We turn the calendar to October and while the weather in most of the state is cooling down, the action in region play is heating up. In most areas of the state, region play is well under way. This week we take a look at some of the more intriguing matchups in what we like to call Eight Greats Around the State.
We start in Northwest Georgia as the Heritage Generals host the Cedartown Bulldogs. Both teams rely heavily on the ground game. Will the Generals shock Region 7 or will Cedartown continue to roll? Over in Mableton, Whitefield Academy will host the Elbert County Bulldogs. This is a big non-region matchup between two of the top teams in Class A-Division I. Can the Elbert defense find a way to slow down Whitefield’s dual purpose QB?
Next up we go down to Sylvester, as the undefeated Worth County Rams host the defending 2A state champs, Fitzgerald. This is a brutal region and neither team can afford to falter in the early going. Are the Rams for real or will Fitzgerald’s ground game control things in this matchup? Finally, in Fayetteville, the Whitewater Wildcats host the Trinity Christian Lions. The Lions are coming off of a defensive victory over Starr’s Mill. Will their defense be able to slow down Whitewater’s ground attack?
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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 Heritage Generals are off to their best star since 2017. The Generals are averaging 40 points per game this season. Offensively, they are averaging 98.2 yards per game through the air and 204.8 yards per game on the ground. Running back Paxton McCrary leads the Generals in rushing with 599 yards and 8-TDs. Quarterback Kaden Swope has thrown for 477 yards and 8-TDs and is also second on the team in rushing with 269 yards and 6-TDs. Swope’s top receivers are Tyler Cheatwood and Max Owens. They have combined to catch 16 passes for 403 yards and 6-TDs. The Generals defense is allowing 9.8 points per game. They’ve also sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times and have intercepted 11 passes. The aforementioned Owens leads the secondary with 5 of those 11 interceptions.
The Cedartown Bulldogs have now won eleven straight regular season games and are off to their best start since 2013. The Bulldogs are averaging 35.3 points per game. The vast majority of the offensive production comes by way of the ground game as they are averaging 305.8 per game rushing. Harlem Diamond and Patrick Gardner have received the lion’s share of the carries with Diamond rushing for 507 yards and 8-TDs while Gardner has rushed for 477 yards and 10-TDs. Diamond also leads the team in receiving with 7 catches for 129 yards and 3-TDs. Defensively, Cedartown is allowing 7.3 points per game. Linebacker Eli Barrow continues to lead the team in total tackles (81) and sacks (8).
This might be one of the fastest played games this week as both teams lean on the running attack. Heritage is a formidable opponent and probably has the best shot in region play to knock off Cedartown. We just believe that Cedartown’s Diamond and Gardner are too much to handle this week. Bulldogs by 14.
The Skinny
The Whitefield Academy Wolfpack will be back at home after two straight road games. The Wolfpack got back in the win category with a win over Brookstone last week. They are averaging 137.2 yards per game through the air and 216.7 yards per game on the ground. Dual threat quarterback Ayden Duncanson leads the team in passing (782 yards, 12-TDs) and rushing (672 yards, 8-TDs). His top targets have been Ian Weihe and Caleb LaVellee as the duo has combined to catch 25 passes for 372 yards and 3-TDs. Defensively, Lavellee has already recorded 67 solo tackles, while the secondary has intercepted 10 passes.
The Elbert County Blue Devils are off to their best start since 2011. The Blue Devils have been scoring points in bunches, averaging 32.5 points per game while allowing 13.6. Elbert hasn’t just been a one-trick pony, as they are averaging 164.7 yards per game through the air and 232.8 yards per game on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Jayvyn Hickman has thrown for 862 yards and 7-TDs. The focal point of the offense however has to be Quan Moss, who leads the team in rushing with 980 yards and 12-TDs. Defensively, Elbert County has sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times, with D.J. Raiford accounting for 9 of them.
Elbert County will have to travel halfway across the state to take on Whitefield. If they bring their defense with them and can corral Whitefield’s Duncanson, we like their chances. We believe this has the makings of a low scoring game. We like Elbert by 4.
The Skinny
The Worth County Rams are 6-0 for the first time since 1989. The Rams also look to be in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Worth County is averaging 38.1 points per game while the defense is allowing 24 points per game. They are averaging 203.3 yards per game through the air and 164.2 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Chip Cooper has thrown for 1,223 yards and 14-TDs and has not been intercepted at all this season. His top targets are Parker Weaver (32 receptions, 376 yard, 6-TDs) and D’ontae Fulton (29 receptions, 401 yards, 6-TDs). Freshmen running back Kaden Chester leads the team in rushing with 520 yards.
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes are looking to stay atop the region standings this week. Region 1 is shaping up to be one of the toughest regions in Class AA. The Canes are averaging 30.6 points per game and allowing 15.4. While we don’t have firm statistical numbers for Fitzgerald, we can tell you they will do most of their damage on the ground with backs Sylon Davis and Diondre Paschal. If they can get going, it might be a long night for Worth County.
There certainly are no easy week’s in region 1 and neither team can afford a let down. While we believe Worth County is a playoff team this season, we believe it will be tough to slow down Fitzgerald. We like the Canes by 6.
The Skinny
The Whitewater Wildcats have won back to back games and now sit at 2-1 in region play. The Wildcats still have hopes of hosting a state playoff game, but they still have a lot of work in front of them as this is one of the toughest regions in Class 4A. Whitewater is averaging 36.1 points per game while the defense is allowing 21.1. Whitewater does most of their damage offensively on the ground, averaging 210.7 rushing yards per game and just 88.2 yard per game through the air. The Wildcats use running back by committee, but Xavier Clay-Turner is the leading rusher with 307 yards and 4-TDs on the season. Defensively, Popo Aguirre leads the team in total tackles, while Tyler Glover is tops in sacks (6).
The Trinity Christian Lions are one season removed from winning the Class A-Private state title. After a slow start to this season, the Lions have won four straight games. They are averaging 24.1 points per game while allowing 17.8. The Lions are averaging 191.2 yards per game through the air and 131.7 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Henry Brodnax has thrown for 1,055 yard and 8-TDs. He’s also tied for the team lead in rushing yards along with Phoenix Moss as they’ve each rushed for 182 yards. Defensively, Cam Matthews leads the team in total tackles and is also tied for the team lead in sacks along with Ethan McDowell.
The Trinity Christian defense has been steadily improving all season and scored their first shutout of the year last week. We doubt they will be able to keep Whitewater out of the end zone this week, but we do expect another low scoring game. We like Trinity Christian by 4.