Our second set of 5-A playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Veterans-Stockbridge, New Hampstead-Starr’s Mill, Carrollton-Riverwood, and Loganville-Southwest Dekalb. The Stockbridge Tigers might not have all the star power from last season, but they are still one of the top teams in the state. Can Veterans and Cyrus Zuell pull off the upset…Starr’s Mill looks to run past New Hampstead. The Panthers have one of the best running attacks in class 5-A…Carrollton features a pair of the best young linebackers in the state. will they be able to slow down Riverwood… While Southwest Dekalb looks to stay unbeaten this season as Loganville tries to pull the upset…
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Veterans Warhawks and Stockbridge Tigers will face off Friday in a battle of teams that are run-oriented. Veterans will lean on running back Cyrus Zuell (1,126 yards, 13-TDs) and Quarterback Sebastian Verger (569 yards rushing). Veterans is averaging a healthy 28 points per game. For Stockbridge, Jevon McDonald is the straw that stirs the drink as the junior quarterback has passed for 1,089 yards and rushed for 784 yards. The Tigers defense might be the difference in this game; they are only surrendering 10.9 points per game. We like Stockbridge by 11 this week.
The Skinny
The New Hampstead Phoenix and Starr’s Mill Panthers will face off Friday in first round action. The visiting Phoenix have a pretty balanced attack. The team has passed for 1,228 yards and rushed for 1,383 yards. Quarterback Deyandre Ruffin and running back Dontre Wallace account for most of the offensive production. The Phoenix are averaging 23.9 points per game. On the other hand, the Starr’s Mill Panthers are averaging 320.7 yards on the ground this season. Kalen Sims leads the way with over 1,400 yards rushing this season. Sean King is the leading receiver for the team. In 8 games, King has 11 receptions for 214 yards. The Starr’s Mill defense has been somewhat suspect , giving up 23.1 points per game, but we don’t think that will be a problem this week. We like the Panthers to win big, let’s call it three touchdowns this week.
The Skinny
The Carrollton Trojans will visit a resurgent Riverwood team this Friday in Sandy Springs. The Trojans will bring with them their offense that’s averaging 39.8 points per game and a defense that is surrendering 18 points per game. They will also bring along with them two of the best young linebackers in the state in Kevin Swint and Chaz Chambliss. Quarterback Kashif Taylor did not play last week, so that might be something worth keeping an eye on. Riverwood has ben led by quarterback Aaron Graham (1,590 yards passing, 578 yards rushing, 23 total TDs) and Reese White (1,600 yards 18-TDs). Larry Thomas has recorded 10 sacks on the season. So is the Carrollton defense good enough to slow down the Riverwood offense; we certainly think so. We like Trojans by 13 points this week.
The Skinny
The Southwest DeKalb (SWD) Panthers went through the season challenged, but unscathed as they finished with an undefeated record. The big story this year has been the SWD defense, which is giving up 6.9 points per game. That includes four shutouts That defense is led by linebacker Derico Smith and Joshua Tate. Tate has recorded 19 sacks on the season. If the Red Devils are going to pull off the upset this week, they will have to find their rhythm this week. The offense is only averaging 18.9 points per game, while the defense is surrendering 29.9 points per game. The Red Devils do have some playmakers including receivers Jackson Daniel, D’errius Hart and athlete Josiah Wright. We just don’t think they’ll be able to make enough plays this week to get past Southwest. We like the Panthers by two scores this week.