We have reached the penultimate week of the Georgia High School Football regular season. This week in our Eight Greats Around the State, we take a look at games that will have a direct impact on region championships.
First up the Spalding Jaguars host the Perry Panthers. Both of these teams have put up big numbers this season, but can Spalding keep pace with the Panthers passing attack? Down in Southwest Georgia the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets will host the Lee County Trojans. No one has been able to slow down the Jackets so far, can Lee County and their star Ousmane Kromah be the kryptonite for TCC?
Down in South Central Georgia, the Valdosta Wildcats will host the Colquitt County Packers. Colquitt County has rolled through their schedule this season with a powerful offense. Can Valdosta’s ground game keep the Pack sidelined? Finally, in Middle Georgia, the Warner Robins Demons host the Jones County Greyhounds. Will Warner Robins lay claim to another region title or will the Greyhounds get a win over one of their former teammates?
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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
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Skinny
The Spalding Jaguars have already clinched a first round home playoff game and can clinch their first region title since 2003 with a win on Friday night. The Jaguars offense has been hard to stop this season as they are averaging 39.8 points per game. As a team, Spading is averaging 143.7 yards per game through the air and 212.4 yards per game on the ground. Senior quarterback Curt Clark has accounted for over 2,100 yards of total offense, as he has thrown for 1,282 yards and rushed for 839 yards. Cedric Evans has been the top receiver with 35 receptions for 612 yards and 8-TDs to pace the Jaguars.
The Perry Panthers are in search of their fourth consecutive region title and can clinch that with a win on Friday night. The Panthers have not lost since Week-1 when the fell to Class 6-A Houston County by a touchdown. They are led by quarterback Colter Ginn (1,530 passing yards, 11-TDs), running back Ahmad Gordon (1,032 yards, 20-TDs) and receiver Dakari Anderson (43 receptions, 662 yards, 1-TD). The Panthers are averaging 43.7 points per game. Perry’s defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 22 times, forced 17 turnovers and is allowing 20.2 points per game.
If Perry is going to win another region title, they will have to find a way to slow down Curt Clark, as he is the straw that stirs the drink for Spalding. Meanwhile, Spalding will need to find a way to harass Ginn and throw off his timing. This game should go down to the wire, but we like Perry edge Spalding out this Friday. Panthers by 4.
The Skinny
The Region 1-6A title is on the line on Friday as Thomas County Central looks to claim their second straight region title. The Jackets have now won 18 consecutive regular season games. This season, the Jackets defense continues to dominate, as they’ve posted four shutouts and are allowing just 5.8 points per game. Thomas County Central has forced 13 turnovers and sacked opposing quarterbacks 9 times. Junior linebacker Jayden Rubbo leads the team in total tackles (38) and tackles for loss (12). The Jackets offense is averaging just over 45 points per game and is averaging 147.5 yards per game through the air and 179.9 yards per game on the ground.
The Lee County Trojans are winners of their last four games entering this week. Their only loss came at the hands of Class 7A Colquitt County. The Trojans are averaging 44.6 points per game. The Trojans generate most of the offense with the ground game with 2,217 team rushing yards and are led by junior running back Ousmane Kromah. Kromah has tallied 1,124 yards and 13-TDs. Kromah also leads the team in receiving with 19 catches for 374 yards and 6-TDs. The Trojans defense is allowing 19.2 points per game and has sacked opposing quarterbacks 38 times this season.
Both of these teams have dominated region competition. For Lee County to go on the road and get the victory, they will need to get Kromah going. For Thomas County Central, they will have to contain Kromah and control the time of possession. We believe Kromah will get his yards, but believe Lee will come up a little short this week. Jackets by 6.
The Skinny
The Valdosta Wildcats enter Friday’s contest on a three game win streak. It’s hard to believe that this would be their first region title since 2016. Valdosta offense is averaging 407 yards per game with the bulk of that coming by way of the ground attack. As a team, Valdosta has rushed for 2,616 yards. Freshman Deron Foster leads the way with 620 yards and 8-TDs, but Todd Robinson (561 yards, 4-TDs), Shaekvious Wright (409 yards, 3-TDs) and Prince Jean (402 yards, 6-TDs) have all helped to shoulder the load. Jean also leads the team in receiving with 25 receptions for 366 yards and 3-TDs. On defense, Eric Brantley has been a tackling machine; racking up 79 total tackles, including 28 tackles for loss. Brantley also leads the defense with 10 sacks on the season.
The Colquitt County Packers ran their record to 8-0 after a big win over Lowndes last week. The Packers have now won 19 consecutive regular season games. Though eight games, Colquitt is averaging 453 yards of total offense with 254.6 through the air and 198.5 on the ground. Quarterback Neko Fann has thrown for 2,002 yards and 26-TDs while completing 62% of his passes. Ny Carr (46 receptions, 856 yards, 16-TDs), Zay Williams, (34 receptions, 539 yards, 5-TDs) and tight end Landen Thomas (24 receptions, 412 yards, 3-TDs) have paced the Packers receivers. Linebacker Nick Pace has recorded 88 total tackles, while the defense as a whole has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times.
Valdosta will have the advantage of playing in front of the home crowd, but we expect the Packers to travel well. Valdosta can win this game by controlling the clock with their ground game. They are going to have to harass Colquitt’s Fann into making bad throws. Easier said than done. We like the visiting Packers by a touchdown.
The Skinny
The Warner Robins Demons are winners of their last three games. The Demons are the two time defending State Champions. Their losses this season have only come at the hands of teams in higher classifications. The Demons are averaging 24.5 points per game this season, but that number increases to 31.6 points per game in their five victories. The offense is led by quarterback Judd Anderson, who has thrown for 1,675 yards while Isaiah Canion leads the team in receiving with 938 yards on the year. The Warner Robins defense is allowing 27 points per game.
The Jones County Greyhounds have won five straight games entering this week. They are averaging 39.8 points per game. The offense is generating 378.7 yards per game with 220.8 yards coming through the air and 156.9 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Devin Edmunds has thrown for 1,662 yards and 19-TDs. Tyler Stewart (33 receptions, 793 yards, 14-TDs), Jaivon Solomon (28 receptions, 471 yards, 4-TDs) and Zion Ragins (22 receptions, 391 yards, 5-TDs), are the top receivers to date. Ragins, Jaylen Dekle and Bruno Hicks have combined to rush for 687 yards and 8-TDs.
The Demons defense will need to find a way to slow down the pass happy Jones County attack. Meanwhile, Jones County will have to find a way to limit the lethal combination of Anderson to Canion if they are going to clinch their fourth region title in five years. Jones County might have a little incentive as Anderson started out the season as their starting quarterback. We expect a high scoring affair this week, but like the home town Demons to edge out the Greyhounds. Warner Robins by 5.