The GHSA Playoffs get under way on Friday night. The past few seasons, we have attempted to preview every playoff game. This season we are taking a bit of a different approach. We will give you our overall thoughts on each classification and then preview two of the top games for each classification. For our Class 5A – GHSA Playoff Preview we highlight the Creekside vs. Coffee and Dutchtown vs. Harris County games.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
Tale of the Tape
Defending Champion: Warner Robins
Current No. 1: Ware County (TFR)/ Cartersville (GHSFD)
Best 1st Round Game: Creekside vs Coffee
Longest Playoff Drought: Cass (2006)
Week 1 Upset Alert: Creekside, Apalachee, New Manchester, Southwest DeKalb, Dutchtown
Final Four Predictions: Creekside; Warner Robins; Woodward Academy; Ware County
Sleeper: Blessed Trinity
We like Warner Robins to win the state title again. Earlier this season, the Demons looked invincible but Ware County gave them a wake-up call in region play. Looming large is a second round matchup between Cartersville and Warner Robins. There are other potential great second round matchups including St. Pius-Creekside, Ware County-Calhoun, and Woodward-Blessed Trinity. It gets real very quickly in Class AAAAA. Woodward Academy seems to have the best path to the final four.
Our sleeper is Blessed Trinity as they sport one of the best junior running backs in the state. But several other teams could fit that bill, including Starr’s Mill, Whitewater, and Jones County. This shakes out to be one of the most competitive brackets in all eight classifications.
The Skinny
The Creekside Seminoles are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Seminoles had reeled off six consecutive wins before their loss last week to Woodward Academy. The Seminoles are averaging 35.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 9.3. Creekside is averaging 145.7 yards per game through the air and 211.1 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Nyqua Lett has thrown for 1,443 yards and 16-TDs. Lett is also second on the team in rushing with 531 yards and 6-TDs. He is flanked in the backfield by Kamauri Davis (548 yards, 9-TDs) and Cameron Burch (524 yards, 11-TDs). Linebacker Vincent Hill leads the team in total tackles while Javeon Miller has an eye-popping 20 sacks this season. The defense has also intercepted 10 passes on the year. Creekside has defeated four playoff teams this season, including two from higher classifications.
The Coffee Trojans are in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. They enter this week an even 2-2 in their last four games. Coffee has had a relatively balanced attack this season, averaging 149.7 yards on the ground and 179 yards per game through the air. Quarterback Justin Swords has thrown for 1,236 yards and 9-TDs. Running backs Fred Brown and Brady Skipper have combined to rush for 787 yards and 9-TDs to lead the way on the ground. Maurice Turner is the team’s leading receiver with 27 receptions for 374 yards and 4-TDs. Linebacker Brandon High leads the defense in total tackles and sacks. The Trojans secondary has intercepted 8 passes this season. Coffee is averaging 28.6 points per game while they area allowing 12 points per game.
Both of these teams are battle tested and we expect this one to be a defensive struggle. If the Coffee offense can avoid turnovers we like them to be in the game late. However, we believe Creekside’s defense is a little ahead of Coffee this week. Seminoles by 6.
The Skinny
The Dutchtown Bulldogs are in the post season for the fifth consecutive season. The Bulldogs had won six consecutive games before falling to Jones County last week. Dutchtown is averaging 17.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 11.5 points per game. Expect the Bulldogs to rely heavily on the run game behind junior Jamal Bing and sophomore dual threat quarterback Bryce Clavon to pace the offense this week. Dutchtown has defeated three playoff teams this season.
The Harris County Tigers had won five straight games before being derailed by Region champ Whitewater last week. The Tigers are in the post-season for the fifth consecutive season and for the fourth time under head Coach Jamie Fox. The Tigers have not advanced past the first round since 2013. They are led this season by quarterback Cooper Corey who has thrown for 2,089 yards and 16-TDs. Corey also leads the team in rushing with 743 yards and 13-TDs. Thadous Askew is second on the team in rushing with 704 yards and 10-TDs. Meanwhile, senior receiver K.D. Hutchinson is having a banner season with 43 receptions for 866 yards and 9-TDs. Wyatt Ervin and Jadon Smith lead the team in total tackles. The Tigers have sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times this season and have forced 17 turnovers. They are averaging 33.8 points per game while allowing 26.6
This will be a battle of a really good Dutchtown defense against an explosive Harris County offense. Home field advantage will certainly benefit the Bulldogs, but we believe Harris County scores late to steal one this week. Tigers by 2.