It seems like just yesterday we were in August just getting the 2022 football season underway, but as we look a the calendar, we are now entering the final quarter of the regular season for Georgia High School Football. Region races continue to get a little clearer. As we do each week, we take a look at some of the more intriguing matchups around the state. This is Part I of our weekly feature, Eight Greats Around the State.
First up in Region 5-2A, it looks to be the de facto region title game as Callaway hosts Eagle’s Landing Christian. Both teams have shrugged off slow starts and look to be hitting their stride. Can ELCA keep up the pace offensively, or will Callaway continue their hot streak? Next in Jefferson, it’s another potential region title matchup as the Jefferson Dragons host the Loganville Red Devils. Loganville is off to their best start in school history, but this will certainly be their biggest test of the season. Will it be Jefferson’s Sammy Brown or Loganville’s Solomon Leslie that runs wild this week?
Down in Quitman, two teams that are very familiar with each other will face off for another apparent de facto region title game. Brooks County will host Irwin County. This will be the fifth meeting between these two squads since 2020. Will quarterback Jamal Sanders have an electric performance or will the Irwin County defense wear down Brooks County? Finally, the Sandy Creek Patriots host the Cedar Grove Saints. These are two of the best programs in Class 3-A. We expect the winner to go on to claim the region crown. Does Sandy Creek have enough firepower to match wits with Cedar Grove?
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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
It’s probably a misnomer to say that the Callaway Cavaliers got off to a slow start. Their first three games resulted in losses at the hands of teams in higher classification and to teams that have been ranked all season in their respective classifications. Since those opening three games, Callaway has won four straight and is seemingly one win away from clinching a playoff berth and another region title. While Callaway is averaging 29 points per game and allowing 19.4 in all of their regular season games; during their four game win streak, the Cavs are averaging 38.5 points per game while allowing 9.2. It looks like playing a challenging non-region title is paying dividends for Coach Wiggins and the Cavs.
The Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (ELCA) Chargers are winners of their last three games. Similar to Callaway, the Chargers are no stranger to scheduling a rigorous non-region slate of games. ELCA has been relatively balanced this season, averaging 181.3 yards per game through the air and 158 yards per game on the ground. Senior quarterback Charlie Gilliam has thrown for 1,249 yards and 14-TDs. Gilliam’s top receivers are Colton Hood (22 receptions, 441 yards, 6-TDs), R.J. Johnson (18 receptions, 195 yards, 1-TD) and the speedy Jacque Holley (14 receptions, 362 yards, 5-TDs). Meanwhile, sophomore running back Gavin Walker has had the hot hand as of late in the backfield. He’s rushed for 325 yards and 1-TD.
We believe this game will certainly play out as the de facto region title game. The Chargers have shown a propensity to put up a lot of points this season, we just don’t believe their offense is as potent as it his been the past few seasons. This game might turn into a defensive battle, when it’s all said and down. We like Callaway by 9 at home.
The Skinny
The Jefferson Dragons enter this week’s matchup on a three game winning streak. The Dragons have only allowed 7 points combined in those last three outings. Jefferson has leaned a little more on the run this season averaging 180.4 yards per game on the ground while passing for 142.9. Junior running back (and linebacker) Sammy Brown paces the offense with 831 yards and 9-TDs on the ground. Brown also has 6 receptions for 80 yards and 1-TD. Quarterback Max Aldridge has thrown for 949 yards and 12-TDs. Zay Minish has emerged as a go to receiver for Aldridge with 11 receptions for 151 yards and 1-TD. The aforementioned Brown also leads the Dragons in total tackles. Jefferson is averaging 29.1 points per game while allowing 13.
The Loganville Red Devils are off to their best start in school history, as the team has never won their first eight games. The Red Devils have relied more on the run this season as they are averaging 228 rushing yards per game while averaging 135 yards per game through the air. Running back Solomon Leslie leads the team with 1,095 yards on the ground and 12-TDs, while fellow senior back Mason Lawson has chipped in 340 yards and 4-TDs. Quarterback Johnny Crowe has thrown for 1,053 yards and 15-TDs. His go to receiver has been Nico Dowdell, who has caught 20 passes for 435 yards and 10-TDs. The Loganville defense is allowing 12.5 points per game. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times. Jason Eligwe leads the Red Devils in total tackles (49) and in sacks (5)
While Jefferson has yet to play Eastside, we believe the winner of this game will go on to secure a home playoff spot and perhaps the region title. Expect each team to focus on establishing the run this Friday night. We won’t sell Loganville short, as we believe the are legit. However, we like Sammy Brown to have a big game. Dragons by 8.
The Skinny
After almost a month of not playing a football game, the Brooks County Trojans got back on the field last Friday night at scored a big win over Class A Division II No. 1 Early County. The win pushed Brooks County to three consecutive wins. The Trojans only loss this season was a four point defeat at the hands of Class AA Cook County. Brooks County is averaging 36.3 points per game while allowing just 19.5. We talked about it last week, but the Trojans offense all starts with dual threat quarterback Jamal Sanders who has game breaking speed to run away from defenders and enough power to run through them.
Since dropping a Week-1 game to Class AA defending champion Fitzgerald, the Irwin County Indians have won five consecutive games. The Indians have a balanced attack on offense, averaging 165.7 yards per game through the air and 184.7 yards per game on the ground. Running back tandem Demarkus Lundy and Shane Marshall have combined to rush for 839 yards and 12-TDs to help pace the offense, while quarterback Cody Soliday has thrown for 991 yards and 9-TDs. The Indians are averaging 37.3 points per game while allowing 11.6.
These two teams are very familiar with each other, as this is the fifth time these teams will have met since the start of the 2020 season. They have played each other in the Class A Finals the previous two seasons, with each team winning once. Irwin County should be able to put up points this week, however, we believe Jamal Sanders might be too tough to handle at home. We like the Trojans by 4.
The Skinny
The Sandy Creek Patriots are winners of their last four games and are looking to claim their first region title since 2013. The Patriots have done something not many teams have done in the past few years, which is defeat Cedar Grove in a region game. Sandy Creek is averaging 171.8 yards per game through the air and 123.5 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Geimere Latimer has thrown for 1,374 yards and 17-TDs while also adding 388 yards rushing and 8-TDs on the ground. The Patriots defense is allowing 15.5 points per game. During their 4-game win streak, the defense is only allowing 9.7 points per game. The Patriots have sacked opposing quarterbacks 22 times this season, with linebacker William Lyles leading the way with 8.
The Cedar Grove Saints are winners of their last two games. The Saints went through a two game losing streak in which they dropped games to two of the top teams in the State’s largest classification. Cedar Grove is looking for the 6th region title in the last 8 years. Defensively, the Saints are allowing 20.5 points per game. Keith Bass and Quinterio Lawson lead the team in total tackles while Adonijah Green leads the team in sacks. Offensively, the Saints are averaging 32.8 points per game. Sophomore quarterback E.J. Colson has thrown for 1,470 yards and 14-TDs. Barry Jackson and Ricky Lee are Colson’s top receivers on the year.
While Cedar Grove still has to play Carver, we believe this game will determine the region champion. We believe Sandy Creek is sneaky good with Latimer at the helm at quarterback. However, it’s hard to pick against the Cedar Grove defense, especially with the schedule they’ve faced to date. We like the Saints by 10 on the road.