Our GHSA 7-A-Finals playoff previews is listed below. We are down to two teams after a long grueling season that started well back into summer, and for most teams, a season that probably started when the 2017 season ended. The Milton Eagles and Colquitt County Packers are the two teams left standing in Georgia’s highest classification. The Eagles are playing for their first title in school history, while Colquitt County has been a mainstay over the past few years. Best of luck to these schools and their respective communities as they compete on Wednesday, December 12th.
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Eagles
The Milton Eagles are in the finals for the first time in school history. Milton’s Jordan Yates had two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to lead the team to victory over Lowndes last Friday. Middle linebacker Jordan Davis led Milton with 13 tackles and also had an interception to help lead the defensive effort. On the season, the Eagles are averaging 33.3 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.7 points per game. Yates has passed for over 2,400 yards and rushed for 862 yards on the season. He has accounted for 36 total TDs this year. Josh Edwards has rushed for 1,088 yards and 18-TDs this year, and senior wide receiver Dylan Leonard has caught 46 passes for 837 yards. On defensive, Jordan Davis leads the way with 135 total tackles (72 solo). Allen Walker, Zander Barnett and Marcos Rangel have combined for 25 sacks. Milton has lost two games by a combined 4 points. Their opponent this week is the Colquitt County Packers…
The Packers
The Packers will be playing in their seventh finals in school history and 4th final in 5 years. Colquitt seemed invincible for most of the season. Prior to their 1-point overtime win against Archer last week; their closest win was a 12-point victory over Grayson back in September. As a team, the Packers are averaging 41.1 points per game, while the defense is allowing 10.1 points per game. Entering last week’s semifinal game, Jaycee Harden had passed for 2,293 yards and 22-TDs, while Daijuan Edwards and Ty Leggett had combined for 2,180 yards and 40-TDs on the ground. Rashard Revels and Kendrick Neloms lead the defense both with over 150 total tackles through the quarterfinals, with Revels having 90 solo tackles and Neloms with 92 solo tackles. The linebacker duo has also combined for 26 total sacks, (13 a piece) to lead a defense that has tallied 75 sacks on the season. Jay Ward leads the secondary with 6 interceptions. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has connected on 80% of his field goal attempts, including a long of 57 yards.
Final Thoughts
Will the Eagles be able to keep the Packers out of the end zone in regulation, similar to Archer last week? Or will the Packers defense be able to contain Jordan Yates? We think Yates ability as a passer and a runner will keep the Eagles in the game late. But we like the Packers late by 3, perhaps on a Fitzgerald field goal to win it.