College football got underway last weekend and while most people Friday night were talking about what would happen on Saturday, plenty of high school ball was played.
Hillgrove went on the road and knocked off Rome 14-3 behind a very impressive performance from Synjyn Days. If GT switches this guy to defensive back, that's fine as he will make plays, but they should AT LEAST give him a look at QB. My co-host Scott Janovitz believes he WILL BE GT's QB before he leaves the flats and he might just be right. Days is impressive.
Speaking of QBs that might get switched at the next level, Blake Sims shook off an early fumble to record 3 TDs in Gainesville's 41-0 win over Franklin. I'm still feeling good about my pick fo the Red Elephants to do some serious damage to the Class AAA bracket.
We called it here last week saying that Baldwin had better not look past Troup to the big matchup this weekend against Peach. The Braves pulled it out 20-13 but the offense, which will be the calling card of the BRaves this season wasn't sharp.
How about Charles Perkins of Collins Hill? The GT-bound RB had 131 total yards of offense and 2tds as his team pulled out a 19-13 victory. He WILL carry Collins Hill this season and watch out Techies, he might get a better offer to a bigger school...
Roswell nipped Centennial in a game that might determine who gets the 3rd or 4th playoff spot (or who even gets in!) out of that region. Centennial looked great against Northview, but I guess that isn't hard. The OLine needs to step up for the Knights.
Newnan shut out Chapel Hill. Alec Ogletree is the best player in the state. DONE
Parkview beats Chattahoochee to stop the bleeding. This will certainly help them as they try to squeak into the playoffs.
Walton continues its nice start with a win over Kell. PS ScoreATL's IJ Rosenberg predicted Kell would win its region. They are 0-2.
Lowndes was up 14-0 on Peachtree Ridge after 32 seconds. Factor in Khary Franklin's 124 yards and 3 TD on 9 carries, and the PTR squad didn't have a chance. You just hope they learn from it and use it if the teams square off again in the playoffs. (Grayson would be the only team with a shot against the Vikings though IMHO)
Speaking of Grayson, the Rams shut out Warner Robins 10-0. DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE for Mickey Conn's boys. Ean Pemberton was used as a decoy on the game's only TD. Smart move Mick!
North Gwinnett takes out Brookwood (ye-ouch Broncos!) and McEachern levels Etowah, the defending region champ. i was beginning to rethink my exclusion of Etowah for the playoffs (what was I thinking putting KMHS over Etowah?) but I really wasn't impressed at the Kell Classic and this just confirms my suspicions. McEachern won 49-10 thanks to Rajaan Bennett's 99 yards and 2TDs on 18 carries (a BEAST in the pistol. COME ON KENTUCKY, GIVE THIS GUY A SCHOLARSHIP! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?-thanks Jen Love Hewitt!) Also Demarius Matthews had a pair of 79-yard punting plays for scores, one a return and one a fake. McEachern is well coached and will be a tough out in the playoffs this season!
On to the preview....
Five big games go down the weekend of September 11 and 12, one of which features both teams going outside of their classification for an exciting match-up. Northside Warner Robins, ranked No.7 in AAAAA hosts the Tigers of Carver-Columbus, the No.1 team in AAA. Last season Dell McGee’s Tigers lost a heartbreaker to the Eagles 7-6. This season however the Eagles may be living off of reputation as the team lost RB Xavier Bacon and QB Joe Scott. Briar VanBrunt did show in the team’s 42-10 win over Perry that he has a capable arm as well as the legs to find first downs and the end zone. As far as replacing Bacon, Shaquille O’Neil scampered for 119 yards and a score against the Panthers but the offense must cut down on the fumbles as the team lost four last week. The defense will look to lock up Devin Burns and company with CB Brison Williams and DT Greg Clark. The Tigers meanwhile are led by the Maryland-bound quarterback Burns and the workhorse tailback Isaiah Crowell. Crowell routinely racks up 100+ yard games. The defense has stalwart DE Corey Crawford and his bookend Brandon Smith.
In a game that could feature an exploding scoreboard Sequoyah travels to Hillgrove. The Hawks go as far as QB Synjyn Days takes them and last week he sparked Phil Ironside’s offense to 325 yards in the first half alone. Days was just 4-5 passing for 129 yards but he tossed for two scores. The big-play offense can score at any time and posted four touchdown scores of 49+ yards. Sophomore halfback Kenyon Drake also returned a kick for a score and had two other plays of 75+ yards. Meanwhile Dalton Trevino paced Sequoyah to a 33-7 win and will look to improve on his 146 rushing yards thus far this season. Trevino also reached pay dirt three times in his team’s week one win. The defense can and will force turnovers as it forced four against Cherokee. Opposing defenses cannot key solely in on Trevino however as the Ben Rogers-to-Tucker Adams combo is lethal.
Peach County meets the Braves of Baldwin and the Trojans may be hard pressed to match the passing success it had against Macon County. Trojans QB Patrick Turner in his first game back from injury threw for 245 yards and two scores, connecting with Lamar Zanders for one of the touchdowns. Luke Crowell notched a touchdown reception and a rushing score as well. Peach County will have to cut down on the mental mistakes as Turner threw two picks, the team committed far too many penalties for Coach Chad Campbell’s liking and the team botched a punt. The Braves defense is led from the secondary by FS Dennie Milline. The offense is led by another Milline, sophomore QB Roshaun who led the team to a 36-12 win against Glenn Hills last week. Expect Javonte Edwards to get a healthy dose of action against the Trojans defense. The offensive line might be the best in all of Class AAA, led by Jadarius Dean.
Week three features a rematch of the 2007 Class AA state championship game when Buford faces Lovett. The Lions are hoping for a different result in a game that could decide Region 6-AA in the third week of the season. Lovett QB Jonathan Carkhuff passed for over 2100 yards last season and he will have an easier go at the Wolves defense with Daunte Carr now in Gainesville. The Lions offense also features Max Williams, Taylor Mack and Zach Boden in the running game though Williams also hauls in some of Carkhuff’s passes. Buford meanwhile will make due with a dominating offensive line, led by Kolton Houston and Vadal Alexander. Those two open up holes for FB Jessel Curry and QB Alex Ross. While Buford was hit with two big-time transfers in Carr and Storm Johnson (Loganville), the Wolves didn’t show it week one with a 51-0 thumping of Class AAA Grovetown. If Buford wants to win a third straight state title, taking out No.7 Lovett twice might be necessary.
Finally, Class AAAAA No.1 Lowndes travels nearly to the border to face Ware County. Ed Dudley has moved from Walton down to Waycross to coach a Gators team just two years removed from an appearance in the Class AAAA state title game. Dudley’s Gators rallied from down 13-0 to win 17-13 last week. Lowndes did not need a rally at all as the Vikings piled up 560 yards en route to crushing Woodland 75-14. Tailback Troy Braswell tallied 101 yards on just ten carries. Khary Franklin likely will be splitting carries with Braswell as Franklin moved to the TB position in his senior season and Cole Parker has taken over the QB position. Parker was 6-7 for 107 yards and a score in the season opener. The three operate behind a line headlined by FSU-bound Ed Christian and Layne Grant. Those two should blow holes open all season long for Randy McPherson’s squad.
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