Tuesday, September 15, 2009

GAHigh School football review/preview 9/15/09

Three words. All you would need to describe the past weekend of Georgia High School football is just three words: Buford goes down. Yep, the Lovett Lions behind senior QB Jonathan Carkhuff ended the Wolves streak at 32 straight and 49 straight regular season games. After not scoring a point since 2006 against Buford, the Lions got on the board just 37 seconds in and Carkhuff had 2 TD passes and one rushing score for the game. Buford tried to rally, but the Lions had leads of 14-7, 21-7 and then 28-14. The Wolves got to within 28-21 but could get no closer. The Lions are now No.3 in the state, but I say put them at No.1 in Class AA, if nothing more so the rematch in the state playoffs will be juicier...
I was at a GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat game on Friday, Woodstock hosting McEachern and it was a classic. (to watch it, go to ghsa.tv and click on the Woodstock/McEachern game) Woodstock was up 16-0 at the break and had what its coach called the "best defense the Wolverine have had since [he's] been at Woodstock." Well too bad the offense didn't put more on the board for that defense because in the second half, Rajaan Bennett scored twice and the Indians found the endzone with just :08 left and a TimTebow-jump pass for 2pts tied the game at 31 entering OT. Bennett scored his third TD of the game and the WOlverines couldn't score to extend the game. Final: 37-31. Bennett was a bit overshadowed in the first half by Woodstock's Carlos Davis, a HUGE fullback that seemed to wear down as the game continued. Oh well. Davis was a beast that turned into a victim of his small OLine. Woodstock needs to just cut down on the turnovers and if so, that offense will allow that defense to shine. The Wolverines just ran into one of the top undiscovered talents in the state. Bennett should be getting more heat from the ACC and SEC schools.

Other games of note: ClassA No.1 Wesleyan slapped No.10 Holy Innocents and Wesleyan should run the table to 15-0. Yawn. Way to pull a Buford there Wesleyan. Pretty soon, we'll all be rooting against you too. No.2 Wilkinson Co edged Wilcox Co 25-21 in what had to be a great game. But it is class a, so enh.

If we want to go to the best of the best, Class AAAAA (at least the biggest, I should say) Grayson shut out Dacula 44-0. Shawne Green and Joe Champaign and Kori Gaines all pitched in and Ean Pemberton's 24 yard TD was enough. This Rams team might be better than last season mainly because of the defense. The QB situation hasn't been a situation and Pemberton runs hard and has some help this season. Throw in Mickey Conn as the best coach in the Region and you have the recipe for a long run in the state playoffs....
Where the Rams might meet the Vikings. WOW, can you imagine Khary Franklin and Co. going up against Grayson's defense? I shudder to think about it. The Vikings shut out the Gators of Ware Co 41-0 and it was never close. And Lowndes has some of the best JRs. in the state on the offense and defense. They just reload.
Speaking of reloading, Bob Sphire did just that at the QB spot when Mikey Tamburo graduated to Boise State, insert CJ Uzomah, who is probably better. CJ is 6'5 210 and can throw it for days. Already the best junior QB in the state, he might be pushing for best QB in the state as well (sorry Connor Shaw). Uzomah is being recruited as an athlete and he has the OLine to help him out as well as the receivers, and in that spread offense, he is just a force. Look for the Bulldogs to take the Region (sorry PTree Ridge, but the Bulldogs have ya this year) and make a serious play for the final four.
He spells it differently, but Shaq O'Neill is just as dominant over his competition for N-WR. Maybe not "just as" but he is pretty good. he had 2TDs in the first half and finished with 105 yards as the Eagles knocked off Carver-Columbus 21-12. Devin Burns and Isaiah Crowell tried, but alas, the Eagles took down the Tigers. Tune in to GPB.org/football this week though as Carver-Columbus tries to bounce back with a matchup against Baldwin.

Speaking of Baldwin, Peach County owned them last week 17-7. That high-flying offense for the Braves never got going and the Trojans, behind their Senior QB took out the Braves. Speaking of senior QBs, Hillgrove and Synjyn Days dispatched Sequoyah rather easily if you ask me. I thought that would be MUCH closer, but the Chiefs couldn't stop Days. Tech is getting a good one there.

And for the Rajion Neal fanclub out there, HEY, SANDY CREEK WON 41-0. Congrats.

Looking ahead to this Friday, besides the classic Baldwin/Carver-Columbus game on gpb.org/football (shameless self-promotion. sorry), you've got Apalachee hosting Clarke-Central. No.7 vs. No.8 so it should be a great game. Jon Lee has some help with the Haney and Hoard. Look for the Wildcats to take an important one at home. And also remember, Paul and Fletcher take all credit for this guy. Just remember...

And the Comets of South Gwinnett, currently averaging 49 ppg shoot over to Grayson for an important tilt Friday. The Rams will win but the Comets will take more out of the game as it is a measuring stick for what they need to do to get up to the next level. I feel good about my SoGwinn pick for the playoffs.

Enjoy the week and remember....gpb.org/football or ghsa.tv. SHAMELESS, I know.

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