Week-9 of the high school football season in Georgia is upon us. Region races are starting to take shape as team continue to jockey for playoff position. This is our weekly feature of eight of the more intriguing matchups this week around the State.
First up, the South Atlanta Hornets host the North Cobb Christian Eagles. This game is shaping up to be the de facto region title game, barring any upsets in the last three weeks of the regular season. Will North Cobb be able to slow down South Atlanta’s Keyjuan Brown or will the Hornets continue to roll? Next up, we stay in Atlanta as Carver (Atlanta) will host the Sandy Creek Patriots. The Patriots are looking to avenge last season’s loss to Carver. Can quarterback Germier Latimer lead Sandy Creek to their 4th straight win this season or will it by Carver’s Bryce Bowens keeping the Panthers on top?
In another de facto region title game, the Buford Wolves will host the Mill Creek Hawks. Both teams have been steady all season. Will Justice Haynes and Dylan Witke lead Buford to another victory or will it be Caleb Downs and Hayden Clark guiding Mill Creek to another big win? Finally, in Kennesaw, the Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs will host the Walton Raiders. This game will go a long way in determining who might host a home playoff game. Mustangs quarterback Caymen Prangley has put up some big numbers this season. Will he be able to out-duel Walton quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski this week?
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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 South Atlanta Hornets are ranked No. 1 in our rankings for the first time ever. The Hornets are winners of their last 15 regular season games. Their offense is averaging 45.5 points per game. They are churning out 435 yards per game on offense, with the vast majority of that coming by way of the ground. Keyjuan Brown leads the team with 1,381 yards on the ground with 15-TDs. The Hornets don’t throw it all that much, averaging about 7 pass attempts per game. However, when they do, Steven Moore has been the top target with 13 receptions for 230 yards and 3-TDs. Defensively, the Hornets are allowing 15.5 points per game. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times, with Javonte Stuckey leading the way with 6.
The North Cobb Christian Eagles have quietly put together an undefeated season. The Eagles are averaging 31.1 points per game. Similar to their opponent, North Cobb Christian is getting most of their offense from the ground game. Running back Jadin Coates leads the team in rushing with 516 yards and 3-TDs. Trey Priester has also chipped in 290 yards and 6-TDs. While the Eagles don’t throw it a lot, they do have a big target in Jacob Cruz. He leads the team in receptions and on defense, he leads the team in total tackles and is tied for the team lead in interceptions (2). North Cobb Christian is allowing 8.7 points per game.
By all of our accounts, we expect for the winner of this game to be the leader in the clubhouse to claim the region crown. We expect for South Atlanta’s Brown to have another big night running the football. North Cobb Christian keeps it close for a half, but we like the Hornets by 13.
The Skinny
The Carver Panthers begin their quest for their first region title since 2017 this Friday night. Carver has been impressive this season, with their only loss coming at the hands of Class 7A Buford. Carver is averaging 23.6 points per game this season. It has been a relatively balanced attack for the Panthers. Through their first five games, they are averaging 170.3 yards per game through the air and 140.2 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Bryce Bowens has thrown for 1,153 yards and 9-TDs and has not thrown an interception this season. His top targets have been Deandre Buchannon and Zyee’k Mender. In their first five games, the duo has combined to catch 46 passes for 790 yards and 8-TDs. Defensively, Carver is allowing 18.8 points per game. They’ve also sacked opposing quarterback 18 times this season.
The Sandy Creek Patriots will be looking to claim their first region title since 2013. The Patriots are winners of their last three games and their only loss this season was to Class 7A East Coweta in overtime. The Patriots are averaging 35.2 points per game this season. Quarterback Geimere Latimer has thrown for 1,202 yards and 15-TDs. He’s also second on the team in rushing with 326 yards and 7-TDs. Latimer’s top two receivers are Kaleb Cost, (19 receptions, 366 yards, 4-TDs) and Cameron Watts, (14 receptions, 299 yards, 4-TDs.) Defensively, the Patriots are allowing 16 points per game. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times, led by linebacker William Lyles with 7.
There is a lot last stake in this matchup. The winner of this game is almost certain to host a home playoff game. Sandy Creek has not defeated Carver in two tries. Both defenses have been stingy, but we believe the Patriots are a little better on offense this season. We believe that is the difference this week. Sandy Creek by 4.
The Skinny
The Buford Wolves continued their mastery of region play their last time out as they defeated Collins Hill back on September 30th. The Wolves have won 13 consecutive region games and have not lost to a team from the State of Georgia since the beginning of the 2021 season. They’ve also won 17 consecutive games entering this week. Buford is averaging 32.6 points per game on offensive. Justice Haynes leads the Wolves rushing attack with 751 yards on the ground. Meanwhile the defense is allowing just 7.8 points per game. They’ve allowed no more than 16 points in a game this season and are on par with their impressive defensive performance last season. Expect linemen Eddrick Houston and Alaijah Williams to make it tough sledding the rest of the way for opposing offenses.
The Mill Creek Hawks come into this game flying high. They are averaging 46.5 points per game on offense. Quarterback Hayden Clark has thrown for 1,139 yards and 9-TDs and has not been intercepted this season. Makhail Wood and two-way star Caleb Downs have been his top targets, combining for 45 receptions for 702 yards and 5-TDs. Cam Robinson has lead the way on the ground for the Hawks with 716 yards and 9-TDs. Defensively, Mill Creek is allowing 19.6 points per game. The aforementioned Downs leads the team with 3 interceptions.
With all due respect to the other teams in Region 8-7A, this is the region title game. Mill Creek has been explosive on offense this season and with Downs being able to help patrol the secondary, it’s made it tough for team’s to be effective through the air. However, this Buford defense has been special. We believe it will be a battle of attrition on offense, but we like the Wolves at home by 4.
The Skinny
The Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs continued to roll last week with a big victory over previously undefeated Osborne. The Mustangs have now won 9 consecutive regular season games dating back to last year. They have put up 257.8 yards per game through the air and 157.3 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Cayman Prangley has thrown for over 1,500 yards and 18-TDs. He’s also second on the team in rushing with 277 yards and 6-TDs. Prangley’s top receivers this season have been Cayden Lee (48 receptions, 729 yards, 10-TDs) and Jailen Taylor (23 receptions, 438 yards, 3-TDs). The Mustangs are averaging 43.6 points per game. Defensively, they are allowing 17.3 points per game and have intercepted 8 passes in the secondary. Junior safety Michael Bell leads the team with 4 interceptions.
The Walton Raiders come in to this week looking to get back on track after they were ambushed on the road at North Cobb. The Raiders are still in contention for a home playoff game, but will need a win this week to keep those hopes alive. Walton is averaging 35.1 points per game this season. Quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski has thrown for 1,912 yards and 19-TDs. His top receivers are Hunter Teal and Cam Lloyd who have combined to catch 52 passes for 958 yards and 9-TDs. Defensively, Walton is allowing 27.6 points per game. Ashton Woods and Matthew Traynor are tops on the team in total tackles with 69 and 62 respectively.
We have a suspicion that this game will be a track meet. Both of these offenses love to let it fly and they have the quarterbacks that make that possible. Walton’s defense will have to shore things up quickly to slow down Kennesaw Mountain. We believe it’s close, by we like the home team Mustangs by 3.