TFR 2018 3-A Playoff Preview 4 of 4

Coach Rick Tomberlain has his home town Appling County Pirates back in the playoffs this season and also had them within two-points of a region title. As it stands, the Pirates will host a first round playoff game. Appling is averaging 25.8 points per game in the season. The ground game has been paramount to their success this season. Sophomore Sharode Roberts and junior RJ Conaway have combined for over 1,000 yards and 10-TDs on the ground this season. The Appling County defense has only given up 15.2 points per game this year. The Jenkins Warriors are a year removed from a region title. The Jenkins defense has been one of the best, surrendering only 9.1 points per game. Jeremy Smith leads the offense, which like Appling, is run heavy. Smith has 789 yards and 7-TDs in 9 games on the season. The Warriors as a team have recorded 33 sacks on the year and 9 interceptions. We think the Jenkins defense may be the difference in a game that might be low scoring. We like the Warriors on the road by a field goal.

Last season, Pike County ended Crisp County’s season in the 2^ndround of the playoffs. Pike County has battled through a lot of adversity this season. The entire state has shown their support for the Pirates and they continue to be in our prayers. (#DylanStrong) Pike is averaging 27.3 points per game, while the defense is yielding 15.9 points per game. None of Pike’s seven wins have come against a playoff team. Host Crisp County got off to a slow start. The Cougars have won six straight games since their loss to Tift County. They’ve beaten four teams that qualified for the playoff during that six game streak. Freshman Marquise Palmer and sophomore quarterback AJ Lofton have combined for over 1,100 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs. The Cougars defense has picked off 14 passes this season. Crisp has not set the world on fire with their offense and there is a lot of youth on this team so they could very well be vulnerable. But we will take the Cougars to edge Pike by one this week.

The Morgan County Bulldogs and Lovett Lions will play for the first time in 14 years. Morgan County is led by junior quarterback Trenton Folds who has passed for 1,696 yards and 16-TDs. Jordan Huff and Seth Robertson are his primary targets. This trio lead an offense that is averaging 22.4 points per game. The Bulldogs have two wins over playoff teams, one of those being a Class –A opponent. Nevertheless, they will need to have a strong defensive performance to compete with a Lovett team that is averaging 28.1 points per game. Lovett is led by quarterback Blaine McAllister (1,422 yards and 11-TDs) and KJ Wallace (477 yards rushing 7-TDs). Wallace also leads the team in receptions with 38. This game is another toss-up, but we’ll take Lovett by a touchdown.

The Fannin County Rebels are back in the playoffs for the first time in eight years. But don’t expect the defending state champs, the Calhoun Yellow Jackets to roll out the welcome wagon this week. Running back Treylen Owesnby has rushed for 1,087 yards and 8-TDs in eight games this season. Big Miles Johnson helps anchor the offensive line for the Rebels who as a team have rushed for 1,674 yards. Fannin has been able to put some points on the board, averaging 26.8 points per game, but defense has been their bugaboo. They are yielding 32.7 points per game. That could spell trouble against a Calhoun team that is averaging 48.1 points per game, coupled with their defense that’s giving up just 6.3 points per game. Those numbers alone give us reason to believe that Calhoun wins this game by at least 5 touchdowns this week.