Our first set of 3-A playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Jackson-Monroe, Windsor Forest-Pierce County, Haralson County-Dawson County and Pace Academy-Monroe Area. Jackson is in the playoffs for the 5th straight year, but will travel to Albany to face Monroe, who is making their second consecutive playoff appearance…Windsor Forest has put up some big numbers offensively, but the Burke Co. Bears defense has recorded five shutouts on the season. Can Windsor Forest break through against a stingy defense…Haralson County will brig with them the Class 3-A’s top rusher this season in Traylon Sheppard as they visit Dawson County. But Dawson County as a team has put up some big numbers on the ground. Will Sheppard and Haralson be able to match the Tigers…Finally, Pace Academy will get another shot at Monroe Area as the teams faced off earlier this season. Will it be more of the same, or can Pace do something no one else has done this season, which is beat Monroe Area…
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Jackson Red Devils will travel to Albany to take on the Monroe Tornadoes this Friday. Jackson is averaging 23.7 points per game and are giving up 22.4 points a game on defense. The Red Devils do have two wins over playoff teams this year. Meanwhile, the Monroe Tornadoes blow into the playoffs with a.500 record. Monroe is averaging 19.6 points per game, while allowing 28.7 on defense. Monroe has had a challenging schedule and only has one win over a team that qualified for the playoffs. Jackson’s offense looks to be a little more prolific this season. We’ll take the Red Devils by a touchdown.
The Skinny
Windsor Forest will attempt to be the first team to defeat the Pierce County Bears this season. The Knights are led by quarterback Eric Phoenix, who has passed for 1,571 yards through eight games with 15-TDs. Damozzio Harris leads the team in rushing with 840 yards and 10-TDs through eight games. The Knights have put up some big numbers on offense and are averaging 35.6 points per game, while the defense is giving up 19.5 points per game. After winning in convincing fashion in the first eight games, the Peirce County Bears have won two nail-biters in the past two weeks to stay undefeated. The Bears defense has recorded five shutouts on the season.John Jones has rushed for 1,300 yards on the season with 19-TDs. Dee Bethea has chipped in 561 yards rushing, 421 yards receiving and 15 total TDs. Windsor Forest might not have the horses this year to run with Pierce County, we like the Bears by 17.
The Skinny
The state’s top rusher, Treylon Sheppard and the Haralson County Rebels will visit Dawson County to take on one Class 3-As top rushing teams. As a team Dawson County, has rushed for over 3,000 yards. Through 9-games Ahmad Kamara and Sevaughn Clark have combined to lead the Tigers with 1,627 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. The Tigers offense is averaging 40.4 points per game, while the defense is only giving up 11.3 points per game. Zac Baloga has recorded 10 sacks for the defense. For the Rebels, Treylon Shephard leads 3-A in rushing with 2,685 yards through nine games. Harlason County has had a banner season. Coach Scott Peavey has coached his team to their first playoff appearance since 2010 and their best record since 2007. Treylon is a special talent, but we just don’t think he will be enough to get past Dawson County this week. We like the Tigers by two touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Pace Academy Knights will travel to Monroe looking for redemption in a rematch of an early season game against the Monroe Area Purple Hurricanes. Quarterback Jared Rayman (1,000 yards passing 8-TDs) and running back Keashawn Perryman have led the Knights on offense. Pace is averaging 27.9 points per game this season. Pace’s best win might be stopping Class-A ELCA’s 37-game winning streak back on August 24th, at the time, the longest in the state. Monroe Area has won in dominating fashion this season. They are averaging 43.1 points per game on offense and giving up 9.3 points per game on defense. The closest margin of victory was two touchdowns. Most of the offense comes on the ground from dual threat quarterback Chandler Byron (2,133 yards 30-TDs) and Jakai Thompson (896 yards, 5-TDs). We don’t see any signs of slowing down for the Canes. We like them to win the rematch again, perhaps a little closer, but we like Monroe Area by 17 this week.