Eight Greats Around the State: Georgia High School Football Previews Week 12 – Part II

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The end of the Georgia High School Football regular season is upon us and there are several region races that have yet to be determined. This is Part II of our weekly feature where we take a look of eight of the more intriguing matchup around the state. Each one of these games will have an impact on playoff seedings or region titles.

First up the Portal Panthers host the Jenkins County Eagles. Both teams have found success this season and for Portal, a win would be the first in school history. Can Elijah Coleman lead the Panthers to an upset or will Jenkins County soar to their first region win since 1960? Next up, the Rockmart Yellow Jackets face the North Murray Mountaineers. North Murray puts up a lot of numbers on offense, can Rockmart keep pace or will their defense be the key to another region win?

Up in Trion, the Trion Bulldogs will host the Darlington Tigers. The Tigers spoiled Trion’s last bid at an undefeated regular season bid back in 1997. Can Trion get over the hump and win their first region title since 2003? Finally, down in Waycross, the Ware County Gators host the Coffee Trojans. This is a clash of Titans in Class 5A. Ware County will have their hands full with Coffee running back Fred Brown. Can quarterback Luke Hooks guide the Gators to another region title?

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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 Portal Panthers have a chance to claim their first region title in school history with a win on Friday night. The Panthers enter this Friday’s game winners of their last three games, all in region play. Their defense has shutout four opponents this season and is allowing 14.5 points per game. The Panthers have a relatively balanced attack, averaging 145.4 yards per game through the air and 171.4 yards per game on the ground. Elijah Coleman has thrown for over 1,000 yards on the year and also leads the team in rushing with 813 yards and 12 rushing TDs. Amir Jackson (28 receptions, 506 yards, 8-TDs), Charles McNeal (20 receptions, 349 yards, 4-TDs) and Samari McBride (19 receptions, 163 yards, 1-TD) lead the team in receiving. Portal’s offense is averaging 32 points per game.

The Jenkins County Eagles are off to their best start in school history and are looking to cap off their first undefeated regular season with a win on Friday night. A win would also give them their first region title since 1960. The Eagles have relied on the ground game this season and Robtravious Coney has delivered  with over a thousand yards rushing this season. Coney is not the only option for the Eagles as Christian Wilson, Z.Z. Wilson and Tyrone Martin have all given the Eagles a lift on the ground. Jenkins is averaging 41.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 12.5 points per game. 

This is a big game for both of these teams as they try to set a new standard for their respective programs. They key is simple for Portal, get Coleman going and slowdown the powerful Jenkins County ground game. We said simple…not easy. The Eagles have too much on the ground, even on the road. Jenkins County by 7. 

The Skinny

The Rockmart Yellow Jackets are in search of their seventh straight region title. They enter this week winners of their last six games. Rockmart is averaging 350 yards of total offense this season. Calliyon Thompson has thrown for 1,167 yards and 13-TDs and is completing 70% of his passes. J.D. Davis has been the running quarterback and is second on the team in rushing with 420 yards and 6-TDs. Senior Brent Washington continues to lead the Jackets with 556 rushing yards and 9-TDs. Tristan Anderson and Jake Bailey are the top receivers for Rockmart. They have combined to catch 65 passes for 1,204 yards and 12-TDs. Rockmart’s offense is averaging 35.4 points per game while the defense is allowing 12.6

The North Murray Mountaineers are winners of their last five games. They are in search of their first region title since 2019. The Mountaineers have been able to move the football week in and week out as they are averaging over 459 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Skyler Williams has been outstanding this season. He’s thrown for 2,072 yards, rushed for 1,017 yard and accounted for 33 TDs. Judson Petty has rushed for 442 yards and also leads the team in receiving with 1,094 yards and tallied 18-TDs. Hudson Hulett has also caught 43 passes for 762 yards and 5-TDs. North Murray is averaging 37.7 points per game and allowing 24 points per game.

Rockmart will have their hands full trying to slow down North Murray’s dual threat quarterback. If they can slow him down we like their chances. That’s easier said than done. However, we like the Jackets at home. Rockmart by 8.

The Skinny

The Trion Bulldogs are looking to cap off their first undefeated regular season since 1974. The Bulldogs have been impressive this season, defeating opponents by a margin of 33 points per game. Their closest game this season was a 7-point victory over Dade County. Trion’s defense is allowing 10.7 points per game. Running back Toby Maddox leads the way for the Bulldogs as he’s rushed for 1,385 yards on the season. The Bulldogs aren’t just a one-trick pony, as quarterback Kade Smith has shown nice touch with his passes and an ability to pull the ball down and scramble when he needs to. Ethan Willingham has proven to be a reliable receiving target for Smith. 

The Darlington Tigers have won four out of their last five games and are in search of their 3rd consecutive region title.  The Tigers were off last week. While Darlington might not be as dominant this year as they have in the last two seasons, they still have plenty of talented playmakers, including quarterback Luke Parker, receiver Talan Shirley and a couple of really good running backs in D’Marion Floyd and Myles Twyman. Darlington’s offense is averaging 32.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.2.

Darlington spoiled Trion’s last bid at an undefeated season back in 1997. If they are going to play spoiler again they will need to slow down the explosive Maddux. We wouldn’t count out  the Tigers’ backs either as they are just as explosive. We expect this game to be as close as it gets, but like the hometown Tigers to find a way. Trion by 3.

The Skinny

The Ware County Gators have won their last four games entering this week’s region title matchup. During the 4-game win streak, the Gators are averaging  55.5 points per game. On the entire season, Ware is averaging 40.3 points per game. The Gators are averaging 316 yards of total offense this season and are led by quarterback Luke Hooks, who has thrown for 1,515 yards and 19-TDs. Quintin Orange Jr. has been Hooks’ top receiver this season with 33 receptions for 589 yards and 6-TDs. Dea’Jeaun Dennis and R.J. Boyd have combined to rush for 1,045 yards and 17-TDs. The Gators’ defense is allowing 16.6 points per game this season and has recorded two shutouts.

The Coffee Trojans have been impressive all season long as they have won their games by an average margin of 34.5 points. No one has really challenged Coffee in region play and they have only surrendered 49 points the entire season. The Trojans are averaging 393 yards of total offense this season, with most of that coming on the ground as they average 266 rushing yards per game. Fred Brown leads the team with 1,434 yards and 19-TDs, while Tyrese Hansley has chipped in 452 yards and 4-TDs. Coffee’s defense is allowing a paltry 5.4 points per game this season. Jyarius Carter leads the team with 48 total tackles while Elgie Paulk has recorded 7 sacks. 

The numbers for both of these teams are impressive. It seems to reason that if Coffee can got Fred Brown going, the will have plenty of success on the road. Meanwhile it will be incumbent on Ware to get the 1-2 combination of Dennis and Boyd going to help pace their offense. The Gators have home field advantage, but we expect this game to be nip and tuck. We like the visiting Trojans, on the strength of their defense, by 2.