Week-12 ushers in the end of the regular season for GHSA football. In part two of our Eight Greats Around The State, we look at two games which will determine the region champion, one game that could determine the title or muddy up the playoff picture and one game that will decide which team will host a first round playoff game and which team will be on the road. Heard County hosts Bremen on Friday night with a lot at stake. A Heard County win will secure a region title for the Braves, while a Bremen win will force a tie breaker to determine the region winer…Mitchell County and Pelham will tangle for the 103rd time this weekend. Mitchell County has dominated the series, but Pelham has been soaring this season. A lot at stake in this one including a region title, county bragging rights, and improved standing in the power ranking…The winner of the Stockbridge-Jones County game will not region title, but the winner will host a home playoff game…Meanwhile, Wayne County and Ware County will battle for a region title in Jessup. Will MJ Fuller run wild or will the youth movement of the Ware County Gators prevail…
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
The Heard County Braves will travel to Bremen with a chance to clinch their 5th region title in 7 years. Since a 33-point set back to Rockmart, the Braves have beaten all-comers including a three-point win over Callaway. Heard County is averaging 33.5 points per game in their seven wins. In their two losses, they’ve combined for 3 points total. While Aaron Beasley isn’t the sole reason for Heard County’s success, he is a big reason. The two-way star makes big plays from his safety position on defense and can break a long run in an instant.
Regardless of the outcome of the game this Friday, the Bremen Blue Devils have proved they are a team to be reckoned with in Class 2A. They served notice in week one with a win over Rabun County. With a win this Friday, Bremen will almost certainly send the region into a three-way tie for first. The Blue Devils have their own two-way star in Jalen Dallas. Bremen leads the region in points scored on the season, with 347; and have given up the fewest points per game (10) on the season. This game should come down to one possession. We give the nod to Bremen at home, by a field goal.
The Skinny
County rivals will face off for the 103rd time this week as Mitchell County travels to take on the Pelham Hornets. After a game one loss to Brooks County, the Eagles have won eight straight games. In that span, they’ve shutout four opponents. They are giving up 8.3 points per game. Quarterback James Thomas has passed for 959 yards with 15-TDs and only 1-pick. Thomas also leads the team in rushing with 584 yards and 9-TDs. As a team, Mitchell County has rushed for 1,870 yards on the season. Eric Caison leads the team in receiving with 17 receptions and 466 yards.
On the south side of the county, the Pelham Hornets have put together an impressive season. They lead the region in scoring, averaging 56.7 points per game while only giving up 6.5 points per game. Kendrick Patterson and Darrell Starling have split time at quarterback this season. The juniors have combined for over 1,300 yards passing on the season. Patterson also leads a host of Hornets in rushing. The team has rushed for over 1,900 yards this season. We are not sure how difficult the schedule has been for either team, but we think that Pelham should be able to outscore Mitchell County. We like the Hornets at home by a touchdown.
The Skinny
While a region title is not on the line on Friday night, a home playoff game is the reward for the winner of the Stockbridge-Jones County game. The teams play a contrasting style as Stockbridge has been more geared towards the run, while Jones County likes to air it out. Stockbridge quarterback Jevon McDonald has passed for 935 yards on the season. But McDonald also leads the team in rushing with 735 yards and 11-TDs. The Stockbridge defense is giving up 11 points per game this season. John Prince has recorded 7 sacks and leads Stockbridge.
Jones County leads Region 4-5A in points per game as they average 38.5 a game. Junior quarterback Hunter Costlow has passed for over 2,200 yards with 30-TDs. Jontavis Robertson leads the Greyhounds in receiving with 45 receptions for 865 yards and 10-TDs. Senior Semaj Ingram does provide some balance in the run game, he has rushed for 634 yards and 4-TDs. Defensive lineman Jadarian Boykin leads the team in sacks with 12. He might not get many chances for sacks this Friday, but Boykin and the rest of his line mates will need to stuff the Stockbridge run game. We believe that Jones County wins this game at home. Stockbridge won’t make it easy, but the Hounds win by 6.
The Skinny
These two teams have split the previous two region titles with Wayne County taking the title last year. Ware County won’t make it easy for the Yellow Jackets to repeat. MJ Fuller has rushed for over 900 yards on the season. Fuller is a back that runs with a mix of both power and speed. Shamar Taylor has passed for over 1,200 yards on the season for the Jackets. His top receiver is senior Ashby Cribb. On defense, Wayne is surrendering 13.5 points per game.
Ware County is looking to get back on top of the region this Friday. They have done it primarily with a youth movement on offense at the skill positions. Freshman QB Thomas Castellanos leads the team in passing (867 yards, 7-TDs) and rushing (575 yards, 11-TDs), while sophomore Dream Gainer is second on the team in rushing with 459 yards on the ground. Jeremiah O’hara leads the Gators in receptions (34) and receiving yards (337). Senior Logan Braucht leads the Gators defense with 91 total tackles. Braucht also leads the team in sacks with 4. Wayne County is playing this game at home, we think that’s worth at least a field goal. We like the Jackets to edge the Gators this week and claim their second consecutive region crown.