Our GHSA 4-A-Semifinal playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Marist-Cartersville and Troup-Blessed Trinity. The only teams remaining are from Region-5 and Region -7…Blessed Trinity is looking to return to the finals to defend their title…While Marist and Cartersville would certainly love a rematch with Blessed Trinity, if the Titans can get past Troup. If you are anywhere near Cartersville or Roswell, you should definitely check one of these games out. We’ve had a chance to see 3 of the 4 teams play this season and they can certainly put on a show. Best of luck to these final four teams as they compete on Friday night.
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Marist War Eagles and Cartersville Hurricanes have not met since 1930. The War Eagles will be making their 4thsemifinals appearance in 7 years. Last week, Marist got 83 yards on the ground and a touchdown run from quarterback Connor Cigelske. The Marist defense limited Mary Persons to 182 yards of total offense. On the season, Marist’sdefense is allowing just 10.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Cartersville is looking to get back to the state finals for the third time in four years. The Canes got off to a slow start on the road last week at Baldwin, but scored 35 unanswered points to move on to the semifinals for the 5thtime in 7 years. Cartersville got a big night from running back Marcus Gary who rushed for 196 yards and 3-TDs. We haven’t talked a ton about Cartersville’s defense, but perhaps we should. They are allowing only 6.6 points per game, while the offense has averaged 39.7 points per game this season. It will be interesting to see if the Cartersville offense can get the run game going against a very good Marist defensive line. If they can, then it could be a long night for Marist… and they will hear a lot of “Gary on the carry” over the loud speakers at Weinman Stadium. But if not, it could be a low scoring grind it out kind of game. Either way, we like Cartersville to edge Marist by 4 points.
The Skinny
The Blessed Trinity Titans are one win away from getting back to the state title game. The Titans beat Eastside soundly last week in their quarterfinal matchup. The game was really never in doubt as the Titans controlled the game from the start. It was Jackson Hamilton with the big night rushing, tallying 162 yards and 3-TDs while Steele Chambers added 124 yards and 2-TDs in the win. On the season, Blessed Trinity is averaging 37.6 points per game. The defense is only allowing 13 points per game. The Titans really have not been challenged to this point in the playoffs as they are outscoring their opponents by an average of 30 points. The Troup Tigers might be the most athletic team that the Titans have faced on the season. Troup’s defense is led by Alabama commit King Mwikuta and lineman Andy Boykin. Offensively, dual threat quarterback Kobe Hudson has passed for 3,152 yards on the season and rushed for 1,206. (Hudson, a junior, is a verbal commit to Auburn as a wide receiver.) Hudson and Troup’s fast break offense will keep the Blessed Trinity defensive backs busy as the try to cover Jamari Thrash, Joko Willis (who converted to WR from LB) and Jarrell Smith. We think the Titans will be able to get pressure on Hudson and disrupt the passing game. We like the Titans by 13 at home this week.