We are down to the last two weeks of the regular season and playoff races are really starting to heat up. In this week’s GHSA Football Preview we take a look at a few games that either have region title implications, or where the right to host a home playoff game is on the line. Matchups include Jefferson vs. North Oconee, Trion vs. Mt. Zion-Carroll, Cartersville vs. Calhoun, and North Hall vs. Cherokee Bluff.
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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 Dragons have one final test before they can claim their third straight region title. The Dragons have got a lift in the backfield with Sammy Brown moving over from Commerce in the off-season. Brown has rushed for 753 yards and 11-TDs and leads the team on the year. Tre Reece is second on the team in rushing, while quarterback Malaki Starks is third, but Starks has missed the last three games. The Dragons are only averaging about two pass attempts per game, yet are outscoring their opponents 39.3 to 8.
The North Oconee Titans are in search of their first region title since 2012. After going 1-3 in non-region play, the Titans have reeled off five straight wins but will certainly face their most difficult test as they travel to Jefferson on Friday. The Titans defense has shut out two opponents this season and is allowing 17.5 points per game while the offense is averaging 31.4 points per game. Over the last two weeks, Dominic Elder has rushed for 197 yards and 4-TDs.
On paper, this might look like a runaway for Jefferson, but we don’t know the status for Sammy Brown or Malaki Starks. Even without their offensive workhorses, the Dragons proved the could move the ball last week. We like them again this week by 19.
The Skinny
The Trion Bulldogs will look to clinch a home field playoff game this week as the Mt. Zion Eagles of Carroll County come calling. The Bulldogs have turned things around from a season ago with most of the improvement coming on defense. They are allowing just 9.2 points per game after giving up over 30 points per game in 2020. Offensively, Rob Brown has been the go to guy for the Bulldogs. Through the first seven games, Brown has rushed for 1,024 yards and 17-TDs. Through that same span of seven games, quarterbacks Luke Eller and Kaden Smith have combined to throw for 1,000 yards and 10-TDs with Linkin Farrar as the team’s go to guy at receiver. The Bulldogs are averaging just over 140 yards per game through the air and just over 215 yards per game on the ground.
The Mt. Zion Carroll Eagles will also be looking to secure a home playoff game if they can get a win on the road. Mt. Zion had won four straight games before running up against a buzz-saw last week in region leader Bowdon. The Eagles are averaging 30.5 points per game while allowing 22.1 this season. They rely more on the run as they average just under 200 yards per game on the ground while throwing for just under 80 yards per game. Offensive leaders for the Eagles include running backs Sherrod Montgomery, Malachi Ackles and quarterback Stanley Cross. All of whom are underclassmen.
While we have focused on offense this week, all of the pressure will be squarely on each defense to slow down these rushing attacks. We believe home field advantage is the difference this week, Trion by 3.
The Skinny
The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes are in search of their 10th region title in the past 11 seasons. The Canes are undefeated on the year and no one has been within 10 points of them since they defeated Class 7A Cherokee 24-14 back in mid-September. The Canes have relied a little more on the run this season, averaging 180.6 yards per game on the ground while throwing for 130.4 per game. Amari White and Malachi Jefffries have combined to run for 1,061 yards and 19-TDs, while Jake Parker has thrown for 1,034 yards and 13-TDs. The Cartersville offense is averaging 38.6 points per game on the year.
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets have won thiner last seven games and have not lost to a team in Georgia this season. The Jackets are averaging 43 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.5. Quarterback Christian Lewis spearheads on offense with plenty of weapons around him including Cole Speer, Gage Leonard, Peyton Law and Caden Williams among others. It will take a collective effort from all of the offensive weapons if they want to go down to Cartersville and get only their seventh win in 38 contests with Cartersville.
Earlier in the season we suspected that Calhoun was the better team, but Cartersville has certainly hit their stride, even without some of the star power that we are used to them having. In case you did not know, this one is for a region title; and we like the Canes at home by a field goal.
The Skinny
The North Hall Trojans have won their last five games entering this week. Yet this might be their toughest stretch of the season. The Trojans are averaging 32 points per game while the defense is allowing 21.5 points this season. It’s been almost all ground game for the Trojans as they are averaging 310 yards per game on the ground while just 28.9 yards per game through the air. Kevin Rochester leads the team with 1,101 yards and 14-TDs, while quarterback Bradford Puryear has rushed for 575 yards and 8-TDs. Jeremiah Telander leads the team in receiving and in total tackles. The Trojans have sacked opposing quarterbacks 15 times this season and forced 10 turnovers.
Cherokee Bluff has a chance to wrap up its second consecutive region title this Friday night on the road. As we wrote last week, the Bears have been dominant on both sides of the ball averaging 48.1 points per game while allowing 7.8. Last week Cherokee Bluff eked out a 7-point win over Dawson County. It was the closest game of the season as no one had been within 30-points of them otherwise. Last week, the Bears rolled up 408 yards of offense, but were kept in check on the scoreboard.
North Hall’s ground game, might be able to help neutralize the powerful Cherokee Bluff offense. Something tells us the Bears get back on track this week. We like Cherokee Bluff by two touchdowns.