Our GHSA 5-A-Finals playoff previews is listed below. We are down to two teams and like Class 6-A, they both come from Region-1. This game will feature a rematch between Bainbridge and Warner Robins. The Bainbridge Bearcats have reeled off six straight victories in what some might see as an improbable run. Bainbridge is in the finals for the first time since 1982. That was the only time they have won a state title. Warner Robins features one of the state’s top quarterback and receiver combinations, in Dylan Fromm and Marcayll Jones. Can Bainbridge ground the aerial attack of the Demons? We will know for sure in one week. Best of luck to both Bainbridge and Warner Robins and their respective communities as they compete on Tuesday, December 11th.
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Bearcats
Like Class-6A, the Class-5A state champion will come from Region-1 this season. We will be the first to admit that we did not have the Bainbridge Bearcats advancing this far…Shame on us! The Bearcats defeated two No. 1 seeds en route to their rematch with Warner Robins. Bainbridge came from behind last week to defeat the Stockbridge Tigers by a 1-point margin. The difference in that game was two missed extra points by Stockbridge. Sophomore quarterback Quayde Hawkins passed for 245 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for Bainbridge. On the season Hawkins has passed for 1,601 yards and 12-TDs while sophomore running backs Rashad Broadnax and Caleb McDowell have combined for 1,561 yards and 15-TDs. Randy Fillingame lead the Bearcat defense with 110 total tackles (77 solo), while Roman Harrison has tallied d8.5 sacks and freshman Deyon Bouie has intercepted 5-passes. At one point in the season, the Bearcats lost 5 of 6 games, but since their last meeting with Warner Robins, the Bearcats have won 6 consecutive games. Bainbridge is averaging 24 points per game while the defense is allowing 18 points per game.
The Demons
Warner Robins knocked off the two-time defending state champion Rome last week as the Demons are in search of their first state title since 2004 and 5th overall in school history. We will admit, we did not pick the Demons to get to the finals, but they made the best of their opportunities last Friday. The Demons are averaging 36.9 points per game, while their defense is allowing 18 points per game. Through the quarterfinals, Dylan Fromm has passed for 3,727 yards and 40-TDs. Jahlen Rutherford leads the team with 949 yards rushing while Marcayll Jones has 1,744 receiving yards and 92 receptions through the quarterfinals. Sophomore Demarcus Robinson leads the defense with 98 tackles (75 solo) while Jatavious Bryant has intercepted 4 passes in the secondary through the quarterfinals. It should be noted that of Warner Robins two losses, one was to Class 7-A No. 1 Colquitt County, who is also playing for a state title and the other was a forfeit loss in a game that Warner Robins originally won.
Final Thoughts
In their first matchup, the Demons held Bainbridge to 30 yards passing and 49 yards rushing. We have picked against the Bearcats almost every week and all they do is keep winning; so it wouldn’t be a shock to us if they shocked Warner Robins. We think Bainbridge will be able to get some things going on offense this week, but we think Fromm and company will win this game by two touchdowns.