The playoffs are coming! the playoffs are coming! That's right, Georgia high school football fans, the state playoffs kick off this week (and be sure to log on to http://gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com to check out the game of the week: milton @ East Paulding-starring THIS GUY with coverage. That's right.)
Usually I wait until Thursday to talk high school football, but I just couldn't wait. I had so much to say, let's do it ONE DAY EARLY! What I will give you are random thoughts on the matchups, picks and predictions that OF COURSE will change weekly. Let's get it ON!
PS: I am breaking this into 4 parts (AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and AA/A combined.)
AAAAA
The #1 entering the playoffs is OF COURSE Lowndes, but my pick to win it all hasn't changed. Still Northside Warner Robins. Crazy? I know, but I think they take it. I like Fields and Jones and think that, if given the chance again (and they could get it in the finals at the dome) they take down Lowndes. I think the defense would bow up this time and shut down Reid and Demps. And you KNOW Conrad Nix will have them geeked up for that game. In the first round, NWR crushes an overranked Union Grove. We saw what happened the last time Union Grove faced a semi-formidable opponent.
In that bracket, they would face Camden County in the second round. WOW. I had wanted Camden to go to the final four, along with NWR, Lowndes and Newnan, but THAT isn't going to happen.
Isn't THAT going to be huge, but let's discuss that NEXT week.
Parkview v Norcross, Norcross is the mystery. Some weeks they are unstoppable, others they can't get out of their own way. I like Parkview's attack in that the Panther coaches know what the team is and doesn't do anything BUT that, but I think Norcross gets it together and the playmakers carry the Blue Devils into the second round.
Walton v Woodstock. How about Woodstock sneaking into the playoffs? Good for them. They will lose to Michael Boydston and the Walton Raiders, but good for them. Ray Rayburn is a strong enough QB though to steal a playoff game by himself. The mirror opposite of Charles King. Sometimes the steady hand is all you need...
Moving to the southeast bracket, Lassiter makes the playoffs and Chip Lindsay should win coach of the county for his work in just his first year. He has instilled that winner's attitude there and with a few of his talented players, this team could make some playoff noise. They face Etowah in the first game, a tall task, but MAYBE JUST MAYBE they can pull off the upset. If I had a gun in my face, I'd pick the upset.
North Gwinnett v Brookwood. WOW. Two great names, but too bad that is all Brookwood is this season. A name only. Michael Tamburo and Tyler Jarry are two PLAYERS that will led the Bulldogs to quarterfinals. Which means they win this one. Hey, how come no major conference school has offered Tamburo? All he does is make plays and win. (Well except for last week.) But it is playoff time, and Tamburo will come to play. (though with a win last week, he could have punched his ticket to another final four. this way he has to go thru Newnan-yesh!)
Speaking of Newnan-they rock all the way to the final 4. they win this week v Johnson of Savannah and next week against Tift County. Yes, that means I have Tift Co beating MLKing. I think ALL of the Decatur schools are out by Saturday night. Sorry guys, but that's my bold prediction.
Next bracket is the southwest. The weakest bracket IMHO. I think Stephenson loses to Coffee then we get a crapfest of Chapel Hill and Coffee (which Coffee wins)
Peachtree Ridge shouldn't have a problem with the offensively challenged Dacula.
The most intriguing matchup on the first round in this bracket is Harrison/Kell. You get a great runningback matchup. Hopefully Robbie Godhigh is healthy, because when he is, he's a game changer. If not, give Kell the win. I know high ankle sprains can linger, but I think Godhigh toughs it out and the Hoyas win. (Next week is a different story. Ptree Ridge is my pick from this bracket)
The final bracket features the biggest stars. Lowndes has Reid and Demps, Grayson features Pemberton and Horne (and Jones and Gunn), Collins Hill has Michael Box, Milton has Toney Williams and EPaulding has Brown. WOW. Star studded. Lowndes takes the first two rounds without breaking a sweat while Grayson is rewarded for its 10-0 season with three of the toughest games of the entire draw. IF they survive Collins Hill (which I think they will-barely) then Mickey Conn's Rams will get either Toney Williams, but more likely East Paulding. I think EPHS is better coached and can grind out a win.
So IF Grayson can outgun Collins Hill then outrush EPHS, then they get Lowndes? WOW. Sorry Coach Conn.
My final four is Lowndes, Ptree Ridge, Newnan and N-WR with N-WR and Lowndes doing battle in the dome!
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