Week-10 of the Georgia high school football season might be one of the biggest weeks of the regular season as there are many games that will help determine region seedings and even region titles in some cases. This is Part-II of our Georgia High School Football Previews, in which we look at eight of the more intriguing matchups across the state of Georgia. In this post, we are bullish on Class AA as we preview three of the top games in the classification. Previews include Jefferson County vs. Putnam County, Fannin County vs Chattooga, Fitzgerald vs Thomasville and a class 3-A battle as Cherokee Bluff hosts Dawson County.
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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 Jefferson County Warriors have shaken off a slow start to win their last five games. Jefferson County has done most of their damage on the ground this season, averaging 285.6 yards per game. The Warriors have only attempted 25 passes on the year. Quarterback Keyshawn Vaughner leads the team in rushing with 668 yards and 7-TDs, while sophomore Anthony Ruff is second on the team with 311 yards and 3-TDs. The Jefferson County defense is allowing 13.2 points per game and has sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times while forcing 17 turnovers.
The Putnam County War Eagles are 7-0 for the second consecutive season. The War Eagles have been white-hot on offense, averaging 42.4 points per game while allowing a paltry 7.8 points per game on defense. Putnam is averaging 148.6 yards per game through the air and 247.4 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Gerald Kilgore has thrown for 1,005 yards and 10-TDs. Running backs Cedarrion Brundage (525 yards, 8-TDs) and Ze’marion Little (488 yards, 4-TDs) lead the team in rushing.
This is another game that should determine first and second place in the region. Jefferson County has had the Warriors number in this short-lived series. However, the Putnam offense seems to be clicking on all cylinders this season. We like the War Eagles to breakthrough this week. Putnam by 8.
The Skinny
The Fannin County Rebels have won five straight games entering this Friday’s tilt. They are averaging 33 points per game while allowing 12.1. The Rebels are averaging 162.1 yards through the air and 210.7 yards per game on the ground. Quarterbacks Seth Reece and David Mashburn have combined to throw for 1,051 yards and 12-TDs. Reece also leads the team in rushing with 626 yards and 5-TDs. Cason Owensby, Andrew Waldrop and Carson Sands lead the Rebels in total tackles with a combined 192 total tackles. The Fannin defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times and have forced 19 turnovers.
The Chattooga Indians are also in the midst of a five game win streak. They are averaging 33.4 points per game while their defense is allowing 22.7. The Indians have only attempted 30 passes this season, but are averaging 300.6 yards per game on the ground. LaShaun Lester (822 yards 9-TDs) and sophomore Nick Hester (675 yards, 11-TDs) lead the team in rushing. Zander Cook (75 total tackles) and Rowan Burdick (54 total tackles) lead the defense. Cook also has a team leading 7 sacks while the aforementioned Hester has intercepted 4 passes.
From our vantage point, this game sets up as the de facto region title game, barring any surprise results the last two games of the season. Expect for the Fannin defense to keep this game close, but we like the Chattooga ground machine to grind out a victory. Indians by 6.
The Skinny
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes are winners of their last three games. They are averaging 24.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 11.2 points. The Hurricanes will rely heavily on the ground game with running backs Jakorrian Paulk, Sylon Davis and even linebacker E.J. Lightsey. Quarterback Sultan Cooper is a threat through the air, but don’t expect many pass attempts for the Canes this week. Fitzgerald’s defense, led by the aforementioned Lightsey, has not allowed more than 17 points in a game all season.
The Thomasville Bulldogs are also winners of their last three games. The only blemish on their record is a loss to Class 3-A No. 1 Oconee County. The Bulldogs are averaging 109.4 yards per game through the air and 217.1 yards on the ground. Quarterback Shannen White has thrown for 812 yards and 9-TDs while Malik Harper and Ricky Fulton have combined to rush for 1,347 yards and 20-TDs. On the season, Thomasville is averaging 29.5 points per game. The Bulldogs have recorded 31 sacks on defense with Ty Anderson leading the team with 12. They’ve also forced 15 turnovers en route to allowing 15.7 points per game.
This game should determine the region champ, although Fitzgerald still faces a formidable opponent in Cook. The big question is whether Thomasville can stymy the Fitzgerald rushing attack. We believe they can. Bulldogs by 9.
The Skinny
The Cherokee Bluff Bears are 7-0 for the second consecutive season and are looking to win their second consecutive region title in their short four year history. The Bears have been dominant on offense, averaging 52 points per game while the defense has been equally as stout, allowing 7 points per game. Cherokee Bluff is averaging 111 yards through the air and 268.7 yards per game on the ground. Running back Jayquan Smith has been the bell-cow for the Bears, rushing for 953 yards and 14-TDs. Meanwhile, the defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times and have forced 13 turnovers.
The Dawson County Tigers have won four consecutive games after a slow start to the season. The Tigers are averaging 192.7 points per game through the air and 124.1 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Zach Holtzclaw has thrown for 1,326 yards and 11-TDs. His main target this season is Bailey Dameron who’s caught 40 passes for 888 yards and 6-TDs. The Tigers defense is led by Kade Moledor who has recorded 62 total tackles including 4 sacks. Dawson County has recorded 16 sacks on the season and is allowing 22.2 points per game.
Cherokee Bluff has two games left on the schedule we believe could derail their region title plans and this is one of them. If the Bears can ground the Tigers air attack, they should have a good chance of winning this game. We like their chances. Cherokee Bluff by 8.