We are in Week-2 off the Georgia High School Football season and were already treated to some great games this past weekend. Unfortunately, covid has claimed several games across the state forcing teams to scramble and reschedule. This is Part-I of our Georgia High School Football Previews. We like to call this the Eight Greats Around the State where we take a look at Eight intriguing matchups each week.
First up Colquitt County will host the Westlake Lions. Can the Colquitt defense slow down R.J. Johnson and the Westlake passing attack? Down in Cochran, Bleckley County will look to avenge last year’s loss to Wilcox County? Will the Royals have enough on defense to slow down Wilcox QB Abe Stowe? Meanwhile the Coffee Trojans will host the Bainbridge Bearcats. Coffee won this one last year; but will the Bearcats and dynamos Zion and Deyon Bouie get their revenge? Finally over in Carrollton, the Trojans will host the Johns Creek Gladiators. Johns Creek is talented but unproven; is this their breakthrough week?
As always, thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment and share.
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 Colquitt County Packers will be in the friendly confines of Mack Tharpe Stadium after escaping Marietta with a 3-point victory last week. Colquitt was led offensively by running back Charlie Pace and sophomore quarterback Neko Fann in the opening week. Pace rushed for over 100-yards to help ease first game jitters for new starter Fann. The Packers defense held Marietta to just one touchdown in the second half.
The Westlake Lions shocked many folks across the State of Georgia as they downed class 7-A Archer last week in the Corky Kell Classic. The Lions were led on the ground by sophomore Jai’Den Thomas who rushed for 129 yards while last season’s leading rusher Zinah Mulbah also added 34 on the ground for the Lions. Quarterback R.J. Johnson threw for 126 yards and two scores and also rushed for two touchdowns in the victory. On defense, Gannon Weathersby made his presence known with his new team and picked up where he left off last season with seven total tackles and two sacks.
The Packers will have their work cut out for them this week. The biggest question is will quarterback Neko Fann be settled in enough to withstand a stout Lions defense. We believe the long road trip could play a factor in this one, but we are going with the visiting Lions to shock the state again…Westlake by 2.
The Skinny
The Bleckley County Royals went on the road to defeat West Laurens last week for their 4th consecutive season opening victory. The Royals will be paced by quarterback James Teston (114 yards, 1-TD) and running back Jahvon Butler (68 yards, 1-TD). Teston looked very comfortable in the pocket last week in the Royals spread offense. David Dent and the rest of the defense will be called upon to get pressure on the Wilcox County passing attack this week.
Speaking of Wilcox County, this will be the Patriots season opener. They will be without the services of the versatile Martez Thrower who is now plying at the University of Kentucky. Fortunately for the Patriots, they do return their starting quarterback Abe Stowe who is one of, if not the top passer in Region-4. Stowe will have one of his top targets from a year ago in Jahsun Coley while Dayshawn Lawson is set to be one of the primary rushing threats. Kassidy Deans and run stopper Isaiah Turner return along the defensive front to help pace the swarming Wilcox County defense.
These are two teams that boast very good quarterbacks and we believe the one that finds his rhythm the soonest will lead his team to victory. We like the Royals by 5 in another close matchup.
The Skinny
The Coffee Trojans will open up their season taking on south Georgia rival Bianbridge on Friday night. The Trojans offense returns their top two running backs from a year ago in Maurice Turner (689 yards, 12-TDs) and A.J. Franklin (509 yards, 6-TDs), Turner was also the team’s leading receiver in 2020 with 42 receptions for 712 yards and 6-TDs. The Trojans do not return any quarterbacks with much varsity experience this season, so expect them to rely on Franklin and Turner to ease the load for whoever takes over under center. The Trojans also return their three top tacklers from a year ago in Anthony Gaskin (54 solo tackles), Brandon High (55 solo tackles) and Jacob Lindsey (57 solo tackles).
Meanwhile the Bainbridge Bearcats are looking to make a deep run in Class 4-A. It feels like we have been hearing about Zion and Deyon Bouie for years now. The Bouie boys will enter their senior season looking to lead their team to another state title like they did as freshmen four years ago. But the Bearcats will be looking to replace their leading passer and rusher from a year ago as Rashad Broadnax and Quayde Hawkins were lost to graduation. Bainbridge could turn to Dontavious Broadnax at running back and they’ll need Bo Smith to grow up fast as QB1.
The Bainbridge senior class certainly has the experience and the talent to put plenty of points on the board. Yet Coffee returns a couple of backs that can certainly put the team on their back. We’ll take Coffee by 7.
The Skinny
The Carrollton Trojans started off the Joey King era with a big win over New Manchester last Friday. In his return game, quarterback M.J. Morris threw for 190 yards and 3-TDs while KeShawn Ridley rushed for two scores to help lead Carrollton on offense. Receiver Terrell Carmichael turned both of his receptions into long TDs as well, tallying 140 total receiving yards.
The Johns Creek Gladiators opened some eyes with an impressive win over Gainesville last week. Bruising running back Tylan Johnson tallied 141 yards on the ground while Kyle Durham tossed two touchdown passes. On defense Terian Williams was active in the secondary with an interception and a pass break up. Micah Gray lead the team with 6.5 tackles.
This game has plenty of good story lines: Region 5 vs. Region 7; WR – Carmicheal vs DB -Williams; traditional power vs. up and coming team. We know that the Gladiators can play defense, but has their offense improved enough for them to make a deep playoff run? For Carrollton, will they be able to have any success against one of the top DBs in the state and the nations top pass rusher in the class of 2023? It won’t be east, but we believe the Trojans can…Carrollton by 10.