We now turn our attention to class 4-A for our GHSA quarterfinal previews. This preview features games between Benedictine – Riverdale, Jefferson – Carver, Columbus, Cedartown – Bainbridge and Perry – Marist.
Last week in our picks, we went 7-1 in Class 4A. The Perry Panthers proved us wrong last week! Way to go Panthers!
If we had to pick a 4A game to attend, it would be a road trip to Savannah to watch Benedictine square off against Riverdale. Great defense versus great offense. Should be a good one!
Best of luck to all of the teams competing on Friday night. As always, thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment and share.
All helmet images are courtesy of the Georgia High School Helmet Project. To see all of their work, please visit: http://www.gahelmetproject.com
The Skinny
The Benedictine Cadets are in the quarterfinals for the seventh time in eight years. Going into last week’s game, quarterback Holden Geriner had thrown for just under 2,000 yards and 19-TDs. He leads an offense that is averaging 38.6 points per game. Defensively, Holden Sapp and Keiran Glover lead the team in total tackles. Sapp also leads the team in sacks. The Cadets are allowing 26.7 points per game. In their two playoff games, Benedictine is outscoring their opponents 87-58
The Riverdale Raiders have won six straight games and have advanced to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 1998. On the season, Riverdale is averaging 33 points per game while the defense is only allowing 8.5 points. In their two playoff games, they are outscoring their opponents 86-24. This will be the first time the Raiders will play on the road in the playoffs this season. It should be fun to see Riverdale quarterback Avaun Rucker duel with Benedictine’s Geriner. We really like Riverdale’s defense, but believe the long road trip will be tough to overcome. We’ll take Benedictine by 6.
The Skinny
The Jefferson Dragons are making their fourth quarterfinals appearance in the last five years. Jefferson has shut out their last three opponents and are averaging 45.8 points per game on offense while only allowing 6.9 points per game. In their two playoff appearances, the Dragons have outscored their opponents 100-0. The Dragons are only attempting about 4 passes per game this season. As a team, they’ve rushed for 3,257 yards and 47-TDs. Quarterback Malaki Starks is the engine for the Dragons as he’s rushed for 1,053 yards and 17-TDs. We mentioned Starks does not throw it often, but of his 15 completions on the season, 10 have gone for touchdowns.
The Carver Columbus Tigers will travel across the state to face Jefferson on Friday night. It will be the first time the Tigers have advanced to the quarterfinals since 2013. Carver shutout Baldwin last week in a defensive battle and kept their record spotless in the process. It was the second shutout of the year for the Tigers defense which is allowing 9.9 points per game. Offensively, Carver was kept well below their season average of 38.6 points per game. In their two playoff games, Carver is outscoring their opponents 34-3. We don’t believe they can keep Jefferson to those type numbers this week. Dragons are too explosive, especially at home. We like Jefferson by 18.
The Skinny
The Cedartown Bulldogs ran wild last week on their way to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. Cedartown has now won eight straight games. It was the second shutout of the season for the Bulldogs. They are averaging 36.7 points per game while allowing 10.7 points this season. Cedartown is also run intensive on offense and is led by Harlem Diamond, C.J. Washington and Jayden Johnson. Prior to last weeks win, the trio had combined for 28 rushing TDs and over 1,700 yards.
The Bulldogs will get a visit from the Bainbridge Bearcats who advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time in three years. Bainbridge has won eight straight games coming into this week. They are averaging 31.5 points per game on the season and allowing 15 per game. Bainbridge has outscored their two playoff opponents 85-0. They have a balanced attack behind quarterback Quayde Hawkins (1,771 yards passing 22-TDs), running back Rashad Broadnax (1,209 yards, 15-TDs) and receiver Braxton Johnson (43 receptions, 803 yards, 11-TDs). We find it highly unlikely that Bainbridge will shut out Cedartown this week, but we do like the Bearcats on the road. Bainbridge by 8.
The Skinny
The Perry Panthers find themselves in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2007. The Panthers are winners of their last six games. Quarterback Lane Rucker has now thrown for 1,943 yards and 13-TDs while Makeil Kendrick has rushed for 1,137 yards and 14-TDs. Kendrick went for a season high 195 yards and 3-TDs last week against LaGrange. On the season, Perry is averaging 25 points per game while allowing 15.6. In their two playoff games, they are outscoring their opponents 64-18.
Their opponent this week will be the Marist War Eagles. Marist rolls into the quarterfinals for the eighth time in nine years. The War Eagles earned their seventh shutout of the season and have been absolutely stifling on defense, allowing their opponents an average of 2.7 points per game. While scoring an average of 37.1 points per game. their two playoff games, Marist has outscored their two playoff opponents 73-0. We like Perry to get on the scoreboard this week, but we don’t think they can slow down the War Eagles. We like Marist by three touchdowns.