We have officially reached the halfway point of the Georgia High School Football season. Many teams have already begun region play and in this edition of our Eight Greats Around the State, we feature some matchups that should go a long way in determining either region champions and perhaps a first round home playoff game.
First up, the Colquitt County Packers will host the Cedar Grove Saints. The Saints will be facing their fourth consecutive Class 7A team. Will they be able to keep pace with the Packers this week? Down in Pooler, the Savannah Christian Raiders will host rival Calvary Day. The Raiders are looking to pick up another region title, but Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger and company have plans for a back-to back region titles. This game might just determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seed.
Over in Doulgasville, there is a big matchup of two high powered offense as the Douglas County Tigers host the defending Class 6A state champs, the Langston Hughes Panthers. The Panthers can really put a hold on Region 5 with a win over Douglas County, but Sire Hardaway and the Tigers should have enough in the tank to make this a back and forth affair. Finally, the Parkview Panthers will host defending 7A state champ, Mill Creek. This game features two of the top teams in Gwinnett County. Can the Panthers keep rolling or will quarterback Shane Throgmartin continue his hot start?
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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
Colquitt County will get back to work after the bye week. The Packers have won all of their games by at least 17-points this season. They are averaging 196 yards per game on the ground and 243 yards per game through the air. Quarterback Neko Fann has thrown for 937 yards and 14-TDs while completing 63% of his passes. Ny Carr continues to lead Colquit with 30 receptions for 489 yards and 9-TDs. Meanwhile Landen Thomas and Zay Williams have combined for 31 receptions for 352 yards and 4-TDs. The Packers defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times while the secondary has intercepted 5 passes.
The Cedar Grove Saints continue their mission impossible tour as they will face their fourth straight Class 7A opponent. The Saints offense has ben outstanding, averaging 37.8 points per game. However the defense is allowing 42.2. A lot of that has to do with some of the higher classification, explosive offenses that the Saints have faced in the first five weeks of the season. Through the first four games, Quarterback E.J. Colson has thrown for 643 yards, 10-TDs and rushed for 251 yards and 2-TDs. Boden Walker leads the team with 371 yards and 7-TDs in four games.
We expect this game to be a track meet with plenty of points on both sides. Ultimately we believe the depth of Colquitt along with the long long bus ride to Moultrie will do Cedar Grove in. Packers by 16.
The Skinny
The Savannah Christian Raiders had no trouble getting back on track after the bye week as they recorded their second shutout of the season. The Raiders are averaging 356.3 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Blaise Thomas has thrown for 606 yards and 4-TDs while completing 64% of his passes. Logan Brooking and David Bucey continue to lead the Raiders receiving unit with a combined 21 receptions for 342 yards and 3-TDs. Meanwhile, Zo Smalls (424 yards, 8-TDs) and Kenry Walls (222 yards, 2-TDs) pace the ground game. Freshman defensive end, Ladamion Guyton leads the defense with 5.5 sacks while junior lineman Elijah Griffin has 4.5 sacks of his own.
The Calvary Day Cavaliers have been posting video game type numbers on offense this season, averaging 52.7 points per game. The offense is paced by senior quarterback Jake Merklinger who has thrown for 858 yards and 12-TDs, completing 65.7% of his passes and has yet to throw an interception. The trio of Caden Arnold, Michael Smith and Thomas Blackshear have the bulk of the production with 39 combined receptions for 790 yards and 12-TDs. Six separate running backs have carried the ball more than 8 times with Jordan Tillman and Trevor Strowbridge leading the team in attempts and yardage. Don’t sleep on the Calvary Day defense, they’ve held the opposition to just 7.7 points per game. They’ve also forced 10 turnovers.
This game will go a long way in determining the region title as these two are expected to finish at the top of the region. (Although Coach Pfiester and the Long County Blue Tide might have something to say about that later this season.) Mercklinger is the more accomplished passer in this game and we believe his accuracy and decision making will lead the Cavs to victory. Calvary Day by 7.
The Skinny
The Douglas County Tigers have run their record to 4-0 for the second time in three seasons. They are averaging 41 points per game during this win streak. Quarterback Sire Hardaway has thrown for 1,056 yards and 9-TDs while completing 76.8% of his passes. Hardaway’s top receivers have been the trio of James Johnson (18 receptions, 299 yards, 3-TDs), Brandon Ellison (18 receptions, 245 yards), and Aaron Gregory (18 receptions, 293 yards, 3-TDs). The Tigers are averaging 185 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers defense is allowing 19.5 points per game and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 9 times while forcing 7 turnovers.
The Langston Hughes Panthers got back in the wind column with a shutout win last week. While much of the attention for the Panthers offense might be around their quarterback, Prentiss “Air” Noland, it’s the running game that has taken center stage for the offense this season. They are averaging 261.8 yards per game on the ground. Justus Savage and Dorian Page have combined for 818 yards and 12-TDs. Defensively the Panthers are allowing 18.2 points per game. Junior defensive tackle Quavion Pitts leads the team with 5 sacks.
While this is the region opener for both teams. This could end up being the defacto region title game. Expect plenty of points in this game as both teams have playmakers, but we believe the Panther’s duo of Savage and Page will be the difference. Langston Hughes by 8.
The Skinny
The Parkview Panthers wrap up their non-region schedule looking to run their record to 5-0 for the first time since 2018. Parkview is averaging 46.5 points per game while churning out 314 yards of total offense per game. Trelain Maddox has filled in well for the injured Khyair Spain as Maddox has rushed for 336 yards and 7-TDs to lead the Panthers rushing attack. Meanwhile Michael Mathews and Carson Wilson have combined for 18 receptions and 398 yards and 2-TDs. The Parkview defense is allowing 14 points a game and has already recorded two shutouts this season. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times as Ian Singleton leads the team in total tackles (29) and sacks (5).
The Mill Creek Hawks are the defending state champions and the don’t seem to have shown any sings of slowing down thus far. The Hawks have won 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. They are averaging 43.5 points per game behind first year starter Shane Throgmartin. The junior signal caller has thrown for 549 yards and 10-TDs and no interceptions while completing 76.1% of his passes. Cam Robinson and Daniel Smith have combined to rush for 779 yards and 11-TDs, as the Hawks are averaging 311.6 yards per game.
We expect another high scoring matchup. Our question is whether Parkview’s defense will be able to keep Throgmartin off balance. We believe Parkview will force a turnover or two, but Mill Creek should still do enough on the ground to grind out a win. Hawks by 8.