GHSA Football Rankings – Week 7

Posted on September 24, 2023 by admin

As calm as last week was with regards to upsets, this week was quite the opposite as rankings in almost all of the classes were turned upside down after Friday night’s results. This is our weekly feature in which we rank the top teams in each of the classifications for Georgia High School Football.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in 7A was North Cobb beating Milton, at Milton. The win for the Warriors puts them in the rankings for the first time this season at No. 7 while Milton falls to No. 9. Meanwhile, the Newton Rams finally crack the Top-10 at No. 8. Parkview is down to No. 10 after their loss to Mill Creek. In Class 6A, Douglas County pulled the biggest upset, downing the defending state champs and previous No. 2 Langston Hughes. With the win, the Tigers are up to No. 6 this week while Hughes falls to No. 8. Brunswick drops out of the poll after an overtime loss to rival Glynn Academy. That made room for North Atlanta to settle in at No. 10.

Down in Class 5A, Ware County dropped a game to Class 4A Bainbridge which was a surprise to us. That loss drops the Gators down to No. 10 this week. Meanwhile, Warner Robins got the short end of the stick in a middle Georgia battle as they fell to Class 6A Houston County. The loss drops Warner Robins to No. 9 this week. The big upset in Class 4A was Starr’s Mill defeating Troup County. The win catapults Starr’s Mill into the rankings this week at No. 9 while Troup falls all the way to No. 10. One other team of note, Spalding shut out Baldwin, who was previously No. 6. The win for Spalding moves them up to No. 6 this week while Baldwin fell out of the Top-10.

In Class 3A there were no real surprises. Calvary Day won a battle of Top-10 teams as they defeated Savannah Christian. As a result of that game, Savannah Christian falls to No. 10. The rankings in Class 2A remained the same this week as those teams in action avoided upsets.

Down in Class A-Division I, Irwin County was upset by Metter. The loss drops the Irwin from the Top-10 this week for the first time in a few years. Meanwhile, Lamar County is back in at No. 10 for the first time in a few weeks. In Class A-Division II, Schley County continued their mastery of this classification as they knocked off previous No. 2 Macon County by 24. The loss by Macon drops them to No. 4 this week.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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)

AAAAAAA

AAAAAA

AAAAA

AAAA

AAA

AA

A DIVISION-I

A DIVISION-II

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Eight Greats Around the State: Georgia High School Football Previews Week 6 – Part II

Posted on September 20, 2023 by admin

We have officially reached the halfway point of the Georgia High School Football season. Many teams have already begun region play and in this edition of our Eight Greats Around the State, we feature some matchups that should go a long way in determining either region champions and perhaps a first round home playoff game.

First up, the Colquitt County Packers will host the Cedar Grove Saints. The Saints will be facing their fourth consecutive Class 7A team. Will they be able to keep pace with the Packers this week? Down in Pooler, the Savannah Christian Raiders will host rival Calvary Day. The Raiders are looking to pick up another region title, but Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger and company have plans for a back-to back region titles. This game might just determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seed.

Over in Doulgasville, there is a big matchup of two high powered offense as the Douglas County Tigers host the defending Class 6A state champs, the Langston Hughes Panthers. The Panthers can really put a hold on Region 5 with a win over Douglas County, but Sire Hardaway and the Tigers should have enough in the tank to make this a back and forth affair. Finally, the Parkview Panthers will host defending 7A state champ, Mill Creek. This game features two of the top teams in Gwinnett County. Can the Panthers keep rolling or will quarterback Shane Throgmartin continue his hot start?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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

Colquitt County will get back to work after the bye week. The Packers have won all of their games by at least 17-points this season. They are averaging 196 yards per game on the ground and 243 yards per game through the air. Quarterback Neko Fann has thrown for 937 yards and 14-TDs while completing 63% of his passes. Ny Carr continues to lead Colquit with 30 receptions for 489 yards and 9-TDs. Meanwhile Landen Thomas and Zay Williams have combined for 31 receptions for 352 yards and 4-TDs. The Packers defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times while the secondary has intercepted 5 passes. 

The Cedar Grove Saints continue their mission impossible tour as they will face their fourth straight Class 7A opponent. The Saints offense has ben outstanding, averaging 37.8 points per game. However the defense is allowing 42.2. A lot of that has to do with some of the higher classification, explosive offenses that the Saints have faced in the first five weeks of the season. Through the first four games, Quarterback E.J. Colson has thrown for 643 yards, 10-TDs and rushed for 251 yards and 2-TDs. Boden Walker leads the team with 371 yards and 7-TDs in four games.  

We expect this game to be a track meet with plenty of points on both sides. Ultimately we believe the depth of Colquitt along with the long long bus ride to Moultrie will do Cedar Grove in. Packers by 16.

The Skinny

The Savannah Christian Raiders had no trouble getting back on track after the bye week as they recorded their second shutout of the season. The Raiders are averaging 356.3 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Blaise Thomas has thrown for 606 yards and 4-TDs while completing 64% of his passes. Logan Brooking and David Bucey continue to lead the Raiders receiving unit with a combined 21 receptions for 342 yards and 3-TDs. Meanwhile, Zo Smalls (424 yards, 8-TDs) and Kenry Walls (222 yards, 2-TDs) pace the ground game. Freshman defensive end, Ladamion Guyton leads the defense with 5.5 sacks while junior lineman Elijah Griffin has 4.5 sacks of his own.

The Calvary Day Cavaliers have been posting video game type numbers on offense this season, averaging 52.7 points per game. The offense is paced by senior quarterback Jake Merklinger who has thrown for 858 yards and 12-TDs, completing 65.7% of his passes and has yet to throw an interception. The trio of Caden Arnold, Michael Smith and Thomas Blackshear have the bulk of the production with 39 combined receptions for 790 yards and 12-TDs. Six separate running backs have carried the ball more than 8 times with Jordan Tillman and Trevor Strowbridge leading the team in attempts and yardage. Don’t sleep on the Calvary Day defense, they’ve held the opposition to just 7.7 points per game. They’ve also forced 10 turnovers.

This game will go a long way in determining the region title as these two are expected to finish at the top of the region. (Although Coach Pfiester and the Long County Blue Tide might have something to say about that later this season.) Mercklinger is the more accomplished passer in this game and we believe his accuracy and decision making will lead the Cavs to victory. Calvary Day by 7.

The Skinny

The Douglas County Tigers have run their record to 4-0 for the second time in three seasons. They are averaging 41 points per game during this win streak. Quarterback Sire Hardaway has thrown for 1,056 yards and 9-TDs while completing 76.8% of his passes. Hardaway’s top receivers have been the trio of James Johnson (18 receptions, 299 yards, 3-TDs), Brandon Ellison (18 receptions, 245 yards), and Aaron Gregory (18 receptions, 293 yards, 3-TDs). The Tigers are averaging 185 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers defense is allowing 19.5 points per game and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 9 times while forcing 7 turnovers. 

The Langston Hughes Panthers got back in the wind column with a shutout win last week. While much of the attention for the Panthers offense might be around their quarterback,  Prentiss “Air” Noland, it’s the running game that has taken center stage for the offense this season. They are averaging 261.8 yards per game on the ground. Justus Savage and Dorian Page have combined for 818 yards and 12-TDs. Defensively the Panthers are allowing 18.2 points per game. Junior defensive tackle Quavion Pitts leads the team with 5 sacks.

While this is the region opener for both teams. This could end up being the defacto region title game. Expect plenty of points in this game as both teams have playmakers, but we believe the Panther’s duo of Savage and Page will be the difference. Langston Hughes by 8.

The Skinny

The Parkview Panthers wrap up their non-region schedule looking to run their record to 5-0 for the first time since 2018. Parkview is averaging 46.5 points per game while churning out 314 yards of total offense per game. Trelain Maddox has filled in well for the injured Khyair Spain as Maddox has rushed for 336 yards and 7-TDs to lead the Panthers rushing attack. Meanwhile Michael Mathews and Carson Wilson have combined for 18 receptions and 398 yards and 2-TDs. The Parkview defense is allowing 14 points a game and has already recorded two shutouts this season. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times as Ian Singleton leads the team in total tackles (29) and sacks (5).

The Mill Creek Hawks are the defending state champions and the don’t seem to have shown any sings of slowing down thus far. The Hawks have won 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. They are averaging 43.5 points per game behind first year starter Shane Throgmartin. The junior signal caller has thrown for 549 yards and 10-TDs and no interceptions while completing 76.1% of his passes. Cam Robinson and Daniel Smith have combined to rush for 779 yards and 11-TDs, as the Hawks are averaging 311.6 yards per game. 

We expect another high scoring matchup. Our question is whether Parkview’s defense will be able to keep Throgmartin off balance. We believe Parkview will force a turnover or two, but Mill Creek should still do enough on the ground to grind out a win. Hawks by 8.

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Eight Greats Around the State: Georgia High School Football Previews Week 6 – Part I

Posted on September 20, 2023 by admin

We have officially reached the halfway point of the Georgia High School Football season. Many teams have already begun region play and in this edition of our Eight Greats Around the State, we feature some matchups that should go a long way in determining either region champions and perhaps a first round home playoff game.

First up, the Spalding Jaguars host the Baldwin Braves. Can Spalding quarterback Curt Clark continue his impressive season or will the Braves defense play another great game this week? Next up, the Bainbridge Bearcats host the Ware County Gators. The Bearcats will look to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season, while the Gators offense looks to stay explosive on the road.

Down in Ellaville, we could be looking at the Region 6 Class A-D II title game as Schley Co. hosts Macon Co. Will Macon figure out how to slow down this potent Schley County offense? Finally, in Warner Robins, the Demons will host Houston County. This game should be a great quarterback dual as Robins’ QB Judd Anderson squares off against Houston’s QB Antwann Hill Jr.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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 Spalding Jaguars are off to their best start since 2015. Spalding is averaging 37.7 points per game and are on pace to score more points than any other team in school history. Spalding is led offensively by dual threat quarterback Curt Clark who has thrown for 504 yards and 7-TDs and rushed for 389 yards and 4-TDs. Clark is joined in the backfield by Robert Henderson who has added 163 yards and 4-TDs of his own. Meanwhile, Cedric Evans has been the big playmaker at receiver for the Jaguars with 18 receptions for 290 yards and 4-TDs. 

The Baldwin Braves got back to their winning ways with a 10-point victory over Washington County. The Braves have done most of their damage on the ground with Micah Welch as the bellcow for the offense. Welch has already rushed for well over 400 yards this season. The senior back is trying to improve on his 1,300 yard season from a year ago. Sophomore back Sadur Salahuddin has added 286 yards and a touchdown in three games this season. 

This game is the first region matchup for both teams, but it’s a big one as these are the two teams that we believe could challenge Perry for a region title. Baldwin will need to make sure they limit the big plays of Curt Clark. They have an offense that might be able to keep Spalding’s explosive Clark on the sidelines. However, we believe Spalding defends home turf. Jaguars by 6.

The Skinny

The Bainbridge Bearcats got back to .500 last week with a victory over Thomasville. The Bearcats have faced a ranked opponent in each of their previous four games this season. It should come as no surprise that Bainbridge has been getting the ground game going this season as they are averaging 214.5 yards per game on the ground and 120.3 yards per game through the air. Keenan Phillips has answered the bell for the ground game, as he’s rushed for 631 yards and 8-TDs. Quarterback Cam Sanders hs completed 64.2% of his passes with 5-TDs. Antavious Murphy Leeds the team in receiving with 20 catches for 299 yards and 5-TDs. 

The Ware Count Gators were off last week and we can only guess that they are smarting after a loss in their last outing. The Gators have gotten a lot of their yards through the air as quarterback Luke Hooks has thrown fir 675 yards and 5-TDs while completing 64% of his passes. Quintun Orange leads all Gator receivers with 17 catches for 287 yards, R.J. Boyd and Daw’Jeaun Dennis lead Ware in rushing with 500 yards and 5-TDs. 

We believe Bainbridge will look to slow this game down and make it a slugfest, utilizing  Phillips to help play a little ball control offense. We believe that plan works for the first three quarters, but we expect Ware to edge Baingridge late. Ware County by 4.

The Skinny

The Schley County Wildcats have run their record to 4-0 for the second time in three years and have continued to light up the scoreboard as the offense is averaging 45.2 points per game. They are generating 376 yards per game of total offense. Quarterback Jay Kanazawa has thrown for 794 yards and 13-TDs and his just thrown 1 interception in 96 pass attempts. Jalewis Solomon has caught 20 passes for 360 yards and 5-TDs. The Schley County defense is allowing 19 points per game. They have also forced a staggering 15 turnovers this season in just 4 games. 

The Macon County Bulldogs have also run their record to 4-0 for the second time in three years. The Bulldogs offense has been rolling with the ground game, averaging 208.8 yards per game rushing and 119.3 yards per game through the air. It’s really been running back by committee by as quarterback Brian Harris, and running backs Tyler Felder, KhaiMadj Patterson and Tyler Stephens have combined to rush for 767 yards and 11-TDs. Harris has been efficient throwing the ball, completing 69.2% of his passes on the season. Dontrell Hudson and Ray Ray Mobley lead the Bulldogs defense with 22 total tackles a piece. 

This game continues with our theme of potential “region title” games played in the first week of region play. We just don’t know if any other team can challenge Macon or Schley this season. While we believe Macon’s ground game can be the equalizer, Schley is playing at a higher level this season. We like the Wildcats by 10 at home. 

The Skinny

The Warner Robins Demons picked up an important region win last week and now will face another Class 6A, out of region, Houston County foe. The Demons are averaging 24.7 points per game. However, in their two wins, the Demons are averaging 34 points per game. In the two, losses, the offense is averaging 15.5 points per game. Since joining the Warner Robins team a little over three weeks ago, quarterback Judd Anderson has thrown for 535 yards and 6-TDs. Defensively, the Demons are allowing 32 points per game. That’s the most in their opening four games since 2016 when they allowed 45.6 points per game through the first 4 games. 

The Houston County Bears are 4-0 for the second consecutive season. They have been putting up video game like numbers and have only been really tested once this season in a 7-point victory over Perry. The offense is averaging 52.5 points per game. Going into last week, the leading passer and receiver in Class 6A both suit up for Houston County as Antwann Hill has thrown for 989 yards while Ricky Johnson has 511 receiving yards. The Houston Count defense has been pretty good, allowing just over 18 points per game. 

This game will feature two of the top quarterbacks not just in middle Georgia, but in the entire state. We believe the outcome will center heavily on quarterback play. Expect for this game to be closer than last year’s 20 point Bears victory. But we do like Houston County’s air raid attack. Bears by 9.

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GHSA Football Rankings – Week 6

Posted on September 17, 2023 by admin

We are rapidly approaching the halfway point of the high school football season in Georgia. The wheat is slowly separating itself from the chaff as there were not many upsets this past week. Here is a look at our Top-10 in each classification.

In Class 7A, the top 8 remains unchanged. It was East Coweta scoring a big win over Lowndes and Valdosta secured their first shutout of the season. Those two results launch East Coweta and Valdosta into the rankings at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively this week. Over in Class 6A, Marist won a Top-10 battle over Blessed Trinity, knocking the Titans out of the rankings this week. The Douglas County Tigers replace Blessed Trinity at No. 10.

In Class 3A, Cedar Grove remains at No. 1 despite falling to Class 7A Mill Creek. Meanwhile Morgan County defeated Monroe Area in a battle of Top-10 teams. The loss drops Monroe Area out of the rankings and makes room for Thomasville to jump back at No. 10. Finally, in Class A Division II, Lanier County got a big shutout win over McIntosh County. That vaults Lanier into the the Top-10 at No. 6. Jenkins County got a big shutout win over Screven County which was enough to get them in at No. 9 this week.

There was no change in the rankings for Class 5A, Class 4A, Class 2A and Class A- Division I this week.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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)

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AA

A – DIVISION I

A – DIVISION II

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews Part II – Week 5

Posted on September 13, 2023 by admin

It’s hard to believe that we’ve almost reached the midpoint of the high school football season in the great state of Georgia. This is Part-II of our weekly feature where we preview some of the intriguing high school football matchups.

First up, the Mill Creek Hawks will host the Cedar Grove Saints. The Saints have not shied away from playing top competition. Will they find a way to knock off the defending 7A State Champs on the arm of quarterback E.J. Colson? Down in Middle Georgia, the Northeast Macon Raiders will host the ACE Charter Gryphons. ACE is an up and coming program looking to take the next step and knock off a top ranked region foe. Will the Raiders make it three big wins in a row or will ACE make their next breakthrough?

Our next game will keep us in Middle Georgia as the Northside Eagles will host North Cobb in Warner Robins. The Eagles are looking for a signature win against a 7A opponent, while North Cobb is trying to get back to .500. Will the Northside defense figure out how to slow down North Cobb’s explosive David Ezioumume? Finally, in North Georgia, the Northwest Bruins will host the Darlington Tigers. Darlington will look to ground the pass happy attack of the Bruins; while Northwest is looking to exact a measure of revenge on the Tigers.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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 Mill Creek Hawks have won 11 consecutive games dating back to last season The Hawks enter this week with an offense that is averaging 39.3 points per game. They have a balanced attack, averaging 148 yards per game through the air and 163.7 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Shane Throgmartin has been efficient this season completing 75.9% of his passes for 444 yards and 7-TDs and has yet to throw an interception. Senior receiver Trajan Greco paces all of the receivers with 13 catches for 175 yards and 4-TDs. Josh Anglin leads the defense with 22 total tackles while King Joseph Edwards paces the defense with 2 sacks on the young season.

The Cedar Grove Saints will face their third consecutive 7A team. An impressive feat for a 3A school. The Saints are 1-1 against 7A competition this season and after this week’s matchup, they will face another 7A power in Colquitt County. The Saints are averaging 38.5 points per game and seemed to have not lost a step from a season ago. Junior quarterback Elliot Colson has thrown for well over 500 yards on the season and over 8-TDs. Sophomore running back Boden Walker has shown his versatility as a runner and receiver as he’s tops on the team in rushing and receiving.  

The Saints have proven they are one of the top teams in Georgia over the past several seasons, so it is no surprise they are scheduling tougher competition in advance of region play. We expect the Saints to keep this game close with Colson’s experience at quarterback. But Throgmartin might have more weapons this week. Mill Creek by 10.

The Skinny

The Northeast Raiders begin region play against one of the opponents that might derail any region title aspirations. The Raiders have bounced back from a Week-1 loss to score impressive wins over Fitzgerald and Carver-Columbus. The Raiders are averaging 22 points per game. A lot of the offensive productions has come from running back Nick Woodford, who has rushed for 457 yards and 4-TDs in the first three games. Woodford has also tossed a touchdown pass as well. Defensively, the Raiders are allowing 19.3 points per game. 

The ACE Charter Gryphons have won their opening four games for the second straight season. What’s most impressive about this is that ACE has only been playing football for six seasons. The Gryphons have been obliterating the opposition early in the year, included three shutouts. The Gryphons defense is allowing just two points per game. Meanwhile the ACE offense is averaging 52.5 points per game. Wide receiver Brice Whitley, running back Aaron Davis and quarterback Kaleb Scarbary have paced the dynamic offense.

The Gryphons have been red hot, but they will take a large step up in competition this week. We believe the Gryphons will be able to put s scare into the Raiders, but expect for Nick Woodford to have a big game and that will enough to hold of ACE Charter. Raiders by 8. 

The Skinny

The Northside Warner Robins Eagles were off last week after suffering a heartbreaking loss to rival Warner Robins. The Demons are averaging 150.3 yards per game through the air and 111 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Damien Dee has thrown for 451 yards and 7 TDs and is completing 62.7% of his passes. Keron Milton Jr. Has been his top receiver with 13 grabs for 252 yards and 5-TDs. E.J. Riley leads the team in rushing with 118 yards and 2-TDs. Defensively, Northside is allowing just over 25 points per game. Jarris Coney leads the team in total tackles and sacks (20, 2) while Ricardo Jones leads the team with 2-interceptions. 

The North Cobb Warriors picked up their first win of the season last week. The Warriors have had one of the more challenging schedules earlier in the season including two Top-10 teams in Class 7A. Offensively, the Warriors are averaging 29.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 39.6. Quarterback Nick Grimstead has shown accuracy and an ability to beat teams with his running ability as well. He’s paired in the backfield most downs with David Ezioumume who can run in between the tackles and can run away from defenders once he gets to the second level. 

We believe this game will be just as close as last years contest. North Cobb is a little more battle tested and despite making the long road trip, we like the Warriors to return the favor and defeat the Eagles by 3.

The Skinny

The Northwest Whitfield Bruins have started off this season on a torrid pace passing the football. Sophomore quarterback Gavin Nuckolls has already surpassed the 1,00 yard mark in passing yards, with 1,144 and 12-TDs. He’s only thrown one interceptions in 124 pass attempts. Nuckolls has completed passes to eleven separate receivers with Hudson Gray (21 receptions, 371 yardes, 5-TDs) and Akendris Douglas (19 receptions, 256 yards, 2-TDs) leading the way. Meanwhile Cameron Collins leads the team in rushing with 216 yards and 3-TDs. The aforementioned Nuckolls is second on the team in rushing with 141 yards.

The Darlington Tigers recorded their first shutout of the young season when they blanked Christian Heritage. Prior to last week’s shutout, the Tigers were allowing 31.5 points per game. However now they’ve improved that to 21 points per game. Offensively, we expect D’Marion Floyd to get the bulk of the carries at running back. This is a Darlington offense that hasn’t lost much steam from last year’s pace as they are averaging 34.3 points per game this season. 

The step up in competition should not phase Darlington at all this week as they defeated Northwest last season. However, the Bruins are at home this week and they’ve seemed to found a groove through the air. We like Northwest by 8.

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews Part I– Week 5

Posted on September 13, 2023 by admin

It’s hard to believe that we’ve almost reached the midpoint of the high school football season in the great state of Georgia. This is our weekly feature where we preview some of the intriguing high school football matchups.

Our first matchup takes us to Roswell as the Blessed Trinity Titans will host the Marist War Eagles. Blessed Trinity escaped with a victory over St. Pius last week. Will the Titans be able to figure out the Marist option attack? Down in Ocilla, the Irwin County Indians will host the Rockmart Yellow Jackets. The Jackets will make the almost 4 hour trip to try to avenge one of last year’s losses. Will the Jackets be able to slow down the Irwin County run game?

Over in Lincolnton, the Lincoln County Red Devils and Commerce Tigers will lock horns for the 22nd time. Both of these teams will look to impose their will on the ground. Finally, up in Dahlonega, the Mason Sullens show marches on as the Lumpkin County running back is quickly encroaching on a 1,000 yards rushing. Can Hart County find a way to out duel the Indians?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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 Blessed Trinity Titans have won their first three games for the second straight season. The Titans are led on offense by quarterback Brooks Goodman has thrown for 502 yards and 3-TDs with no interceptions. Goodman’s top receivers have been Zyon McKenzie, Bryce, Lewis, Quinn Davis and Logan Crispo who have combined for 28 receptions and 372 yards. Running back Kameron Betts leads the team in rushing with 155 yards and 2-TDs. The Titans are averaging 26.3 points per game while allowing just 7. Defensively, freshman D.J. Jacobs leads the team with 20 total tackles. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 6 sacks. 

The Marist War Eagles have now won three consecutive games and will look to even this series up with a win on Friday night. Quarterback Jack Euart continued to show effectiveness through the air last week. However, we understand that Marist is a run first offensive team. Fullback Jackson Hughes will look to gash the interior of the Titan’s defense this week. At 225lbs, Hughes is a load to bring down and he’s proven he does have some speed in the open field. Through four games, Marist is averaging 26.5 points per game while allowing 16.2 points per game. 

Expect for Blessed Trinity to test the Marist secondary early and often. We believe the key to this game is whether or not Marist can establish their ground game. We believe the War Eagles do just enough this week to get past the Titans. Marist by 4.

The Skinny

Last week, Irwin County defeated Turner County on the heels of their offensive strength. The Indians tallied more than 500 rushing yards in the victory. Shane Marshall is the leader of that group, but Wesley Walters and Jaken Thomas have shown the are more than capable of adding to the dynamic rushing attack. Quarterback Luke Snyder has also shown that he is capable of doing more than just handing the ball off to his running backs as he’s shown consistency in completing passes in the short and intermediate routes. The Indians are averaging 27.3 points per game while allowing 28.

The Rockmart Yellow Jackets lost last week to Class 5-A Dalton by a touchdown. Now the 2A school will make the long road trip to Ocilla to face Irwin. Quarterbacks J.D. Davis and Calliyon Thompson have combined to pass for 367 yards on the season with one passing TD between them. Jake Bailey has been the primary target for the Jackets quarterbacks. The senior has caught 11 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. Senior running backs Brent Washington and Nahzir Turner have combined to rush for 280 yards and 3-TDs. Defensively, the Jackets are allowing 19 points per game and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 8 times in 3 games. 

Both of Rockmart’s losses have come at the hands of teams in higher. Classifications by a combined total of 8-points. Our biggest question is how will they handle the long road trip to South Georgia. We believe this game will be just as close as their other games this season. Our heart tells us Rockmart has the talent to slow down the Irwin express. But our head tells us Irwin County is waiting to ambush the Jackets. Irwin by 2.

The Skinny

The Lincoln County Red Devils avenged one of their losses last season and recorded their first shutout in the process when they beat Emmanuel County Institute back on September 1st. The Red Devils were off last week and will now be looking to avenge another one of last season’s defeats. In their two victories this year, they have run the ball 69 times and thrown only 9. Lincoln County is averaging 186.3 yards per game rushing and 116.5 yards per game passing.Running back Semaj Jenkins and quarterback Mehki Wade lead the Devils in rushing team with 320 yards and 3-TDs. Wade has also thrown for 199 yards and a touchdown and is completing 71% of his passes.

The Commerce Tigers are also coming off of a bye week and will try to get back on track this week after suffering their first defeat of the season. Similar to Lincoln County, the Tigers will do most of their damage with the rushing attack. Keep your eye on speedy backs Jaiden Daniels and Jacari Huff as they both showcase game breaking speed. Meanwhile Tysean Wiggins is a throwback bruising fullback that is rarely tackled by one defender. The Tigers are averaging 32.6 points per game while allowing 21.

This might be one of the faster games played in the state this weekend as both teams will likely use the ground game primarily. We believe Lincoln County will keep this game close, but something tells us Wiggins has a big night. Commerce steals one on the road. Tigers by 3.

The Skinny

The Lumpkin County Indians are off to another torrid start and have won three straight games to open the season. (It’s only the 7th time in school history they’ve started 3-0.) Mason Sullens has been the workhorse for the Indians with 609 yards and 9-TDs. Cal Faulkner has made the transition from receiver to quarterback and is completed 70% of his passes with 4-TDs and zero interceptions. The Indians are averaging 42 points per game while the defense is allowing just 11.3 per game. 

The Hart County Bulldogs have dropped two out of their first three games this season and the road doesn’t get easier this week as they visit Dahlonega. The offense has done well to average 17.3 points per game considering the competition they’ve faced thus far. We have to expect the Bulldogs will be looking to get Nori Moore going early and often to keep the explosive Lumpkin offense on the sidelines. Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing 28.6 points per game. 

This is the first meeting between these two teams. Lumpkin seems to have hit their stride offensively already. We believe that gives them an edge even if Moore and the Bulldogs have a big day offensively. We like Lumpkin by 10. 

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GHSA Football Rankings – Week 5

Posted on September 10, 2023 by admin

We are approaching the midway point of the high school football season for many teams in Georgia and the competition heats up as many teams enter region play this coming weekend. As we do each Sunday, we rank the teams in each classification.

There were no changes to the rankings in Class 7A. There was a little shake-up in Class 6A as Marist beat Woodward Academy. The win moves Marist up to No. 7 while Woodward falls from the rankings this week. They are replaced by Houston County who makes their debut at No. 10.

There’s a new No. 1 in Class 5A as Cartersville now lays claim to the top spot after Ware County lost to Class 4A No. 1 Benedictine. The Gators fall to No. 4 while Kell is back in the rankings at No. 10 this week. In Class 4A, the Top-8 remain unchanged. Spalding moves up one spot to No. 9 while Burke County makes their first appearance at No. 10 this week.

Class 3A say Cedar Grove and Sandy Creek swap spots again, as Sandy Creek drops to No. 2 after losing to Class 7A East Coweta. Crisp County falls to No. 10 after a surprising loss to Sumter County. Meanwhile Lumpkin County and Morgan County make their way into the rankings at No. 7 and No. 8 respectively. Over in Class 2A, the Top-5 remains unchanged. There was however plenty of shakeup after that. Fellowship Christian jumps up to No. 6 while the biggest shock might be Sumter County finding their way into the rankings this week at No. 9 after their big when over Class 3A Crisp.

There weren’t many surprises in Class A Division-I. Dublin did fall to Emmanuel County Institute, dropping the Fighting Irish to No. 7. Rabun County is back in the poll this week at No. 9. Finally in Class A Division-II, it’s Greene County making their first appearance at No. 10 this week.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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)

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews Part II– Week 4

Posted on September 6, 2023 by admin

It’s hard to believe, but the first quarter of the high school football season is complete in the state of Georgia. As we do each week, we take a look at eight of the more intriguing matchups across the state. This is Part-II of our feature we call Eight Greats Around the State.

Our first matchup features the top team in Class 4A hosting the top team in Class 5A as Ware County travels to Savannah to square off against Benedictine. Contrasting styles of play have been a theme this week and it doesn’t change with this game. Will Benedictine have success through the air against the Gators? Down in Moultrie, the Colquitt County Packers will host the Lee County Trojans. The Trojans are looking for the first win of the series. Can they slow down the Packer express?

Over in Roswell, the Hornets will face off against long time rival, the Milton Eagles. The Eagles have owned this rivalry as of late but the explosive Hornets will be looking to pick off the Eagles at home this week. Finally, down in Homerville, Clinch County will host the Cook Hornets as Cooks makes the short drive over on U.S. 129. Can the balanced Cook attack slow down the Clinch County ground attack?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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 Benedictine Cadets have won 14 consecutive games dating back to last season. The last time they lost was to this week’s opponent, Ware County, in 2022. The Cadets are led by Florida State commit Luke Kromenhoek. The Senior quarterback has thrown for 339 yards on the season. La’Don Bryant and Micah Williams have been two of Kromenhoek’s top receiving targets on the year. The Cadets are averaging 37 points per game while the defense is allowing just 7.6 points per game. 

The Ware County Gators have won 17 consecutive games dating back to the beginning of last season. Junior quarterback Luke Hooks has led the Gators with 408 yards passing and 3-TDs while completing 63% of his passes. Quintin Orange has been the top receiver for the Gators with 11 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown. Dae’Jeaun Dennis and R.J. Boyd have combined for 432 yards and 4-TDs on the ground. The Gators are averaging 32 points per game offensively while the defense is allowing 14.6

We expect for Benedictine to keep this game close, similar to last season. Kromenhoek should continue to impress this week, but we like Ware’s ability to run the football and believe that will be the difference this week. Gators by 7. 

The Skinny

The Colquitt County Packers have won 14 consecutive regular season games and they look like they are approaching mid season form. The Packers are averaging 257.3 yards per game through the air and 218.7 yards per game of the ground. Quarterback Neko Fann has thrown for 737 yards and 13 TDs while completing 62% of his passes. Ny Carr has been the Packers primary target with 23 receptions for 376 yards and 8-TDs. Zay Williams and Landen Thomas have combined for 23 receptions for 293 yards and 4-TDs. Meanwhile Day’Shawn Brown leads the team in rushing with 249 yards and 2-TDs.  

The Lee County Trojans will be looking for their first win ever against Colquitt this Friday. The Trojans are 3-0 for the third straight season. Expect for Lee to lean on the legs of junior running back Ousmane Kromah. Kromah has rushed for 321 yards and 6-TDs. But he’s not the only threat on the ground for the Trojans. Devin Collier and Braxton Honer have combined to rush for 306 yards and 4-TDs. Honer also leads the receiving unit with 12 receptions. Twelve separate receivers have caught passes for the Trojans. They are averaging 45.3 points per game on offense, while the defense is allowing 15.

The Trojans will have their hands full as they visit Mack Tharpe Stadium. If they are going to pull the upset this week, they will need to have that run game working and find a way to force a few turnovers. We believe Lee can keep it close for a half with their ability to run the football, but we believe Colquitt’s aerial attack will be too much for the Trojans. Packers by two touchdowns.

The Skinny

The Roswell Hornets have been steamrolling the opposition in the early going this season. Roswell is averaging 54.3 points per game while allowing just 7 points per game. Senior quarterback K.J. Smith has thrown for 628 yards and 13-TDs while completing 78.6% of his passes. His top receivers have been Synkwan Smith (12 receptions, 225 yards, 5-TDs) and Dylan Williams (9 receptions, 194 yards, 6-TDs). Meanwhile it has been Nykahi Davenport leading the team in rushing with 218 yards and 4-TDs. The Hornets defense has intercepted 3 passes and recorded 5 sacks on the season.

The Milton Eagles come off the bye week looking to run their streak of victories over rival Roswell to 5 consecutive games. The Eagles have been primarily pass oriented in the early going with Luke Nickel throwing for 372 yards and 3-TDs with no interceptions. Nickel has three proven targets in Debron Gattling (7 receptions, 57 yards), Marc Easley II (6 receptions, 103 yards, 1-TD) and C.J. Wiley, (8 receptions, 109 yards, 1-TD). In two games, Milton is averaging 18.5 points per game while the defense is allowing 13.5

The last five games in this series have been decided by 10 points or less and we believe this edition will be just as competitive. Don’t expect for Roswell’s scorching start to be replicated this week against a higher level of competition. However we do like the Hornets to upset the Eagles at home by the slimmest of margins. Hornets by 1.

The Skinny

The Clinch County Panthers bounced back from a three point loss two weeks ago by securing their first shutout of the season last week. The Panthers do most of their damage on the ground offensively. They are averaging  just over 3 pass attempts per game this season. Quarterback Aaron Bryant leads the team in rushing with 427 yards and 2-TDs while Jeremy Bell has added 288 yards and 5-TDs. The Panthers are averaging 27.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 12.

The Cook Hornets were off last week and look to get back into the win column after falling to Class 7A Valdosta two weeks ago. Cook has a relatively balanced attack. Expect for Drew Folsom at quarterback and Keshun McKever to continue to lead the Hornets offense. The Cook defense has already intercepted three passes this season. Meanwhile, Aiden Lester has already recorded 32 total tackles while Ja’Kori Jones leads the team with 6 tackles for loss.

Clinch is again stepping up in classification this week. Expect for Cook to load the box and force the Panthers into 2nd and 3rd and long situations and forcing them to throw the ball. We believe Clinch will get on the board, but we like Cook by 20.

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews Part I– Week 4

Posted on September 6, 2023 by admin

It’s hard to believe, but the first quarter of the high school football season is complete in the state of Georgia. As we do each week, we take a look at eight of the more intriguing matchups across the state. This is Part-I of our feature we call Eight Greats Around the State.

First up in a battle of War Eagles, Marist hosts Woodward Academy. Both teams are ranked in the Top-10 in Class 6A coming into this matchup. Will it be the Woodward passing attack or the Marist ground game that prevails on Friday? Next up, in Walton County, the Monroe Area Purple Hurricanes host Prince Avenue Christian. It’s another game featuring contrasting styles as Monroe Area will no doubt try to play ball control with their run game in order to keep the explosive Wolverines on the sidelines. Will that strategy work, or will Aaron Philo and Prince Avenue’s offense be too much to overcome?

Down in Cochran, the Bleckey County Royals host the Schley County Wildcats. The Royals defense will be tasked with slowing down Schleys high powered offense. Finally, in Ocilla, the Irwin County Indians will host the Turner County Titans. Can the upstart Titans win a big game on the road and prove they are a legit threat in Class A Division II?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

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 Marist War Eagles have bounced back after dropping their first game of the season and have now won back to back games. The War Eagles will keep it simple with a formula that has worked for years under long time head coach Alan Chadwick…their patented Wing-T offense. Quarterback Jack Euart will spearhead the attack. Euart is also a threat to throw the ball downfield and Maris t has an effective target in Luke Harping. The ground game has been feeding the opposition a steady diet of Jackson Hughes, Joseph Pizzo and Walker Richens.  

The Woodward Academy War Eagles found themselves on the short end of the stick last time out as they fell to McCallie of Tennessee back on August 25th. Woodward has relied heavily on the passing game this season as quarterback Griffin Marshall has thrown for 403 yards and 5-TDs in two games. Ben Grice has been the home run threat with 7 receptions for 287 yards and 3-TDs. Defensively, linebacker Andrew Hines III and Tyree Myrick lead the Ware Eagles in total tackles. 

This game will feature two contrasting styles of offense with Marist looking to grind the game out on the ground and Woodward looking to make this a high scoring game. What concerns us most in this game has been Woodward’s inability to get the ground game going int the first two games. We believe Marist will be able to establish the runs and control the clock and eventually come out on top. Marist by 5.

The Skinny

 The Monroe Area Purple Hurricanes are off to a hot start this season, winning their first three games to date. The bulk of the Canes offensive production has been done on the ground. Senior running back Darrion Manuel leads the team with 519 yards and 6-TDs on the young season. The Canes have only attempted 26 passes on the season, but several receivers have recorded catches including the aforementioned Manuel, Kenzie Battle and Jitt Carr. Defensively, the Canes have forced 5 turnovers. Ricky Robbins leads the team with 16 total tackles. Monroe Area has already recorded two shutouts this season and are allowing just 4 points per game. 

The Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines are winners of their last 17 games dating back to last season. The Wolverines ran the table in 2022 and have been equally impressive in the early going this season. Prince Avenue is averaging 464 yards of offense per game this season and have been getting it done on the ground and through the air. Senior quarterback Aaron Philo has thrown for 765 yards and 12-TDs while completing 68% of his passes. Eleven different receivers have caught passes for the Wolverines, with Thornton Hestser and C.J. Dockery leading the way combining for 30 receptions for 342 yards and 6-TDs. Meanwhile, senior running back Connor Cosby has rushed for 224 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Wolverines defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 9 times and have forced 4 turnovers. 

We believe that Monroe-Area’s ability to run the football will help keep this game close; and while the Monroe Area defense has been lights out, this Prince Avenue team has a little more firepower. We like the Wolverines to roll this week. Prince Avenue by 11.

The Skinny

The Bleckley County Royals are looking to move to 3-0 for the second consecutive season. Quarterback Kam’Ryn Everett has thrown for 320 yards and 4-TDs in the young season. It’s been tough sledding on the ground for the Royals, but Joshua Stanley and Rodriguez Flagg have proven to be workhorses in the backfield. The Royals are averaging 22 points per game while the defense is allowing 13.5 points per game. 

The Schley County Wildcats have already avenged one of their losses from a year ago and will look to do it again this week as they visit Bleckley County. This Wildcats boast one of the most talented rosters in Class A-DII. Quarterback Jay Kanazawa has thrown for 460 yards and 6-TDs. Jalewis Solomon has been the primary target for Kanazawa with 12 receptions for 244 yards and 3-TDs. It hasn’t just been the passing game as the Wildcats have rushed for 442 yards in their first two games of the season. Jeremyah Rogers leads the team on the ground with 199 yards rushing and 2-TDs. 

A win be Schley would avenge their only other regular season loss from 2022. Bleckley will need another big performance from their quarterback in order to stay undefeated. We believe that Schley has too much offense this week. Wildcats by 8.

The Skinny

After being stymied in Week-1, the Irwin County Indians got back on track in Week-2. Running back Shane Marshall rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns against Dooly County in Week-2. While Luke Snyder has demonstrated his ability to pass, we still expect for most of the Indians offense to come from the ground game. In their first two games, Irwin County is averaging 17 points per game while the defense is alowing 24 points per game. 

The Turner County Titans have already matched their win total from a season ago. The Titans are getting things done on offense through the air. Quarterback Carlton Brannon has passed for 853 yards and 9-TDs. His top receiver has been Ka’Arrin Dawson, who has caught 21 passes for 370 yards and 4-TDs. Meanwhile J.T. Terry and Kaleb Joiner have combined to catch 16 passes for 329 yards and 4-TDs. The Titans are averaging 23 points per game while allowing 25.3 points per game.

This game features a dramatic contrasts of styles. Expect Irwin to try to keep the pass happy Turner on the sidelines with a ball control offenese. These games haven’t been close over the last 6 season, all wins by Irwin County. We believe this one is much closer, but we like Irwin to win by 5. 

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GHSA Football Rankings – Week 4

Posted on September 3, 2023 by admin

After three weeks of high school football in the State of Georgia we begin to better understand where teams stack up in their respective classifications. As we look ahead to Week-4 and march close to the midway point of the season, here is a look at our Top-10 rankings in each classification.

Class 7A looks exactly the same as the previous week. Four of the Top-10 teams were off last week and the other six teams were all victors. In Class 6A, there is a new No. 1 as Gainesville and Hughes swap spots after Langston Hughes fell to Butler of NC on Saturday. Rome fell to No. 5 after their loss to Class 7A Carrollton. Over in Class 5A, Cartersville is up to No. 2 as they swap spots with Creekside who drops to No. 3 after their loss to Mater Dei of California. Greater Atlanta Christian and Winder-Barrow are in the Top-10 for the first time this season. They check in at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively.

In Class 4A, the Perry Panthers were the big mover as they had a big win over Jones County. The Panthers are up to No. 4. Meanwhile, the Spalding Jaguars make their debut into our Top-10 at No. 10 this week. Down in Class 3A, Sandy Creek replaces Cedar Grove at No. 1 after a Cedar Grove fell to Class 7A Westlake. Monroe-Area is a big mover up three spots to No. 7, while Hebron Christian slips in at No. 9 this week making their first appearance in the rankings.

Perhaps the most interesting result this week was in Class 2A, where Northeast Macon went on the road and upset Fitzgerald. The win vaults the Raiders all the way up to No. 5 while Fitzgerald drops to No. 8. Callaway remains at No. 1 despite their loss to Class 4A and cross town rival Troup. The Vidalia Indians round out the poll at No. 10, it’s their first appearance in the rankings this season. Over in Class A-Division I, Commerce was the only Top-10 team to lose last week. The loss drops them to No. 7 this week.

Finally, in Class A-Division II, Schley County flexed their muscle and avenged last year’s loss to Early County, winning 30-0. The loss drops Early down to No. 6.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

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