Our GHSA 7-A-Semifinal playoff previews are listed below. This preview features matchups between Lowndes-Milton and Archer-Colquitt County. Some things of note this week…Milton is making their first semi-finals appearance…Will it be an all Region-1 final…No matter, there will be a new state champion in 7-A as the defending champ was dethroned last week. 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
Last week, Milton quarterback and Georgia Tech commit Jordan Yates only passed for 75 yards, but he had a big game on the ground rushing for 149 yards on 17 attempts. But it was Josh Edwards who scored the game-winning touchdown last week to help Milton Edge Hillgrove 20-19, and earn their first semifinal appearance in school history. Edwards ended the game with 44 yards and 2-TDs.The Eagles defense stepped up big, holding Hillgrove well under their season average in point total. Milton will certainly need another big defensive performance as they host the Lowndes Vikings this Friday. Lowndes is coming off of a 20-15 win over Grayson. Travis Tidsale ran for 130 yards and Jacurri Brown and Gary Osby rushed for touchdowns to lead Lowndes past Grayson. Lowndes has been up and down this season, but the Vikings are certainly playing well, knocking off two number one seeds en route to their semi-finals matchup. This will be the Vikings first semi-finals appearance since they won the state title back in 2007. This will be the second week in a row that the Eagles will face a team who is reliant on the run. Will the Viking be road-weary, as they make their third consecutive trip to Metro-Atlanta? We think so, but we think they will have just enough in the tank to edge the Eagles. We like Lowndes by 1.
The Skinny
Archer edged Tift County last week in overtime to advance to the semifinals for the second time in school history. Semaje Banks 2-yard touchdown run in overtime proved to be the game winner. Banks finished the game with 118 yards and 2-TDs. On the season, the Archer offense is averaging 36 points per game, so there is certainly some explosiveness for the Tigers. Their defense is allowing just over two touchdowns a game on average. Meanwhile, it seemed to be business as usual for Colquitt County, as they avenged last year’s state title loss at the hands of North Gwinnett. The Packers blanked the defending champs 45-0. Ty Leggett led the way with 137 yards on just 9 carries and scored 5 total touchdowns, (4-rushing and 1-receiving). Quarterback Jaycee Harden passed for 220 yards, completing 70% of his passes in the win. While it was only the second shutout that Rashard Revels, Brian Merritt and company has pitched in 2018; the Packers defense is only allowing 9.3 points per game. We think the Packers will have another big game defensively this week. We like Colquitt by 16.