The GHSA Class A-Public semifinal previews are up next. We preview Metter– Irwin County, and Brooks County – Clinch County. We could affectionately change the name of this preview to the “Region 2 Invitational”, as three of the four teams in the semifinals are from Region 2.
Last week in your Class A Public pics we were 2-2. We underestimated the defending state champs, Irwin County and Clinch County on the road. Congratulations to the Indians and Panthers.
If we had to pick a game in this classification to attend this week, it would definitely be Metter vs Irwin County.
As always, thanks for reading. Please feel free to comment and share. Best of luck to all of the teams competing on Friday night.
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 Metter Tigers have won 13 games for the first time in school history and are making their fifth appearance in the semifinals in school history. Metter went through the regular season relatively unchallenged, but had to survive a first-round scare from Turner County. Metter only gave up a total of 23 points during the regular season. While they’ve given up more than that in three playoff games, defensively, they are trending in the right direction allowing 11 points per game while scoring 32.3 points per game (during the playoffs).
The Irwin County Indians have won four straight games and are back in the semifinals for the seventh time in eight years. Last week, Kam Ward had a huge game, rushing for 212 yards and a touchdown while Cody Soliday threw for three touchdowns to lead the Indians to victory. Soliday has thrown for 1,690 yards and 21-TDs while Ward has rushed for 1,010 yards and 15-TDs. Meanwhile, Gabe Benyard (30 receptions, 765 yards, 8-TDs) and Malachi Hadden (24 receptions, 320 yards, 3-TDs) lead the Irwin County receiving corps. In their three playoff games, Irwin County is averaging 26.6 points per game while allowing 9.3. The Tigers are red hot right now, but something tells us the defending champs are in a rhythm. We like Irwin County by 4.
The Skinny
The Brooks County Trojans have won eight straight games and find themselves back in the semifinals for the third time in four years and for the tenth time in school history. Last week, Omari Arnold rushed for 236 yards and 5-TDs to spearhead the offense. On the year, Arnold has rushed for 1,416 yards and 22-TDs. Quarterback Ni’Tavion Burrus has thrown for 1,812 yards and 22-TDs and also added 459 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs. Arnold is also one of the team’s top receivers alongside Willie Brown. The two have combined to catch 47 passes for 947 yards and 12-TDs. J’Shawn Baker and Camron Priest headline a defense that allowed 11.8 points per game during the regular season. However in three playoff games, Brooks is only allowing an average of 4.6 points per game while the offense is averaging 41.3 points per game.
The Clinch County Panthers will make their second trip to Quitman this season. They have won five straight games and are in the semifinals for the sixth straight season and nineteenth time overall. Perhaps we underestimated the Panthers after a 1-2 start this season, but they have really turned their season around and are back in the semifinals where they have really become comfortable. In three playoff games, the Panthers are averaging 21.3 points per game while allowing 10 points per game. These two teams met earlier this season, with Brooks County winning by 42. We believe this game will be closer than that, but we still like the Trojans at home this week by 10.