This week marks the beginning of the home stretch of the Georgia High School Football season. It’s hard to believe that after this week, there will only be three weeks left in the regular season. This is Part I of our our Eight Greats Around the State. This week we highlight region games with great significance. We feature matchups between, Walton-North Cobb; Bleckley County-Northeast; Ware County-Warner Robins; and Troup-Carver Columbus.
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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 Walton Raiders will be looking for their third straight victory as they host North Cobb on Friday night. The Raiders have a balanced attack, averaging 137.2 yards per game through the air and 121 yards per game on the ground. Walton will use two quarterbacks with Zak Rozsman and Jeremy Hecklnksi. The tandem has combined for 915 yards and 8-TDs. Sutton Smith and Braylen Stokes also provide a potent 1-2 punch at running back for the Raiders. Walton is averaging 37.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 28 points per game.
North Cobb is in the midst of a five game win streak. Since their opening week loss, they have not scored fewer than 40 points in a game. Junior quarterback Malachi Singleton has thrown for 1,345 yards and 15-TDs. He has also not thrown an interception all season. Singleton also leads the team in rushing with 446 yards on the ground. De’ Nylon Morrissette, Sam Mbake, and Reggie Givhan are the top receivers for the Warriors. North Cobb is averaging 39 points per game while the defense is allowing 16 points per game.
The winner of this game will be in the driver’s seat for the Region title. The Raiders have enough talent and team speed to compete with the Warriors. However, we believe North Cobb is deeper at the skill positions. We like North Cobb by a touchdown on the road.
The Skinny
The Bleckley County Royals are 6-0 for the first time since 1991. The Royals will have their biggest tests of the season over their next two games. Quarterback Eli Mullis has thrown for 772 yards and 7-TDs. But the bulk of the Royals offense comes by way of the rushing attack. The Royals are averaging 180.3 yards per game on the ground and are led by junior Jahvon Butler, who has rushed for 897 yards and 9-TDs. Bleckley is averaging 26 points per game while the defense is allowing 13.5 points per game.
The Northeast Macon Raiders have won three straight games coming into Friday’s game. The Raiders are averaging 30.8 points per game while the defense is allowing. 12.1 points per game. The Raiders offense is averaging 397.8 yards of offense per game. The majority of that comes by way of the run game with Tyler Terry and Kalik Evans combining for 1,179 and 15-TDs. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 9 times and forced 8 turnovers.
Bleckley has been outstanding during their run, but we believe that Northeast’s defense will keep the Royals at bay. We like Northeast by 8 on the road.
The Skinny
The Ware County Gators bounced back from their loss to Benedictine with a resounding victory over Coffee last week. The challenge is just as stiff this week as they host the Warner Robins Demons. Statistically, the Gators are about as balanced as you can get, averaging 258.7 yards per game in the air and 258.7 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos has thrown for 1,534 yards and 14-TDs while Cartevious Norton paces the Gators on the ground with 832 yards and 8-TDs. Ware is averaging 44 points per game on offense and 20.3 points per game on the ground.
The Warner Robins Demons were off last week, but they will be looking to continue their mastery of the 2021 season. The Demons have won 15 straight games dating back to last season. This season, they are averaging 54.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 22.3 points per game. Quarterback Christon Lane has thrown for 1,393 yards and 18-TDs , completing 65% of his passes. Running back Malcolm Brown has rushed for 892 yards and 13-TDs, while Daveon Walker has caught 33 passes for 681 yards and 7-TDs. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times and forced 13 turnovers.
We expect for the scoreboard operator will be extremely busy this Friday night down in Waycross. Home field advantage should help the Gators a little, but we expect the Demons offense to overwhelm Ware County this week. Demons by 17.
The Skinny
The Troup Tigers have won their last five games and have pitched two consecutive shutouts. They are averaging 34.2 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing 17.5 points per game. Troup has racked up yards on the ground, averaging 301.4 yards. Running backs T.J. Mitchell and Javari Fannin have combined for 1,347 yards and 12-TDs. Dwartney Wortham leads the team in receiving with 29 catches for 502 yards and 7-TDs.
The Carver Tigers have also won their last five games just like Troup. Carver is averaging 316.8 yards per game on the ground. But they aren’t a one trick pony as quarterback Devin Riles has thrown for 881 yards and 6-TDs. Jaiden Credle has been the workhorse for Carver with 978 yards and 12-TDs. The Carver defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season with Cameron Crowell leading the way with 6. Carver is averring 34.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 13.6 points per game.
Troup represents seemingly the biggest challenge left on Carver’s schedule. Both teams can put points on the board, but we believe Carver is a little more explosive and balanced. We like Carver by 9.