Our first set of week two GHSA-6-A Playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Valdosta-Glynn Academy, Allatoona-Dacula, Northside Warner Robins-Bradwell Institute and Sequoyah-Creekside. 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 Valdosta Wildcats and Glynn Academy Terrors last met in the first round of the 2017 state playoffs; the Wildacts were victorious in that match up. In order to duplicate that success, Valdosta will lean on quarterback Tate Rodemaker (3,202 yards, 30-TDs). The Wildcats are averaging 42.5 points per game. But the defense is also giving up 36.2 points per game. The Terrors are winners of their last five games. They are averaging 29.4 points per game, but their defense is only giving up 17.8 points per game. The Terrors will depend primarily on the run game. The biggest question will be whether the can control the clock and keep Valdosta’s high scoring offense on the sidelines. We certainly think it’s possible…but not probable. We like Valdosta by 10 this week.
The Skinny
There is a saying that defense travels. You can bet the Allatoona Buccaneers hopes their defense travels with them this week as they take on the Dacula Falcons. The Bucs are only giving up 14.2 points per game this season on defense. Calvin Rucker and Eric Carty have combined for 15.5 sacks, while Jansen Trigg has picked off 5 passes. The Bucs will face a Dacula team that is scoring 34 points per game. Dacula’s only two losses came to the hands of 7-A schools Mill Creek and Mountain View, (both of whom made the playoffs). Trenton Jones leads the Falcons rushing attack, but it’s not a one-man show. As Jalen Perry, Kyle Efford have all played big roles this season. The Dacula defense has been just as stout as Allatoona’s; giving up 14.2 points per game. A Falcons win would get them to the quarterfinals for the first time in 5 years. We like their chances this week. Give us Dacula by 4 points.
The Skinny
The Bradwell Institute Tigers were one of the No. 4 seeds to upset a No.1 seed in Class 6-A. The Tigers will be back on the road this week, this time in Warner Robins, to take on the Northside Eagles. Northside rushed for 444 yards in their game last week against Tucker. Jadin Daniels has rushed for 1,289 yards on the season while Eric Smith has added 679 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, the Bradwell Institute offense has been powered by running back Kevin Harris (1,466 yards, 8-TDs) and quarterback Vencent Gilbert (1,508 yards passing, 8-TDs). Both teams have a common opponent in Valdosta. Bradwell lost to Valdosta by 50, while Northside beat Valdosta by 2. We don’t think Northside will win by 50 this week, but we do like the Eagles by three touchdowns.
The Skinny
The Sequoyah Chiefs will take their ground attack to Fairburn as they face off with the Creekside Seminoles. Sequoyah is averaging 36 points per game on the season. Cole Jacobs and Jackson “Brick” Smith have combined for over 1,650 yards and 18-TDs. Senior quarterback Collier Pecht, (Pecht rhymes with faith), has 1,198 passing yards on the season with 11-TDs. The Chiefs defense has been pretty stingy, giving up 15.3 points per game. Meanwhile, the Creekside Seminoles have turned things around in one season. Last year, the Seminoles were winless. This season, Creekside is averaging 31.9 points per game and have recorded 8 wins this season. The Seminoles will use a balanced attack led be quarterback Lazarus Anderson (1,736 yards 13-TDs) and running backs Tyler Malone and Kentavious Rogers. Malone and Rogers have combined for 1,180 yards rushing and 11-TDs. We think the weather this week favors teams that can run the ball more effectively. We believe the Chiefs have the edge there. This game should be another nip and tuck affair. We’ll take the Chiefs by two.