Class 7A 2020 GHSA Playoff Previews – Part 1 of 4

Posted on November 23, 2020 by admin

We are previewing all of the 2020 GHSA playoff games. First up is Class 7A. This will be a four-part series. This preview features games between Lowndes – Newton, North Cobb – Pebblebrook, Archer – Gainesville and Milton – Peachtree Ridge.

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 Lowndes Vikings have only missed the playoffs twice since 1996. During that stretch they’ve won 4 State Titles. The Vikings seemed to be an early favorite to win the title, but after a two-week layoff, they have not been as dominant. Nevertheless, the Vikings are averaging 30.3 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing a respectable 19 points per game. They are the No. 2 seed from Region 1. Offensively they are led by dual threat quarterback Jacurri Brown (1076 yards passing, 12-TDs and 770 yards rushing 12-TDs). Justin Lee has added 463 yards rushing and 5-TDs while Dominique Marshall leads the team in receiving with 553 yards and 7-TDs. Jalon Baker leads the team in total tackles with 51 while Thomas Davis leads the team in tackles for loss with 8.5. The Vikings have intercepted 10 passes on the season.

The Newton Rams are the No. 3 Seed from Region 4. The Rams are in the playoffs for the 9th consecutive season. The last four seasons they have not made it out of the first round. Newton is averaging 12.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.3 points per game. In their last three games  they are averaging 5.6 points per game while allowing 26. That’s not the trend you want to see; even against a Lowndes team that is struggling. We like the Vikings by three touchdowns on Friday night.

The Skinny

The North Cobb Warriors are making their ninth playoff appearance in ten years. The Warriors are the No. 1 seed from Region 3. They enter the game on a five-game win streak and are averaging 30.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.8 points per game. They are led by sophomore quarterback Malachi Singleton who has drawn comparisons by some to another great Cobb quarterback named Justin Fields. During their 5-game win streak, they are averaging 35.6 points per game while allowing 17.6 during that same stretch.

The Pebblebrook Falcons are making their fourth playoff appearance in the last five years. They started the season winning five of their first six but have faltered down the stretch losing three of their last four. The Falcons are averaging 26 points per game while allowing 20.7. Pebblebrook uses a spread offense attack with quarterback Craig Adams Jr. taking the snaps. He has a big arm and can beat you running as well. The Falcons should keep this game interesting for three quarters, but we like North Cobb to pull away late in this battle of Cobb County Schools. Warriors by 15.

The Skinny

The Archer Tigers are in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Only twice in school history have they been eliminated in the first round. The Tigers had reeled off six straight wins before falling to Norcross last week. Archer has a very talented secondary highlighted by Edwin Mangual, Jackson McCrary and Caleb Wooden. In their six wins they are averaging 46.5 points per game and allowing 7. In their four losses, they are averaging 12.2 points per game and allowing 33.5. All of their losses were to teams that were ranked at one point in the season.

The Gainesville Red Elephants are in the playoffs for the 21st consecutive season. Gainesville is the third seed from Region 6 and comes into the game losing two of their last three. They are led up front by Cedrick Nicely. The offensive linemen is a real road grader. Quarterback Gionni Williams is a dual threat so the Archer linebackers will have to check to contain him. The Red Elephants are averaging 29.4 points per game and allowing 19.5 points. We believe Archer’s schedule has been a little tougher on the season and like the Tigers to prevail this week by two touchdowns. 

The Skinny

The Milton Eagles are the No. 1 seed from Region 5 and enter this game undefeated. (They did drop a game to Cedar Grove, but the result was reversed due to a forfeit by Cedar Grove.) This is their ninth playoff appearance in ten years. The Eagles are averaging 31.2 points per game and allowing 13.2. They are led by running back Jordan McDonald on offense who possesses a combination of power and speed. The junior has rushed for 1,044 yards and 20-TDs. Defensively, most of the attention is garnered by sophomore lineman L.T. Overton who leads the team with 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss. 

The Peachtree Ridge Lions are the No. 4 seed from Region 8 and are in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The Lions enter the game having dropped four of their last five contests. Peachtree Ridge is averaging 19.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 29.6 points per game. The Lions will need to make this game a defensive struggle. We don’t believe they can match Milton in a shootout. However, we believe Milton is too deep this year. We like the Eagles by four touchdowns. 

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Georgia High School Football Poll – Week 12

Posted on November 22, 2020 by admin

Despite all of the obstacles that teams faced week in and week out, we have made it to the end of the 2020 high school football season in Georgia. A big thank you to all of the teams and communities for allowing us to get this far. Our final regular season Georgia High School Football poll is listed below.

Best of luck to all of the teams competing in the state tournament over the upcoming weeks!

All helmet images are courtesy of the Georgia High School Helmet Project. To see all of their work, please visit: http://www.gahelmetproject.com

Posted in 2020 Top-10 | Leave a comment

Week 12 – Eight Greats Around the State (Georgia High School Football Previews) – Part 2

Posted on November 19, 2020 by admin

We have made it to the final week of the Georgia High School Football regular season schedule. All of the games that we are previewing this week in our Eight Greats Across the State will feature teams competing for a region title. Without any further ado, here is Part 2 of our Georgia High School Football previews.

First up, the Cherokee Warriors find themselves in a position to win a region title for the first time since 2002. This game features two of the better junior running backs in the state. Will it be Cherokee and Keith Adams Jr. asserting their will or will Jordan McDonald and the Milton Eagles run wild again this week? Next up, the Buford Wolves will look to dethrone the reigning Region 8-6A champions on Friday night. Which rushing attack will have the upper hand in this matchup?

The East Coweta Indians and Newnan Cougars have been on a crash course all season. It’s been 19 years since the Indians have won a region title while Newnan will be playing for their first region title in 11 years. Finally, the Wesleyan Wolves will host Mt. Vernon Presbyterian on Friday night. Wesleyan has never lost to Mt. Vernon, but can the Wolves slow down the Mustangs pass happy offense?

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 Cherokee Warriors can claim their first region title since 2002 with a win on Friday night against Milton. The Warriors have been led by athree-headed monster on offense led by quarterback A.J. Swann (1,757 yards, 18-TDs), running back Keith Adams, Jr. (1,246 yards, 14-TDs), and receiver Adarrius Harshaw, (658 yards and 6-TDs). Brady Bocherer and Hayden Shockley have also combined for 52 receptions for 718 yards and 10-TDs. The Warriors have forced 17 turnovers this season and are allowing 14.4 points per game. Braesen Parker has been all over the field with a team high 112 total tackles. 

The Milton Eagles are looking for their third consecutive region title this Friday night if they can win on the road. Last week, Jordan McDonald led the way with 204 yards on just 13 carries and also scored a game high 4-TDs. The junior running back is now up to 785 yards and 16-TDs on the season. Quarterback Devin Farrell has completed 65.8% of his passes for 1,418 yards and 12-TDs and has only thrown one interception this season. Freshmen Debron Gattling and junior Adam Freas lead the team in receiving with a combined 35 receptions for 508 yards and 3-TDs. Twelve different receivers have caught passes for the Eagles this season. Milton is allowing 11.2 points per game. Sophomore sensation L.T. Overton has a team high 24.5 tackles for loss on the season to go along with 12 sacks. This should be a physical contest with two well coached, athletic teams. We like Cherokee to keep it close, but believe that Milton and Overton will do just enough to slow down the Warriors. Milton by 4.

The Skinny

The Buford Wolves have won seven consecutive games since their week-1 loss to North Cobb. During that stretch, the Wolves defense has shutout three opponents and is only allowing 4.2 points per game. As a matter of fact, the Wolves have only allowed 58 points all season. Meanwhile, the offense is averaging 40.2 points per game for the season.

The Dacula Falcons had to hold off Central Gwinett’s upset bid last week for a chance to play for their 5th consecutive region title. The Falcons themselves are winners of their last six games. Their two losses both comae at the hands of 7A programs. The offense has been powered by running back Kyle Efford this season. Dacula is averaging 35.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.7 points per game. Efford is a great talent for the Falcons, but Buford has a few more weapons. We like the Wolves by 10.

The Skinny

The East Coweta Indians are looking for their first region title since 2001. The Indians have reeled off 5 consecutive wins including an overtime victory over Collins Hill earlier this season. Running back Jayden Bolton leads the team with 1,110 yards and 12-TDs while Trey Bowles has rushed for 497 yards and 8-TDs. Amariyon Moss is the leading receiver with 33 receptions for 569 yards and 7-TDs. The Indians area averaging 34.5 points per game while allowing 19.6 points on defense. Chase Lewis leads the team in total tackles (91) and tackles for loss (13). East Coweta has recorded 19.5 sacks on the season.

The Newnan Cougars can win their first region title since 2009 with a win this Friday night. That was also the last time the Cougars were 9-0.  If East Coweta leans a little more to the run, the Newnan Cougars are the converse, as they lean a little more on the passing game. Quarterback Michael Maginnis has thrown for 1,895 tards and 18-TDs with only one interception. Josh Harris (35 receptions, 649 yards, 4-TDs) and Reid Brass (21 receptions, 464 yards, 8-TDs) lead the Cougars in receiving. Meanwhile it has been Bryson Moss (607 yards, 15-TDs) and Aubrey Carter (448 yards, 7-TDs) leading the way for the rushing attack. The Cougars are averaging 38 points per game and allowing 15.7 points per game. Newnan has been red hot, but we like East Coweta at home this week. Indians by 4.

The Skinny

The Wesleyan Wolves will be looking for their first region title in 11 years. The Wolves are winners of their last three games with their only two losses coming to two of the top teams in Class A-Private. Quarterback Ryan Rose has thrown for 1,532 yards and 9-TDs. His top receiver this season has been Wyatt Hodges (33 receptions, 565 yards, 1-TD) while junior running back Griffin Caldwell has rushed for 906 yards and 10-TDs. J.D. Chipman leads the team in total tackles while Tanner Bivins leads the team in tackles for loss with 16. 

The Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Mustangs are also winners of their last three games. The Mustangs have never won a region title in program history, but this season they hope to change their fortunes. Blake Kytle is the leading passer in Class A with 2,219 yards passing and 21-TDs. His top receiver is Andrew Douglas, who’s caught 49 passes for 952 yards and 8-TDs. In their last three games, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian is averaging 51.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 5.6 points in that same stretch. Mt. Vernon has never beaten Wesleyan, but with Kytle having such a great season, we believe this just might be the year. We like Mt. Vernon in an upset on the road. Mustangs by 7.

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Week 12 – Eight Greats Around the State (Georgia High School Football Previews) – Part 1

Posted on November 18, 2020 by admin

We have made it to the final week of the Georgia High School Football regular season schedule. All of the games that we are previewing this week in our Eight Greats Across the State will feature teams competing for a region title. Without any further ado, here is Part 1 of our Georgia High School Football previews.

First up, St. Pius and Decatur will tangle in Atlanta. Can the youth of Decatur slow down the St. Pius Rushing attack and bring home the first Region title in 16 years? Next up in Dalton, the Christian Heritage Lions will host the North Cobb Christian Eagles. Both teams will be vying for their first region title in school history. Can the Lions slow down the Eagles Wing-T attack?

Next, in Montezuma, the Macon County Bulldogs host the red hot Chattahoochee County Panthers. The Panthers are looking for their first region title in school history, while the Bulldogs are seeking their first region title in four years. Finally, the Appling County Pirates host the Pierce County Bears. This will be the third time these two teams will meet with region supremacy on the line. Pierce County has gotten the best of Appling the last two years. Is this the year that the tide turns for the Pirates?

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 St. Pius Lions are in search of their 8th region title in 12 years. The only setback for Pius this season was a three-point loss to Westminster. The Lions are averaging 34.8 points per game this season while the defense is allowing 14.3 points per game. There’s not a ton flashy about St. Pius, but they do play with a blue-collar mentality. Since starting region play, the Lions have not allowed an opponent more than 18 points in a single game and are surrendering 11.4 points per game.

 The Decatur Bulldogs have not gotten off to a start like this since 2003 and have not won a region title since 2004. Yet, these Bulldogs look like they have different intentions come Friday night. Decatur is averaging 32.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 11 points per game. The Bulldogs are statistically led by a few talented underclassmen, sophomore quarterback Harrison Hannah (675 yards, 9-TDs), sophomore running back Marquis Hood (455 yards, 6-TDs) and junior wide receiver Mehki Lloyd (8 receptions, 253 yards, 3-TDs.) Hood is also the team’s leader in sacks with 5, while senior safety Sam Mahany has intercepted seven passes on the season. Decatur has not beaten St. Pius since 1993. We think this will be the closest they’ve been, but we still like Pius by a touchdown. 

The Skinny

The Christian Heritage Lions have won their last six games and are on the cusp of claiming their first region title. The Lions are led on offense by a trio of juniors and one senior. Junior quarterback Christian Thomas has thrown for 1,160 yards and 11-TDs. Meanwhile, juniors Solomon Locke and Gage Leonard have combined for 1,155 yards and 14-TDs and senior receiver Evan Lester has caught 28 passes for 603 yards and 5-TDs. Linebacker Ben Hermann has is tops on the team with 77 total tackles. The Lions are allowing 14.8 points per game on the season.

The North Cobb Christian Eagles have won their last three games, and their opponent this week, they are looking for the first region title in school history. The Eagles are averaging 33.6 points per game in the Wing-T offense. But North Cobb Christian is not a one-trick pony in this offense. They’ve shown this season that their running backs are excellent receivers as well. Meanwhile, the defense is allowing 15.8 points per game. We thought the long road trip might have some toll on North Cobb Christian, but they weren’t impacted by a long trip to Rome a few weeks ago. We believe North Cobb gets the victory on the road. Eagles by 3.

The Skinny

The Macon County Bulldogs are looking for their first region title since 2016, when they won the Class A state title. The Bulldogs enter the game winners of four straight, with their only blemish coming at the hands of Class AA Toombs County by a field goal. Quarterback Jakalen Williams has thrown for 1,130 yards and 15-TDs while Davion Clark and Branden Cochran have combined for 985 yards and 17-TDs on the ground. Meanwhile, Jaden Hayes and Marcus Sanders have combined for 39 receptions for 785 yards and 12-TDs. Shelquavius Byse and Kenwan Felton are tops on the team in total tackles. Felton also leads the team in sacks with 8. 

The Chattahoochee County Panthers are 8-0 for the first time in school history. They are also in search of their first region title in the schools 14-year history. Save for a 6-0 shutout victory over Marion County, the Panthers have not been challenged as of late. Chattahoochee County is averaging 32 points per game while the defense is allowing 5.7 points per game with three shutouts. That’s impressive no matter what classification that you play in. But we believe the Bulldogs are a little more talented this season and we like the fact that their playing at home. That should be enough to give Macon County a slight edge. Bulldogs by 5.

The Skinny

The Appling County Pirates will be looking for their first region title since 2013 with a victory on Friday night. The last two seasons, the Pirates have come up short against Pierce County. Appling County is averaging 44.4 points per game on offense while the defense is only allowing 10.5 points per game. The Pirates defense has been flying all over the field all season and expect more of that attacking style defense. Darris Smith has been tough to block for most teams all season. Expect to see him try to wreak havoc in the Pierce County backfield.

The Pierce County Bears are in search of their third consecutive region title. Pierce is averaging 34.3 points per game while the defense is allowing a paltry 7.8 points. Quarterback Jermain Brewton is completing just under 70% of his passes for 1,051 yards and 17-TDs. Sophomore running back D.J. Bell has rushed for 850 yards and 8-TDs. Spencer Woodcock leads the defense in total tackles while Seth Foster leads the team in tackles for loss, with 22. The Bears have recorded 31 sacks and 8 interceptions. We expect both defenses to shine this week, but we believe the third time is a charm for Appling. We like the Pirates by 2.

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Cherokee County Football Previews – Week 12

Posted on November 17, 2020 by admin

We have reached the final week of the regular season of high school football in Georgia. There is still a lot to be determined this weekend as all six Cherokee County football teams are in action. We will preview the Cherokee Milton game in our Eight Greats Around the State later this week.

First up Creekview hosts Johns Creek. The Grizzlies and the Gladiators both look to claim the No. 2 spot and a home playoff game with a win this week. Down in Woodstock, the River Ridge Knights will host the Cambridge Bears. Cambridge has been resurgent over the last few weeks, but will they find enough offense to outlast River Ridge?

The Sequoyah Chiefs will host the Centennial Knights on Saturday. The Chiefs are playing for a playoff spot, with some help, while the Knights are playing the role of spoiler. Meanwhile, Woodstock will travel to Roswell in a winner take all match. Can Woodstock pull the upset and qualify for the playoffs?

Finally, the Etowah Eagles will host the Alpharetta Raiders on Friday as they are in search of their first win of the season. With a win, the Raiders should all but clinch the No. 3 seed in the region.

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 Creekview Grizzlies will host the Johns Creek Gladiators as they look to keep a stranglehold on the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game next week. Creekview had their game canceled last week, so they should be fresh. As we mentioned in last week’s preview, The Grizzlies welcomed back one of their star receivers, Andrew Cloy and also exploded for the most points offensively this season as they downed Chattahoochee two weeks ago. While the offense looks like they are catching their stride, we have beat the drum all season about their defense. It’s a defense that has recorded 41.5 sacks and forced 13 turnovers on the season. 

The Johns Creek Gladiators also had their game against River Ridge canceled last week. They still have their sights set on a region title with a win and some help from Cambridge this week. Running backs Dylan Parr and Tank Pritchett have helped to pace the Johns Creek offense. The Gladiators are averaging 20.2 points per game in the season. While they’re defense is allowing 19.7. The defense is led by linemen Cole Nelson and David Alexander while Terian Williams, John Stegenga and the aforementioned Pritchett help patrol the secondary. The Gladiators certainly have the talent to match the Grizzlies, but can they be as physical as Creekview. That’s easier said than done. We like the Grizzlies by 11.

The Skinny

The River Ridge Knights are looking to claim an outright region title with a win on Saturday. After a pair of one possession victories, the Knights have outscored their opponents 66-16 in the last two games and have not allowed a second half touchdown since October 2nd. Going into last Friday, junior running back Amehre Morrison was the leading rusher in Class 6A with 1,480 yards and 20-TDs. Quarterback Carson Lathem has thrown for 1,086 yards and 11-TDs and he’s got a few good receiving options in Jackson Head, Riley Caines and Andrew “Big Play” Bingham. River Ridge is allowing 15.8 points per game. 

The resurgent Cambridge Bears have won four of their last five games as they are trying to earn a playoff berth. The Bears got a big game from their running backs last week as Phillip Michael Collins and Christian Isibor rushed for a combined six touchdowns in last week’s victory over the Chattahoochee. The Cambridge defense is giving up an average of 16 points per game in the last three outings. If they can continue that trend and find a way to slow down Morrison, we believe they have a fighting chance. They really need to jump on River Ridge early and often, because the Knights have been lights out in the second half of games this season. With all that said, we like River Ridge by 10.

The Skinny

The Sequoyah Chiefs got a big win on the road without one of their star players this past Friday. Without Jaden Mitchell, the Chiefs used a couple of unusual suspects in Peyton Lucas and Evan Sengstock to help power them to a victory on Friday night. The win put the Chiefs in position to clinch a playoff berth if they can win on Saturday, but will also need a River Ridge victory over Cambridge as well. The Chiefs are now averaging 19.8 points per game, while the defense is allowing 26.8 points per game. The defense kept Riverwood in check most of the night. Sequoyah has won three of their last four games. 

The Centennial Knights are looking to close this season out with a win. Their game last week against  Creekview was canceled. The Knights have used a few quarterbacks this season including Zaire Goff, Jett Miller and Tyler Laskaris as the try to find a combination that works best. Whoever is under center this week will look to get the ball to Julian Nixon at wide receiver. The Tennessee commit is a big and physical wide receiver that is definitely a matchup-up problem for most high school secondaries. Centennial is averaging 10.5 points per game while allowing 34.8 points per game. If the Knights can throw the ball downfield with accuracy, this could be an interesting game. However, the Chiefs seemed to have tightened up in the secondary since the Cambridge game. We like Sequoyah by two touchdowns this week.

The Skinny

The Roswell Hornets look to bounce back this week after an upset loss to Alpharetta threw a monkey wrench into the Region 5-7A playoff picture. A Hornets win would guarantee a playoff spot, while a loss could have them watching the postseason from home. Roswell is averaging 29.2 points per game, but allowing 18.5 points per game. The Hornets use a balanced attack of Ryan Hill and Ryan Stephens at running back (the duo has combined for 1,066 yards and 11-TDs), while Robbie Roper has thrown for 1,747 yards and 16 TDs. Marquis Willis leads Roswell with 42 receptions for 666 yards and 5-TDs.

The Woodstock Wolverines can qualify for the playoffs outright with a win this week combined with an Alpharetta win over Etowah. In order to do that, the Wolverines will need to bounce back from a loss to Milton last week. Woodstock did show some explosiveness on offense behind the young quarterback Dan Comeau. Comeau threw the ball early and often last week to a number of receivers including Hudson Burns, Omar Dupree, Wes Bruno and UGA commit David Daniel. Burns led the way with 150 yards on 10 receptions last week. Defensively, the Wolverines will need to get pressure on Robbie Roper and slow down Ryan Stephens and Ryan Hill if they are going to have a shot to pull the upset. We expect Woodstock to come out fighting, but believe Roswell is just a little more talented this season. Hornets by 13.

The Skinny

The Etowah Eagles have one more shot to get their first win of the season in Friday night and can play spoiler with a win. The Eagles jumped out to a lead last week against Forsyth Central, but could not hang on. As has been the case all season, they’ll need to find a ways to score more points to have a chance this week. The Eagles are averaging 7.8 points per game while allowing 27.4.

The Alpharetta Raiders secured a playoff spot lost week with an upset win over Roswell. This week, the Raiders will look to solidify the No. 3 seed with a win. The Alpharetta defense and special teams came up with big plays to change the momentum of the game last week in their big win. On the season, Alpharetta is averaging 24.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 22 points per game. Can Alpharetta finish the drill this week and slow down Klivert Many and the Eagles? We think they can. Alpharetta by three touchdowns.

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Georgia High School Football Poll – Week 11

Posted on November 15, 2020 by admin

We have one more week to go in the regular season. We are grateful to have made it this far into the season with everything going on around us. Let’s take a look at this week’s TFR Georgia High School Football Poll.

In Class 7A, Archer finds themselves back in the Top-10 after Roswell fell to rival Alpharetta on Friday night. The remainder of the 7A poll remains unchanged. In Class 6A, there were some surprising results, but only one new entrant into the poll, the Rome Wolves. The perennial power finds themselves ranked in our poll for the first time all season.

Down in Class 5-A, Calhoun drops two spots after their loss to Cartersville. Otherwise no, new teams enter the poll. In Class 4-A Hapeville Charter climbs back into the poll after defeating previous No. 10 Stephenson, but this still looks like Marist’s race to win.

The Class 3-A poll remains unchanged, despite Cedar Grove having to forfeit 4 games. We still believe they are the best team in this classification. Meanwhile, Rabun County is our new No. 1 in Class 2-A after Callaway lost to Haralson County. The Cavs did bounce back to defeat Temple on Saturday.

In Class A-Public, Dublin vaults to the top spot after Irwin County was upset by Clinch County. Meanwhile, down in Class A-Private, the Darlington Tigers claw their way back into the Top-10 at No. 10 this week.

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

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Week 11 – Eight Greats Around the State (Georgia High School Football Previews) – Part 1

Posted on November 11, 2020 by admin

We have made it to the penultimate week of the GHSA Football regular season. This week, our Eight Greats Around the State take us from Washington to Columbus to Calhoun to Leesburg and several stops in between. There is still a lot to be determined regarding playoff seeding over the last two weeks. Without further ado, here are this weeks Georgia High School Football Previews.

First up, Jonesboro will host Creekside as both teams have aspirations of a region title if they can just win out and in some cases, get a little help. Both defenses have been dominant, but will the passing attack of Jonesboro or the ground game of Creekside be the difference maker this week? Over in Region 8-A Public, it’s a battle of Tigers as Washington-Wilkes host Commerce. Both teams are effective running the ball, but which defense will prevail and help lead their team to a potential region title.

Up in Calhoun, the Yellow Jackets will host the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes Friday. Both teams are vying for a home playoff berth. There are playmakers on both sides of the ball, but can Calhoun figure out the Cartersville defensive riddle that has plagued them the last two meetings. Finally, in Douglasville, the Douglas County Tigers host the Rome Wolves. Both of theses teams are also playing for a home playoff berth and an outside chance at a region title, although, they’ll both need some help. Will it be the youthful Rome Wolves or the battle tested defense of Douglas County that shines brightest on Friday.

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 Jonesboro Cardinals will attempt to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season. The Cardinals would host a playoff game if they win out and could potentially tie for the region title with some help. The Jonesboro offense has not been that prolific, but they’ve done enough to put points on the board in key situations. Quarterback Chadrick Garner has shown great touch on his deep balls while receivers Jakell Mitchell, Ahlike Booker and Nathaniel Adams have shown their ability to make tremendous catches as well as great runs after receptions. The biggest story for Jonesboro might be their defense, as they are only allowing 7.4 points per game. 

Meanwhile, the Creekside Seminoles have bounced back after losing their first two games to win four straight. It should be noted that their two losses were to Westlake and Cartersville, two ranked teams that are competing for their respective region titles. Creekside leans heavily on the run as Kamauri Davis has rushed for 816 yards and 4-TDs to lead the way for the Seminoles. As a team, Creekside has rushed for 1,801 yards and 15-TDs. Creekside’s defense has held opponents to 15 points per game this season. Denard Flowers is tops on the team with 7 sacks while Dainsus Miller, Daiquan White and Derrick White have each intercepted two passes on the season. Freshman Roderrick McCrary leads the defense with 53 total tackles. Jonesboro will need big plays out of their receiving corps to knock of Creekside, but we think the Creekside rushing attack will be the difference. Seminoles by 6. 

The Skinny

The Washington-Wilkes Tigers are in position to clinch their first region title since 2013 if they can beat visiting Commerce this week. As we mentioned last week in our write-up, expect for the Tigers to serve up a steady dose of Zaikious Jackson and Dalen Cobb on the ground. The Tigers do tend to run more than they throw, but Cobb is completed 61% of his passes for 794 yards and 10-TDs. Quinzabian Jackson is generally the go to receiver for the Tigers. Coach Sid Fritts has Washington-Wilkes averaging 39.8 points per game while the defense is only allowing 6.6 points per game, with three shutouts to their credit. 

The Commerce Tigers come into this game on the heels of a 5-game win streak. During that streak, no one has really challenged them, as their closest game was a 26-point win last week over Social Circle, (and the Redskins did much of their damage after the game was well in hand). While we had focused on the Commerce running attack, led by Tyelon Brock and freshman Sammy Brown, quarterback Trey Huff has proved he can do more than just hand the ball off to the Commerce backs in the wing-T. He’s a legitimate threat to throw and run. Similar to Washington-Wilkes, Commerce is averaging 39.2 points per game, but they are allowing 15.2 points on defense. There is not a lot of history between these two programs, but there will be a lot at stake come kick-off. If Commerce can get Sammy Brown and Tyelon Brock off to a fast start we like their chances, even against a stingy Washington-Wilkes defense. This one should be about as tight as one would expect in a game between two top-10 teams. We like Commerce to just get by Washington-Wilkes by 2 points.

The Skinny

The Calhoun Yellow Jackets have a chance to host a home playoff game if they can somehow find a way to defeat Cartersville this week. Calhoun is led by running back Jerrian Hames, who is closing in on 1,100 yards rushing. Perhaps the guys up front don’t get enough credit, but Reed Randall and Kendrick Kirby help anchor the offensive line that has paved the way for Hames. Quarterback Christian Lewis is also well over 1,600 yards passing on the season while Cole Speer has staked his claim as one of the top receivers in Class 5-A. Going into last Friday, Speer was the leading receiver in terms of yardage in all of 5-A. The Jackets are averaging 35.7 point per game while the defense is allowing 16.5 points per game. 

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes can also play themselves into a home playoff game with a win on Friday night. Cartersville has won their last three games, outscoring their opponents 157-26. It seems like the loss to Cherokee back in early October reset and refocused the Canes. Prior to last week’s game, quarterbacks Stratton Tripp and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson had combined for 1,522 yards passing and 14-TDs. Quante’ Jennings continues to lead the Canes on the ground while Sam Phillips and Devonta Ross are the leading receivers for Cartersville. Ross, Amarai Orr, Phillips and Evan Slocum will also be lurking in the secondary to help slow down Cole Speer. On the season, Cartersville is only allowing 9.7 points per game with two shutouts to their credit. In their last two games, Cartersville has outscored Calhoun 114-6. We suspect Calhoun will score much more than 6-points this week, but we believe the Canes will eke out a victory on the road. Cartersville by 4.

The Skinny

The Douglas County Tigers are looking to secure a home playoff berth and perhaps a region title if the chips can fall into place. The Douglas County defense has been very impressive this season. They’ve shutout two opponents and are allowing only 9.1 points per game. Sophomore Shakai Woods leads the team in total tackles. Georgia Tech commit Joshua Robinson and UGA commit Jonathan Jefferson anchor the defensive line. And both lead the team in sacks with eight a piece. Offensively, running back Kobe Harris leads the team with 789 yards and 8-TDs while Justin Franklin leads the team in receiving with 434 yards and 4-TDs. 

The Rome Wolves are also looking to host a home playoff game and can do so if they win out. Rome has won three straight games coming into this week. The wolves have not been putting up dominant numbers but are doing what they need to do to win. Rome has been incorporating some of their young talent in key spots this season, including players like quarterback Reece Fountain, and running backs Caden Williams and Shaun Nelson. But don’t forget about key upperclassmen such as running back E.J. Lackey (583 yards, 2-TDs) and receiver Jay Wise I32 receptions, 448 yards, 2-TDs). The Wolves are averaging 20 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.6 points per game. We believe defense will rule the day and that points will be at a premium. Rome can win this game if they can force turnovers and neutralize the Douglas County defensive line. With all of that said, we like Douglas County by 5. 

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Week 11 – Eight Greats Around the State (Georgia High School Football Previews) – Part 2

Posted on November 11, 2020 by admin

We have made it to the penultimate week of the GHSA Football regular season. This week, our Eight Greats Around the State take us from Washington to Columbus to Calhoun to Leesburg and several stops in between. There is still a lot to be determined regarding playoff seeding over the last two weeks. Without further ado, here are this week’s Georgia High School Football Previews.

Our first game takes us to Columbus, where Hardaway will host Carver. The Hawks will be looking for their first region title in quite a while. Which rushing attack will have the most success on Friday night. Or perhaps a better questions, which team will be able to control the line of scrimmage? Next up in Atlanta, Westlake will host Lovejoy with Westlake looking to secure a home playoff berth and a region title as well. But Lovejoy’s defense has been as tough as they come. Does Westlake have enough offense?

Over in Cumming, the Denmark Danes have their eyes set on their first ever region title and can do so with two wins to close out the regular season. Standing in their way this week are the Gainesville Red Elephants. Can Gainesville’s pressure defense rattle Denmark QB Aaron McLaughlin? Finally, down in Leesburg in perhaps the biggest game in the state, Lee County hosts Valdosta. The region title is on the line this week and we expect another tightly contested matchup between these two teams.

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 Hardaway Hawks find themselves in position to win their first region title since 1984 if they can win their last two games of the season. But standing in front of them this week is rival Carver. Hardaway’s defense has shutout three of their opponents and is only allowing 7.3 points per game on the season. Jakeveon Upshaw has led the way with 80 total tackles, while Devontae McGill, Mykel Williams and Alexander Graham have combined for 27.5 of the teams 39.5 sacks on the year. On offense, Jordan Moultrie is the straw that stirs the drink for the Hawks. The junior running back has rushed for 832 yards and 9-TDs, while Kentavious Day has chipped in 591 yards and 6-TDs. Hardaway is averaging 39.5 points per game this season.

The Carver Columbus Tigers also enter this game undefeated overall and looking to earn their second consecutive region title and 10th in the last 14 years. Similar to Hardaway, Carver has done the bulk of their damage on the ground with running backs Jaiden Credle (527 yards, 9-TDs) and Jamari Riley (406 yards, 8-TDs) leading the way for a team that is averaging a shade over 232 rushing yards per game. But the Tigers have also gone to the air as quarterback Devin Riles is completing 69.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and 12-TDs; his leading receiver is William Bonilla (19 receptions, 385 yards, 4-TDs). The Tigers defense has been fairly stingy this season allowing teams an average of 7.6 points per game while not allowing any opponent to score more than 14 points in any single game. They’ve also sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 teams while intercepting six passes. This series has been one of streaks, and right now Carver has won the last 11. We really like their defense and their chances to make it 12 consecutive wins over Hardaway this week. Carver by 10.

The Skinny

The Westlake Lions are in search of their seventh consecutive region title. The Lions have passed all of their tests with flying colors to this point, but they have a couple of high-profile matchups to close out their season. Westlake has won four straight entering this game and are averaging an astonishing 50.7 points per game during that win streak. Quarterback R.J. Johnson has thrown for 1,728 yards and 13-TDs. His top two receivers have been Dacari Collins (30 receptions, 558 yards, 6-TDs) and Leo Blackburn (24 receptions, 408 yards, 2-TDs) Junior running back Zina Mulbah has 665 yards and 9-TDs on the season to help pace the Westlake offense.

The Lovejoy Wildcats suffered their first setback of the season last week as they fell to the upstart Langton Hughes Panthers. The Wildcats can still win a region title, but will need to win out and need some help from the Tucker Tigers. On the season, Lovejoy is averaging 25.1 points per game while the defense is only allowing 9.8 points per game. Prior to last Saturday’s game, Lovejoy had not surrendered more than a touchdown in a game since mid-September. Michael Brooks leads the team in total tackles, while fellow linebacker Amos Barber is close behind. Perhaps the biggest playmaker on both sides of the ball is Eastern Michigan commit, Quentavious Scandrett. Lovejoy’s defense has been really good, but we think Westlake’s offense is just a little better this week. Westlake by 8. 

The Skinny

After starting 0-3 on the season, the Denmark Danes have a region title in their sight if they can win out. The Danes are on a four-game win streak entering this week’s matchup at home. Denmark’s biggest advantage will be quarterback Aaron McLaughlin. The N.C. State commit has a big-time arm and although they list him as a pro-style quarterback, he is also savvy enough to beat teams on the ground as well. He’s tough to bring down and is usually always falling forward when he does leave the pocket and runs up field. The Danes are averaging 22.2 points per game while their defense is allowing 15.8.

The Gainesville Red Elephants can still win the Region title, but they will need to win out and get a little help. Gainesville fell to West Forsyth last week and will be looking to bounce back on Friday. Quarterback Gionni Williams may not get the same press as Denmark’s QB, but he does a great job of getting the ball downfield and is also a threat to run as well. The offensive line is anchored by Ole Miss commit Cedrick Nicely. The Gainesville defense is fast and always seems to be forcing the issue. On the season the Red Elephants are averaging 32 points per game while the defense is allowing 21.3. We anticipate a closely contested ballgame, but believe McLaughlin will deliver for the Danes. Denmark by 7.

The Skinny

The Lee County Trojans are in search of their 4th consecutive region title and third consecutive win over Valdosta this Friday night. The Trojans only setback this year was to then Class 7A No. 1 Lowndes. Since that game, Lee County has reeled off five consecutive wins. Last week, Preston Simmons was the bell cow for the offense with over 150 yards and 2-TDs in the victory. Lee County is averaging 35.2 points per game on offense and 10.8 points per game on defense. However, in their two region games, the offense is averaging 23.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 10 points per game.

The Valdosta Wildcats come into this game on a three-game win streak of their own. During that span, the Wildcats have shutout two of their opponents and are allowing 4.6 points per game. The offense is averaging 28.6 points per game during that same stretch. Quarterback Amara Jones looks more and more comfortable for the Cats each week. That’s not a surprise, with receivers such as Tahj Sanders, Javonte Sherman, and Aalah Brown to throw to. The Valdosta defense has recorded 36.5 sacks and forced 11 turnovers this season. Valdosta has been playing better football since the 2nd half of the Lowndes game. They’ve closed the gap with Lee County over the last two seasons. Even though they’re on the road, We really like the Cats defense to be the difference in a close ball game. Valdosta by 3.

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Cherokee County Football Previews – Week 11

Posted on November 11, 2020 by admin

We are down to the final two weeks of the regular season of high school football here in Georgia. However, there is still a lot to be settled with regards to playoff seeding. Here are our Week 11 Cherokee County Football Previews.

In our first game, Woodstock will host the Milton Eagles. Woodstock hopes to keep their playoff hopes alive with a victory, while a Milton win would move them one step closer to a region title. Meanwhile, the Etowah Eagles will travel to Cumming to take on the Forsyth Central Bulldogs. This is a makeup game from a COVID cancellation earlier this season. Both teams have been elimanted from post season play but are looking to end the season on a high note.

Speaking of COVID, Creekview’s game against Centennial has been canceled this week. Since we took the time to write the preview, we included it here anyway. (Welcome back Andrew Cloy!) There’s a big matchup in Johns Creek for sole possession of the No. 1 spot as Johns Creek hosts River Ridge. Johns Creek is loaded with talent, but can they turn River Ridge’s dream season into a nightmare on Friday? Finally, Sequoyah travels to Sandy Springs to take on Riverwood. Will Sequoyah be able to slow down the Riverwood passing attack?

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 Woodstock Wolverines picked up their first win in three games last week as the downed neighborhood rival Etowah. In the process the Wolverines kept their playoff hopes alive. The defense scored twice in the victory. As we’ve mentioned before, the offense will need to get clicking with sophomore quarterback Dan Comeau. He’s steadily climbing up the ranks of passing yardage leaders in the county. The Wolverines are up to 20.6 points per game in scoring offense, but the defense is allowing an average of 26.8. That might not bode well against this week’s opponents.

The Milton Eagles are fresh off of a Saturday victory against long-time rival, Roswell. The Eagles jumped out to a three-score lead, but almost allowed the Hornets to get right back into the game. Milton is averaging 26.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.8 points. We finally had a chance to watch the Eagles play this season. Here are our takeaways. Devin Farrell throws a really good ball and he’s “slippery” when he scrambles out of the pocket. Debron Gattling is just a freshman at wide receiver, but he is going to be a big-time playmaker. Speaking of playmakers, L.T. Overton is better than advertised on the defensive side of the ball. I mean outright scary good. Jordan McDonald is pretty good running back. And let’s not forget the feisty Zack Tumminia at defensive tackle who can plug up a lot of gaps. We expect for Milton to end Woodstock’s playoff chances this week. We like the Eagles by three touchdowns. 

The Skinny

The Forsyth Central Bulldogs wind down their season with a rescheduled game that was seemingly lost earlier this season. The Bulldogs lean heavily on the run. As a team they’ve amassed 1,258 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Peyton Streko (304 yards, 4-TDs) and quarterback Bronson Landreth (242 yards, 2-TDs) have led the way on the ground this season. The Bulldogs have only attempted 88 passes this season. That’s more than the 67 they attempted last season, but expect a steady dose of ball contral from Central. The Bulldogs are averaging 22 points per game, but allowing 23.7 points per game.

The Etowah Eagles will be looking to end their season on a high note over the next two weeks. Running back Klivert Many is closing in on 700 yards rushing on the season for Etowah and has 6-TDs on the year to help pace the offense. Establishing the run game will be key for the Eagles this week. Etowah is only averaging 8 points per game this season, but they have been competitive throughout. Lane Cantrell continues to lead the Eagles in total tackles. If Etowah can keep this game low scoring we like their chances this week. We believe it will be lower scoring, but we like Central by a field goal at home. 

The Skinny

The Johns Creek Gladiators still have their sights set on a region title and can accomplish that goal be winning the last two games of the season. Running backs Dylan Parr and Tank Pritchett have helped to pace the Johns Creek offense. The Gladiators are averaging 20.2 points per game in the season. While they’re defense is allowing 19.7. The defense is led by linemen Cole Nelson and David Alexander while Terian Williams, John Stegenga and the aforementioned Pritchett help patrol the secondary. 

The River Ridge Knights can wrap up a region title with a win this week. River Ridge got another big game from Amehre Morrison who has gone over 100-yards rushing in all but one game this season. The junior is one of the top backs in the state with over 1,480 yards and 19-TDs on the season. But he’s not the only weapon on offense, receivers Jackson Head, Riley Caines and the versatile Andrew “Big Play” Bingham have all come up with big games for the Knights offense…and we haven’t even mentioned the ever-steady quarterback Carson Lathem. Meanwhile, the Ridge’s defense is only allowing 15.8 points per game and Brian Bradley is becoming a real problem for opposing offensive lines. But with all of that said, don’t expect for River Ridge to blow out Johns Creek this week. The Gladiators are battle tested. We think it’s very possible Johns Creek can knock of River Ridge this week. We just don’t think it’s probable. It will be close, but we like River Ridge by 4. 

The Skinny

The Centennial Knights will be looking for their first win of the season win they host the Creekview Grizzlies. The Knights have used a few quarterbacks this season including Zaire Goff, Jett Miller and Tyler Laskaris as the try to find a combination that works best. Whoever is under center this week will look to get the ball to Julian Nixon at wide receiver. The UT commit is a big and physical wide receiver that is definitely a matchup-up problem for most high school secondaries. One of the biggest problems for the Knights is that they have not been able to get into the endzone with much consistency as they are only averaging 10.5 points per game while allowing 34.8 points per game. 

The Creekview Grizzlies welcomed back on of their star receivers, Andrew Cloy and also exploded for the most points offensively this season as they downed Chattahoochee last Friday. In his return, Cloy caught three passes for 55 yards and 2-TDs. Meanwhile, Tyler Stevens churned out 222 yards and a touchdown in the win. Stevens has now gone over the century mark four times this season and has 793 yards and 6-TDs on the year. The Creekview defense is still only allowing 9.6 points per game. The Grizzlies have tallied 41.5 sacks and forced 13 turnovers. The Creekview defense against the Centennial offense makes us think that this one can get out of hand. Creekview won’t need a ton of points this week, but we think they’ll top the 38 they scored last week. We like Creekview by 30 this week.

The Skinny

The Riverwood Raiders will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive this Friday night. They will also be looking to stop a four-game skid after they won their first three games of the season. During the losing streak, Riverwood is averaging 13.5 points per game, but allowing 22.7 points per game. By now it should come as no surprise that quarterback Avery Smith will look to get the ball to his playmakers Donovan Logan and Khalil Anderson. The Raiders will operate primarily out of the shotgun and look for favorable matchups in the secondary. And when Smith can’t find those matchups, he’s a threat to scramble down field.

Much like Riverwood, the Sequoyah Chiefs are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win this week would go a really long way for Sequoyah. They’ll need to bounce back from a loss last week to compete against a talented Riverwood team. Sequoyah will need another big game from senior Jaden Mitchell and sophomore quarterback Matthew Traynor. Mitchell has now rushed for over 800 yards on the season with 8-TDs. While the Chiefs have been able to find the endzone this season, they are only averaging 18.8 points per game, while the defense is allowing 28.1 points per game. They will have to get that under control this week or they may be watching their playoff hopes slip from their grasp. This might be a good matchup for the Chiefs however, since they can key in on the quarterback. We anticipate a close game, but like the Chiefs by two this Friday. 

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Georgia High School Football Poll – Week 10

Posted on November 8, 2020 by admin

We have come down to the final two weeks of the Georgia High School Football Season. We saw some interesting game results this past week. Most region races are beginning to come into focus. This week’s Georgia High School Football reflects some those outcomes from this past week.

In Class 7A, there are no new teams entering the poll this week, but both Grayson, Colquitt County and Milton scored big wins as they vie for the No. 1 seed in their respective regions. In Class 6A, we welcome the Langston Hughes Panthers to the fray. They scored a big win over Lovejoy and make their debut at No. 9 this week.

Meanwhile, the Class 5-A top-10 remains unchanged from last week. Their were no new entries in Class 4-A either. Stephenson did tumble a few spots after their loss to Marist. However, in Class 3-A, the Richmond Academy Musketeers make their debut at No. 10. They were snubbed a few weeks ago after a big win over Thomson. They’ll have a big game with Burke County to close out the season in two weeks.

Class 2-A has been topsy-turvy all season long and this week was no different. Three teams dropped from the poll this week (Putnam County, Northeast and Bleckley County), they are replaced by Jefferson County who enters the poll for the first time this season and Lovett and Jeff Davis, who are back in the Top-10 this week, after spending a few weeks in the poll earlier this season.

In Class A-Public, there was a little bit of shuffling in the Top-10, but no new teams cracked into the poll this week. Meanwhile, in Class-A Public, Whitefield Academy, enters the Top-10 for the first time at No. 10. They have a big showdown with No. 2 ELCA this Friday.

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

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