We now shift to the quarterfinal round in Class 2-A GHSA Football Playoffs. There are six #1 seeds still remaining and two #2 seed still alive. The matchups this week are Dublin-Hapeville, Thomasville-Rabun County, Metter-Brooks County and Callaway-Douglass. As always, please let us know if there are any errors. Thanks for reading and best of luck to all the teams competing this Friday night.
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The Skinny
The Dublin Fighting Irish are in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. The Fighting Irish have bounced back from the loss two week ago against Washington County. Dublin’s offense had been on a tear prior to the loss to Washington County. Nevertheless, they are averaging 46.7 points per game on the season. During the playoffs, Dublin is averaging 38.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 17.5 points per game. A win this week would put Dublin in the semifinals for the first time since 2007.
The Hapeville Charter Hornets are in the quarterfinals for the third time in four years. The Hornets have won five games in a row. Last week the reached the 70-point mark for the second time this season. Hapeville’s defense is allowing 9.9 points per game this season while the offense is now averaging 46.5 points per game. In the playoffs, they are outscoring the opposition 126-28. A win this Friday would put the Hornets in the semifinals for the third time in four years. Dublin has an offense that could neutralize Hapeville’s explosiveness, but we still like the Hornets this week on the road…Hapeville Charter by 10.
The Skinny
The Thomasville Bulldogs are in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years. Thomasville has won six consecutive games heading into this Friday. Quarterback Ronnie baker has now thrown for 1,980 yards and 15-TDs. As a team, the Bulldogs have rushed for over 2,100 yards this season. Ricardo Johnson has caught 51 passes for 767 yards and 8-TDs. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents in the playoffs 89-40. A win this week would put Thomasville back in the semifinals for the first time since 1993.
The Rabun County Wildcats have advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive season. The Wildcats are 12-0 for the second time in school history. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has passed for 3,146 yards and rushed for 1,019 yards and accounted for 60 total TDs. Braxton Hicks is the team’s leading receiver with 59 receptions for 1,103 yards and 11-TDs. The Wildcats have not allowed over 20 points in a game this season. Phillip Roberson leads the team in sacks with 10. A win this week would put the Wildcats in the semifinals for the second time in three years. Even though Rabun County will be making the 5+ hour trip from Tiger to Thomasville, we like them this week on the road…Wildcats by 5.
The Skinny
The Metter Tigers are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. The Tigers have now won six consecutive games and have won eleven games for the first time since 2003. Last week, the Metter defense held the Union County passing attack in check. The Tigers are averaging 25 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.5 points per game. They have not given up more than 21 points in a game this season. A Metter win would put them in the semifinals for the first time since 2002.
The Brooks County Trojans find themselves in the quarterfinals for the eighth time in twelve years. The Trojans have won their last five games. Last week they shut down Rockmart, allowing only a field goal in one of their best defensive showings all season. On offense, quarterback Ni’tavion Burrus has passed for 1,645 yards and 17-TDs while Omari Arnold has rushed for 1,379 yards and 18-TDs. The Trojans are outscoring the opposition in the playoffs 83-17. A win this week would put Brooks County in the semifinals for the second time in three years. We like the Trojans this week over the Tigers…Brooks County by 8.
The Skinny
The Callaway Cavaliers have advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive season. Callaway has won eleven consecutive games and has also scored 50 or more points in their last three games. Callaway has not lost to a team from the state of Georgia this season. In the playoffs, Callaway has outscored their opposition 104-38. The defense is allowing 10.8 points per game on the year, while the offense is averaging 43 points per game. Expect Douglass to see a steady dose of back Tank Bigsby and Charlie Dixon, but the “X-Factor” might be quarterback Demetrius Coleman. A Cavaliers win would put them into the semifinals for the third time in four years.
The Douglass Astros are in the quarterfinal round for the first time since 1995. The Astros have won six consecutive games on the year. Douglass has done most of their damage on the ground this season behind running back Quintavious Lockett. During the regular season, Lockett rushed for 1,489 yards and 23-TDs. The four-point win last week was their closest margin of victory this season. A win would advance the Astros to the semifinals for the first time in school history. We like Callaway this week by three touchdowns.