Our GHSA 5-A-Semifinal playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Bainbridge-Stockbridge and Rome-Warner Robins. Some things of note this week…Like Class 6-A and 7-A, we could have an all Region-1 final…Bainbridge has made a great run in the playoffs, certainly surprising us here at the TFR…Can Warner Robins avenge last seasons state championship loss…They will get a chance to do it in front of the home crowd this Friday. 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
At one point in the season, the Bainbridge Bearcats lost four consecutive games. However, they have now won six of their last seven games and find themselves in the semifinals for the second time in four years. We certainly did not expect a deep playoff run from the Bearcats, but the keep believing, keep winning and keep advancing. Caleb McDowell scored three touchdowns (two rushing and one kickoff return), to lead the Bearcats over Buford last week. Bainbridge has been led on offense by three sophomores, quarterback Quayde Hawkins, and running backs McDowell and Rashad Broadnax. Through the second round of the playoffs, Hawkins had passed for 1,264 yards, while McDowell and Broadnax have combined for 1,397 yards. Defensively, Roman Harrison and Anthony Brooks have combined for 15 sacks. The Bearcats will travel north to take on the Stockbridge Tigers. The Tigers are in the semifinals for the third time in five years. While Stockbridge has generally done most of their damage on the ground, last week quarterback Jevon McDonald passed for 205 yards and 3-TDs. McDonald did add two rushing touchdowns. The Stockbridge defense was solid last week as they held Carrollton to a field goal. On the season, the Stockbridge defense is only allowing 10.1 points per game. We don’t think that Stockbridge will hold Bainbridge to 10 points, but we do believe they will advance this week. We like the Tigers by a touchdown.
The Skinny
Rome and Warner Robins will meet up in a rematch of the 2017 state championship game. Rome dominated the game last season, shutting out the Demons. In most games this season, Rome has not been challenged. They did get a stiff test from the Dutchtown Bulldogs last week. Dutchtown held Rome to their lowest point total of the season. Rome’s defense is allowing 13.6 points per game. That’s really good, but it’s not as good as the 9.4 points they allowed in 2017. Nevertheless, Rome has won 40 consecutive games. Knox Kadum ran for three touchdowns while Jamious Griffin added another to pace the Wolves. Through last week, Kadam has passed for 1,375 yards and rushed for 519. During that same period, Jamious Griffin has rushed for 2,424 yards and 36-TDs. Derricus Smith leads the defense in tackles, while Montrell Milsap leads the team in sacks. Warner Robins comes into this game with two losses on the season. (One of those was a forfeit for playing an ineligible player.) Dylan Fromm has passed for over 3,700 yards, with 40-TDs. Jahlen Rutherford is closing in on 1,000 rushing yards, while Marcayll Jones has caught 92 passes for 1,744 yards. We don’t think that Rome will shut out Warner Robins this time around. But we still like the Wolves by 10 this week on the road.