We have reached the final week of the regular season for Georgia High School Football. Some of the dust still needs to settle with regards to region champions and playoff seedings. That will all be decided on Friday night. Part I of our Georgia High School Football Previews includes matchups that will determine the region champion. Games include Darlington-Trion, Norcross-North Gwinnett, Coffee-Ware County and Alpharetta-Roswell.
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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 Darlington Tigers have won 18 consecutive regular season games and are on the cusp of winning their second consecutive region title. The Tigers closest game this season was an 8-point victory over Class 4A Northwest Whitfield. Darlington is averaging 38.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 15.6 points per game. Quarterback Jack Good has been extremely efficient this season throwing the ball, while D’Marion Floyd has helped to add balance in the rushing attack.
The Trion Bulldogs are winners of their last five games and are on the cusp of wining their first region title since 2003. The Bulldogs are averaging 155.2 yards per game through the air and 230.2 yards per game on the ground. Trion is averaging 39.1 points per game. Running backs Logan Eller (1,102 yards, 15-TDs) and Toby Maddox (756 yards, 13-TDs) lead the team in rushing. Maddux also leads the team in receiving with 31 receptions for 411 yards and 1-TD. Trion’s defense is allowing 11 points per game. They’ve shutout three teams this season. The aforementioned Maddux also leads the team with 4 interceptions.
The Darlington Tigers have been a little more explosive than Trion this season. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to disrupt the Tigers passing attack. We believe that’s possible, but not probable. We like Darlington by 9.
The Skinny
Since losing their first two games of the season, the Norcross Blue Devils have hit their stride winning seven straight and have an opportunity to win their second region title in three years. The Blue Devils are averaging 42.5 points per game and have a pretty balanced attack. They are averaging 182.6 yards passing and 180.2 yards rushing. Junior quarterback A.J. Watkins has thrown for 1,507 yards and 18-TDs and has also added 454 yards rushing and 6 rushing TDs. His top receivers are Zion Taylor, Nakai Poole, and Lawson Luckie who have combined to catch 102 passes for 1,480 yards and 13-TDs. The Blue Devils defense is allowing 17 points per game. They have sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times and intercepted 11 passes in the secondary. Senior safety Devin Hunter leads the secondary with 4-interceptions.
The North Gwinnett Bulldogs have also found their stride since entering region play. The Bulldogs are winners of their last five games and will be looking for their first region title in three years. The Bulldogs offense is averaging 34.3 points per game. The Bulldogs have relied more on the run this season, averaging 233.3 yards per game on the ground while passing for 138.2 yards per game. Junior running back Julian Walters leads the team in rushing with 902 yards and 11-TDs. Meanwhile sophomore quarterback Ryan Hall has thrown for 1,055 yards and rushed for 428 yards and has accounted for 13 total TDs. Defensively, North Gwinnett is allowing 20.1 points per game. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 35 times with sophomore defensive end Cole Funderburk being the biggest menace with 10 sacks on the season.
This game could turn into a slugfest as well. Lawson Luckie will probably present some matchup problems for the North Gwinnett defense, so expect for Norcross to look to exploit that. Don’t expect too many points being scored in this one. We like Norcross by 4.
The Skinny
The Coffee Trojans have reeled off seven straight wins entering into Friday’s contest. The Trojans are averaging 113.1 yards per game through the air and 274.9 yards per game on the ground. It has been running back by committee as Antwain McDuffie (818 yards, 13-TDs), Tyrese Woodgett (548 yards, 7-TDs) and Fred Brown (539 yards, 12-TDs) are the team leaders.The Trojans defense has been pretty stout this season, allowing just 9.4 points per game. They’ve recorded two shutouts this season and held all but one of their opponents to under 20 points. Larry Daniels leads the team in total tackles with 57.
The Ware County Gators are undefeated through eight games for the first time since 2014. The Gators are averaging 36.2 points per game offensively. First year starting quarterback Nikao Smith has thrown for 1,538 yards and 17-TDs, while Dae-Jeaun Dennis has rushed for 688 yards and 7-TDs. The Gators are averaging 205 yards per game through the air and 156.3 yards per game on the ground. The Ware County defense has been impressive in their own right this season. They’re allowing just 7.1 points per game. The Gators defense has not allowed a team to score over 17 points on them this season while holding five of their opponents to a touchdown or less.
While we know that both of these teams have shown the ability to put up a lot of points this season, we believe this will be a defensive battle. We like Coffee’s ability to run the ball, but believe this Ware County defense might be a little too much to overcome. Gators by 3.
The Skinny
The Alpharetta Raiders have come on strong in the second half of the season, winning their last five games. The Raiders have excelled in the passing game this season behind senior quarterback Ben Guthrie. He’s thrown for 2,624 yards and 33-TDs. His top receivers this season are tight end Ethan Barbour (39 receptions, 539 yards, 10-TDs), Garret Young (36 receptions, 632 yards, 6-TDs), Sean Wilson, (33 receptions, 628 yards, 5-TDs) and Kenyon Pipes (28 receptions, 608 yards, 9-TDs). The Raiders defense has intercepted 13 passes this season, while Aven Kelly leads the team in sacks with 6. Alpharetta is averaging 41 points per game on offense while allowing 22.8.
The Roswell Hornets are also winners of their last five games. Roswell has used a balanced attack this season, throwing for 211.3 yards per game and rushing for 224.2. Junior quarterback K.J. Smith has thrown for 1,573 yards and 22-TDs. He’s joined in the backfield by fellow junior Nykahi Davenport who’s rushed for 1,170 yards. Chris Elko (25 receptions, 470 yards, 4-TDs), Dylan Williams (20 receptions, 308 yards, 6-TDs), Ethan Crite (16 receptions, 423 yards, 6-TDs) and tight end Zeke Moore (16 receptions 234 yards, 2-TDs) lead the Hornets in receiving. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times. Meanwhile Ethan Nation is one of the top defensive backs in the state, helps patrol the secondary.
Alpharetta has a big offensively line that will once again need to do a good job of protecting Guthrie from the Roswell pass rush. If they can make this game high scoring, we like their chances. It will be close at home, but we like Roswell to win this North Fulton battle by 6.