Our last set of week two GHSA-5-A Playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Griffin-Dutchtown, Cedar Shoals-Rome, Ware County-Warner Robins, and Clarke Central-East Paulding. Congratulations to all of these teams that won their first round game. Best of luck to you all as you play this Friday.
As always, thanks for reading. Please feel free to contact me if there are any errors.
Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Griffin Bears will travel to Hampton to take on the Dutchtown Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have been dominant on defense this season. They are allowing only 5.7 points per game, while their offense is averaging 33.2 points per game. The Bulldogs have recorded 5 shutouts on the season as well. The Griffin Bears come into this weeks game averaging 26.4 points per game. The Bears did much of their damage through the air last week as they passed for 168 yards and 3-TDs through the air. We don’t think the Bears have seen a defense like Dutchtown’s this year. We like the Bulldogs will advance to their first quarterfinal since 2009. Dutchtown by 20 this week.
The Skinny
The Cedar Shoals Jaguars will be on the road to take on the Rome Wolves. The Jaguars shut out the Lithonia Bulldogs last week, but we don’t believe that they can keep the Wolves off of the scoreboard. Last week the Jaguars Kiyonnice Smith passed for 212 yards and 4-TDs to lead the scoring barrage. This week, they’ll be facing a Rome defense that is giving up 16.1 points per game. Rome is averaging 59.3 points per game on offense. Even if the Rome defense doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain this week, we just don’t believe that Cedar Shoals can outscore Rome. We like the Wolves by three touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Ware County Gators got a big game from quarterback Thomas Castellanos last week. He rushed for 149 yards and 3-TDs. This season, Castellanos leads the Gators rushing attack with 764 yards and 14-TDs. Dream Gainer picked up another 62 yards on the ground for the Gators last week. As a team, Ware County is averaging 31.5 points per game. Their opponent, the Warner Robins Demons are only giving up 19.6 points per game. They are led by quarterback Dylan Fromm. During the regular season, Fromm passed for over 3,000 yards and 34-TDs. The Ware County defense, led by Logan Braucht and Ken Standley, will need to get pressure on Fromm to disrupt the passing game. That sounds great in theory, but we aren’t sure how well that will work in Friday night. We know that Coach Stephens will have his youthful Gators ready to play on Friday, but we still like Warner Robins by 17 this week.
The Skinny
The East Paulding Raiders are looking to get back into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011. The Raiders are averaging 28.8 points per game this season. Their defense is allowing 26.9 points a game. Their opponent, Clarke Central is averaging 25.7 points per game. The Gladiators O’brien Barnett had a big game last week against Arabia Mountain as he rushed for 206 yards and 4-TDs. During the regular season, the Gladiators defeated three playoff teams. The Gladiators are looking to get past the 2nd round for the first time since 2009. It won’t be easy, but we like the Gladiators to get the win at home by 6 points this week.