prince Avenue has won twelve straight games entering this week and have outscored their two playoff opponents 93-22. On the season, the Wolverines are averaging 46.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.9 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Philo has thrown for 3,819 yards, and has completed 72% of his passes with 42-TD. Philo’s top receivers this season have been Bailey Stockton (64 receptions, 1,041 yards, 15-TDs), Elijah Dewitt (59 receptions, 917 yards, 6-TDs) and Ethan Christian (36 receptions, 870 yards, 14-TDs).
Fellowship Christian will have to devise a scheme to slow down the air raid attack of the Wolverines. We believe this game will be high scoring but close. Prince Avenue has too many weapons. We like the Wolverines by 6.