Our final set of week two GHSA-4-A Playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Burke County-Eastside, North Oconee-Blessed Trinity, Thomson-Cairo, and Troup-Pickens. Congratulations to all of these teams that won their first round game. Best of luck to you all as you play this Friday.
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Eastside Eagles continue their historic season this week as they host the Burke County Bears. The Eagles are averaging 40.2 points per game. Their defense has recorded 3-shutouts. Noah Cook has passed for 1,795 yards and 24-TDs while Taylor Carter leads the Eagles on the ground with 957 yards and 14-TDs. Meanwhile, the Burke County Bears enter the game averaging 32.5 points per game. Most of their production has come by way of the ground game as Leon McGee and Juanya Dove have combined for over 1,500 yards on the season. The duo has also scored 22 rushing TDs. The Bears are looking to get back to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. Eastside is looking to get back to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009. We like Eastside at home this week by two field goals this week.
The Skinny
It will be a battle of Titans this week as the North Oconee Titans visit the Blessed Trinity Titans. Blessed Trinity comes into this game as the No. 1 ranked team in the state in Class 4-A. Blessed Trinity is averaging 37.5 points per game, while they are allowing 9.6 points per game. Ohio State commit Steele Chambers has rushed for 1,161 yards and 18-TDs. Quarterback Jake Smith has passed for 1,395 yards and 15-TDs. North Oconee is averaging 28.2 points per game on the season while their defense is giving up 15.1 points per game. Both teams have a common opponent in St. Pius. The Lions beat North Oconee by 10, while Blessed Trinity beat the Lions by 22. We aren’t sure how comparable those numbers are, but we like Blessed Trinity by four touchdowns this week.
The Skinny
It has been 17 years since Thomson and Cairo have squared off. The Syrupmakers are averaging 33.1 points per game, while their defense is giving up 10 points per game. In the first round of the playoffs, they recorded their third shutout of the season. The Thomson Bulldogs got off to a slow start this season, but have won three out of their last 4 games. The Bulldogs are averaging 23.8 points per game while the defense is surrendering 27.9 points per game. Most of Thomson’s offense comes by way of the ground. Damekus Taylor has rushed for 1,256 yards on the season, including 178 yards last week against Upson-Lee. Thomson is looking to get to the quarterfinals for the 3rd consecutive season. But we think That Cairo will be up to the task to slow down Taylor and the Bulldogs. We like Cairo By nine this week.
The Skinny
The Pickens Dragons are having a historic season. They won their first region title in school history and won their first playoff game in school history last week as well. We’ve had a chance to watch both teams play this season and we think that outside of the Marist-St.Pius game, this is the most intriguing matchup. Troup is averaging 37.8 points per game while Pickens is averaging 46 points per game. Pickens quarterback C.J. Streicher has passed for 1,325 yards and is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing. Robert Davis has also been a key cog in the ground game with 697 yards rushing and 12-TDs. Troup will counter with quarterback Kobe Hudson who has passed for 2,806 yards and 26-TDs. Hudson is also closing in on 1,000 yards rushing. Joko Willis and James Thrash have combined for 1,375 yards receiving and 16-TDs. It will be interesting to see Pickens face perhaps the most talented team they’ve faced all season. If Troup’s King Mwikuta and Andy Boykin can clog up holes, it could be a long night for the Dragons. We think this one comes down to the wire, but we’ll take Pickens by a field goal.