In Part I of our Week-8 preview of GHSA football, we focus on region matchups that will go along way in determining region titles. We start with undefeated Dawson County as they travel to Greater Atlanta Christian. This game could very well determine the region champion. Can GAC slow down another high-powered run game…In Class 2-A border war, Thomasville will travel to Quitman to take on the Brooks County Trojans. Last year the Bulldogs edged the Trojans at home. Can Brooks return the favor…In region 3-7A Hillgrove and McEachern will tangle in week one of region play for both schools. We expect both of these teams to be in the playoffs. But a win in this game would put either team in a great position to host a playoff game…Meanwhile in Central Georgia, Dublin hosts Dodge County. We believe the winner of this game has the inside track to the region title.
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Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
GSWA – Georgia Sports Writers Association
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
GAC passed a tough region test last week as they shut out North Hall. This week, they will host another run oriented offense as Coach Sid Maxwell brings his Dawson County Tigers to Norcross. Sevaughn Clark, Ahmad Kamara and Shawn Thomas have become household names for the folks in Dawson County. These are three of the top rushers for a team that has chewed up over 380 yards per game on the ground so far this season. Logan Barnes and Zac Baloga lead the Tigers defense which has posted two shutouts this season.
The Spartans on the other hand will need another big game from their defense if they hope to remain undefeated in region play. Chris Hinton, Jeff Blake, Elijah Pryor and Choe Bryant-Strother have led the way on defense for GAC this season. Offensively, Hinton, and brother Myles lead the way on the offensive line for running back Montae Bailey who leads GAC with 386 yards rushing while Josh Rose has passed for 933 yards, rushed for 383 yards and has accounted for 14-TDs. We expect this game to be much closer than last year’s contest, but do expect GAC to win this by 10.
The Skinny
The Thomasville Bulldogs will travel to Quitman this week to face the Brooks County Trojans in a matchup of top-10 region rivals. Both teams have played extremely challenging schedules and are battle tested. The Bulldogs have had good play from freshman QB Chase Mascoe this season. He has passed for 1,143 yards and 9-TDs. Tan Gelin and Malek Miller provide balance in the rushing attack. Gelin has rushed for 446 yards and 6-TDs while Miller has chipped in 216 yards and 4-TDs. Thomasville also sports a very good offensive line anchored by Larry Williams, Tevin Rayford and Javonte McGriff. Defensively, linebackers Jeremiah Powell, Sedrick Robinson and DB Karey Lee have been the leaders. Robinson leads the team with 48 total tackles. While Lee has intercepted 3 passes on the season.
For Brooks County, Jacolby Brown and Ni’tavion Burrus have combined to pass for 663 yards and rush for 281 yards with 13 total TDs. Seniore Deon Fountain leads the team in rushing yards with 257 and receiving with 33 receptions for 462 yards and 6-TDs. Perhaps the biggest key in this game for Brooks will be the defense led by Travaraus Brown and Darryl Gallon. They will have to get pressure on Thomasville’s young QB and slow down Gelin in the rushing attack. Both of these teams should make deep playoff runs, but we like the Bulldogs by a touchdown in this South Georgia clash.
The Skinny
In the pre-season, many thought this region belonged solely to Marietta. Yet, these two perennial powers will also have their say before it’s all said and done. The Hillgrove Hawks have done most of their damage on the ground this season. Led by running backs Trevor Smith and Issaiah McCrary, the Hawks offense is averaging just over 30 points per game.
McEachern has quietly put together some impressive wins and the only blemish on their schedule was a loss to No. 1 ranked Colquitt County. Paris Brown and Jordan Simmons lead McEachern in rushing. Carlos Del Rio has taken most of the snaps this season at quarterback. Ja’leak Perry and Javon Baker lead the Indians receivers. Perhaps the biggest names on this team are on the defense as linemen Jamil Burroughs and Jeffrey Clark. They lead a team that will certainly need to stop the running game this week. We expect this to be another tightly contested matchup this week. We like the Indians to prevail by a touchdown.
The Skinny
The Dodge County Indians and Dublin Fighting Irish will play in Dublin in a game that could go a long way in determining the region 3-A champion. Last season, Dodge got the best of Dublin, but the fighting Irish have a decided advantage in the series and also boast a pretty stout rushing attack led by running Corteveyas Mitchell and Quarterback Rodriquez Martin. The Dublin defense has held opponents to 8 points per game so far this season, including two shutouts. Their only blemish is a 3 point loss to Brooks County.
Dodge County is led by R.J. Carr and Erin Pitts. Carr has rushed for 486 yards and 8-TDs while Pitts leads the team in rushing with 547 yards and 6-TDs. Ty Belflower anchors the offensive line for the Indians. Defensively, Vince Mann and Jamal Mahan will be tasked with controlling the line of scrimmage against the run heavy Irish. Elisha Williams and Jadin Johnson lead Dodge in tackles this season with 39 and 36 respectively. We expect this game to be closer than last season’s matchup, but we like the Indians to prevail again by 4 points.