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 II of our our Eight Greats Around the State. This week we highlight region games with great significance. We feature matchups between, Blessed Trinity-Cartersville; Johns Creek-Cambridge; Calvary Day-Savannah Christian; and Kennesaw Mountain-Kell.
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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 Blessed Trinity Titans lost a region game for the first time in four years last week, falling to Calhoun by 5. The road isn’t any easier this week as Cartersville comes calling. The Titans are averaging 26.4 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing 17.7 points per game. Justice Haynes is well over 1,000 yards rushing on the season and in his last four games he has rushed for 933 yards and 11-TDs. That’s an average of 233.2 yards per game.
The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes are undefeated through six games and have won ten consecutive regular season games dating back to last year. Quarterback Jake Parker has thrown for 750 yards and 7-TDs. Collin Fletcher has been his top receiver with 20 catches for 208 yards and 2-TDs. But don’t forget Amari White and Malachi Jeffries, who have combined for 823 yards and 15-TDs. Linebacker Myles Forristall continues to lead the team in total tackles with 35. As a team, the Canes are averaging 35.1 points per game while the defense is holding teams to 13.3 points.
The Canes are as hot as just about any team in Class 5-A right now. Blessed Trinity is always a threat with a player like Haynes. We believe the Titans get back on track this week. It should be another tight game, but we expect another big game for Haynes and a 3 point Titan win.
The Skinny
The Johns Creek Gladiators are winners of their last four games and their only loss was to the highly ranked Carrollton Trojans. The Gladiators scoring is up from last season, averaging 34.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.6 points per game. Johns Creek posted their first shutout of the season last time out. Quarterback Kyle Durham has thrown for 867 yards and 9-TDs. His top two receivers are Joshua Thompson and Jaron Green. The duo has combined for 469 yards and 8-TDs. Meanwhile, workhorse Tylan Johnson has rushed for 772 yards and 5-TDs. Linebacker Sam Oppenheimer leads the defense with 56 total tackles. Terrian Williams leads the secondary with 2 interceptions.
The Cambridge Bears are 5-0 for the first time in school history. Last week, the Bears recorded their third shutout of the season. The Bears are averaging 25.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 6.4 points per game. Quarterback Zach Harris has thrown for 1,011 yards and 8-TDs. Christian Isibor made his return to the lineup last week going over 100-yards. Isibor has rushed for 333 yards and 3-TDs on the season. Will Taylor has been the home run threat on offense for the Bears at receiver.
Cambridge’s defense is undersized, but is fast and disciplined. Johns Creek might be the fastest team the Bears have faced this season. We believe Johns Creek’s speed will be the difference this week. We like the Gladiator by 4 in a low scoring game.
The Skinny
The Calvary Day Cavaliers are off to their best start since 2016 when they one their last region title. They are averaging 33.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 11.7 points per game. Quarterback Jake Merklinger has thrown for 1,413 yards and 13-TDs. Freshman running back Donovan Johnson has rushed for 736 yards and 6-TDs on the year. Mercklinger’s top two receivers are a pair of sophomores in Caden Arnold and tight end Michael Smith. The duo has combined for 623 yards and 8-TDs. Sophomore linebacker A.J. Butts leads the team in total tackles. The Cavaliers have sacked opposing quarterbacks 13.5 times and forced 16 turnovers.
The Savannah Christian Raiders have won three of their last four games. They are averaging 25.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.8 points per game. Quarterback Paulus Zittrauer has thrown for 822 yards and 6-TDs. George Futch is the leading receiver with 28 receptions for 489 yards and 6-TDs. But the Raiders have tended to be more of a run team. They are averaging 210 yards per game on the ground with 13 different backs recording carries on the year. Carter Allen leads the way with 268 yards and 5-TDs. Defensive lineman Caleb Womble has recorded 6 sacks on the season while Peyton Cromwell leads the team in total tackles.
Savannah Christian represents what we believe is the most difficult challenge for Calvary Day in region play. Merklinger has been outstanding. If the Cavaliers can block Caleb Womble, we believe their offense can get in rhythm. We like Calvary Day by 14.
The Skinny
The Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs looked like they were well on their way to a region title before the unthinkable happened last week. The Mustangs will have to regroup after their loss to South Cobb as the Pope Greyhounds come calling. Kennesaw Mountain will look to get the air attack back in rhythm as they were held to 57 yards through the air last week. On the season quarterback Cayman Prangley has thrown for 1,055 yards and 13-TDs. Savion Riley and Jailon Taylor lead the Mustangs in receiving with a combined 28 receptions for 704 yards and 10-TDs. Linebacker Evan Voltaire leads the defense with 63 total tackles including 9 tackles for loss. Kennesaw Mountain has sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times and forced 13 turnovers. The Mustangs are averaging 31.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 11.2 points per game.
The Pope Greyhounds are on a four game win streak entering Friday nights contest. The Greyhounds are averaging 27.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.6 points per game. Pope is averaging 171.7 yards per game through the air and 194.3 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Patrick Lowe has thrown for 988 yards and 7-TDs. Cam Bleshoy has been his primary target, catching 27 passes for 376 yards and 4-TDs. Phillip Sims is tops on the team in rushing with 531 yards and 8-TDs. Pope has forced 10 turnovers this season and sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times. Senior linebacker Adam Jump has accounted for 9 of those sacks.
Some of the luster of this game was diminished after Kennesaw Mountain lost last week. However, if they can bounce back, they could still secure a region title. Don’t expect for Pope to just lie down. We expect a nip and tuck ballgame but like the Mustangs by 4.