We move on to Class A-Public for our next Georgia High School Football Semifinal Playoff Preview. This week’s matchups feature the two-time defending champion Irwin County Indians hosting Wilcox County and Metter hosting brooks County. If Irwin and Brooks find a way to win, we will have an all Region-1 finals and a rematch of last year’s title game. Wilcox County is looking to get back to the state title game for the first time since 2009, when they last won it all, while a win by Metter would put them into the finals for the first time in school history.
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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 Irwin County Indians have won nine straight games and have advanced to the semifinals for the eighth time in nine years and for the sixteenth time overall. The Indians are the two-time defending Class-A Public Champions. Irwin County is averaging 39.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 14.4. In their three playoff wins, the Indians have outscored their opponents 114 to 49. The Indians average 121.8 yards per game through the air and 264 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Cody Soliday has thrown for 1,571 yards and 23-TDs, while running backs Demarkus Lundy (1,417 yards, 17-TDs) and Shane Marshall (682 yards, 6-TDs) pace the Indians on the ground. Five Irwin County receivers have caught at least 10 passes this season.
The Wilcox County Patriots advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2012 and for the eighth time in school history. The Patriots are winners of their last six games. The offense is average 25.7 points per game while the defense allows 21.5. In their three playoff games, the Patriots have outscored their opponents 79-62. While the scores might be close, the Patriots continue to find away to win. Quarterback Abe Stowe is crafty and can beat teams with his arm or with his legs. In the backfield with Stowe is Dayshawn Lawson. Lawson is a shifty running back who is dangerous in space but not afraid of the contact in between the tackles.
In interesting storyline coming into this week is that both starting quarterbacks are the son of their respective head coach. Wilcox County will need to make this a knock down-drag out low scoring game if they are gong to escape Ocilla with a win. It’s possible, but not probable. We like Irwin by 13.
The Skinny
The Metter Tigers went undefeated in the regular season for the second straight year and are in the semifinals for the second straight season and for the sixth time in school history. The Tigers have defeated all of their opponents handily this season, averaging 45.3 points per game while allowing 11. They have outscored their three playoff opponents 135-41. Most of Metter’s offensive production comes on the ground and they have several talented running backs to carry the load. Antwan Coney might be the best of the group, but don’t forget Danny Cheley, Josh Kelly and Kaliq Jordan who might be the toughest to bring down of the whole bunch. A win this week would put the Tigers into the finals for the first time in school history.
The Brooks County Trojans have now won eight straight games and are in the semifinals for the third straight year and for the eleventh time in school history. The Trojans have outscored their playoff oppositions 161-71. On the year, they are averaging 47.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.2 points per game. Brooks is averaging 172.9 yards per game through the air and 241.8 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Jamal Sanders has thrown for 2,043 yards and 25-TDs while Omari Arnold has rushed for 2,071 yards and 34-TDs. Sanders’ top receivers are Willie Brown and Tramaine Demps. Brown has caught 44 passes for 1,036 yards and 9-TDs while Demps has caught 25 passes for 565 yards and 12-TDs. Amar Thomas and Christian Edgerton lead the team in total tackles while Treyveon Jackson leads the team with 10.5 sacks.
Both of these teams have put up a ton of points this season, so we don’t expect that to stop this week. Metter’s bevy of backs will certainly be a problem for Brooks County. But we still believe the Trojans are a little more explosive on offense and like them in a close contest by 3.