GAHS Football review and preview for 10/13/09

What a weekend it was in Georgia high school football last week. No real surprises, but I was able to witness one of the smartest running backs I've ever seen in my time watching high school ball. SportsbyFletch has a reader that has taken me to task for my assessment of Rajion Neal of Sandy Creek and even told me I'd change my thoughts of him after watching him.
Well let me say that I'd certainly reshuffle my top 10 list of running backs after watching Neal over the weekend. I'm not ready to move him to the top of my board, sorry, but he moves up. I have never seen a more patient back at the high school level and he uses his blocks very well. Neal scored on a 97 yard kick return as well when he waited for the wall to set up and then me made his move. Very impressed with that and with the 64-yard score and the speed he showed on the two-yard TD when he just out ran everyone to the corner. Still though I wonder how he'll do if the line isn't as good as he had with the Fighting Patriots, but you cannot teach that vision and patience. Good for him.
If I were to rerank the backs here is my new top ten OF STRICTLY HIGH SCHOOL BACKS (not necesarily how they'll do at the next level)
1. Rajaan Bennett (over 1000 yards in 6 games, and he took over that Woodstock game for McEachern)
2. Charles Perkins. Collins Hill. Looking forward to see how he does against Peachtree on Friday
3.Ean Pemberton, Grayson. What more needs to be said about the Little Giant?
4. Isaiah Crowell, Carver-Columbus. The best Junior out there and has a gear that I'm not sure I've ever seen on the high school level.
5. Rajion Neal, Sandy Creek. One of the smartest and most patient backs I've seen not just this year, but in all of my playbyplay career.
6. Mack Brown, MLK (VERY disappointing thus far this season. Actually, Score Atlanta's Alex Ewalt has this guy as an Honorable mention for PotY, and I laughed when I heard that. This is a guy that boasted he was going to get 3000 yards and 30TDs and has just 600 yards through 6 of his team's games. He's missed one full game and parts of others with hamstring issues. And now he's guaranteed a win over Stephenson. WOW)
7. Clarence Jackson, North Clayton. He couldn't get it done v Griffin. Sorry, but sometimes your ranking is tied to your team's success. Collins Hill is good BECAUSE of Perkins.
8. Ken Malcome, SWD. The quickest BIG back in Georgia this season. A good get for Georgia.
9.Shaq O'Neal, Northside-(Warner Rob). Another top junior back.
10. Storm Johnson, Loganville. The BEST Runningback in the state, self-proclaimed....not so much.
Just missing the list........Jon Lee of Apalachee, Troy Brasswell of Lowndes, Robert Brown/Adrian Bentley of Westside Macon

How did the rest of last Friday go? (Other than my WONDERFUL-sarcasm dripping- experience with the fine folks at Sandy Creek's Athletic Department)....
Grayson all but clinched its second straight Region Title with a 22-12 win over Brookwood. Ean Pemberton was stuffed early but broke off a 53-yard run to set up the game-icing score. He had 98 yards in the win. Kori Gaines intercepted two passes however Joe Champaign tore an ACL. As good as Shawn Green is (and for being a GT commit, I think he is certainly a stud), Champaign is the heart of the line. Joe Champaign had 16 sacks last season to lead Gwinnett County and he will be missed. Mickey Conn said JC could return by the playoffs with a leg brace, but he wouldn't be a full strength. Not good for Grayson as they try and win the state title.

Northside-Don't call us Warner Robbins won 35-3 thanks in part to Shaq O'Neal's 86 yards on 12 carries, but I get the feeling after reading two accounts of this game that it was a boringly defensive game. I guess that would mean they'd try and take away Pemberton if the two met in the state championship, but for whatever reason, especially after watching N-WR play, I think Grayson would roll.

North Gwinnett is still putting up PS3 numbers, this time QB CJ Uzomah passed for 198 yards and 1 TD as the Bulldogs won 54-23 over the Hooche. Uzomah is on fire as a QB and look for him next season. I've been VERY impressed that he has just stepped in and exceeded Mike Tamburo. Kudos to that coaching staff, but also to Uzomah.

Peachtree Ridge and Collins Hill both got ready for their big tilt this Friday (a game you can see on gpb.org/football) with shutout wins over Mill Creek and Duluth, respectively. FOr P-Tree Ridge it was the third shutout of the season and Brad Roby had 138 all purpose yards, including a 27-yard Pick6.

Moving down to Class AAAA, Griffin beat North Clayton 26-14 but had 3 turnovers in the first half. Griffin Bears, I said I'd give you props if you beat NClayton, so PROPS TO YOU. But I still think SWD could beat you. However, for the moment, you can be ranked ahead of them. You're welcome

Westside-Macon is still ahead of Southwest DeKalb (winners 36-6 over Chamblee btw...) after a 37-7 win over Harris County. Robert Brown and Adrian Bentley led the ground game but so what. W-MHS will still lose WAY TOO EARLY in the playoffs and is kind of like Boise State in my opinion. Shouldn't be ranked that highly.

Hillgrove was once again led by Synjyn Days. The future Yellow Jacket had 131 yards rushing and 1 TD and 107 passing with 2 scores. This kid could play RIGHT NOW in the Yellow Jackets secondary due to his athletic ability (and they could use him) OR he could redshirt and play 4 years as QB for Paul Johnson. This kid is just one of several SOLID SOLID players that the jackets locked up whose stock has soared since signing. Shawn Green and Charles Perkins are the other two.....

Jon Lee of Apalachee had 94 yards as the Wildcats just keep winning. HEY, RANKINGS, START MOVING THESE GUYS UP!

Dropping down to Class AAA, just three things to think about...Gainesville's D scores thrice in a 63-0 win. For the Red Elephants, it seems like a title is inevitable....Peach Co held defending champ Cairo to just 141 yards of offense. Peach looks like they have the D to match the offense's hot start....finally, Flowery Branch lost to North Hall. I was RIGHT (potentially) about NoHall. And Conner Shaw, this is you SENIOR YEAR, get it together before the playoffs start!

Finally, class AA. Nash Nance had 225 yards passing and 85 rushing yards as Calhoun looks strong. I know Buford score 65, but it was against Cross Keys. I don't think they are back yet. And even if they are, Calhoun is loaded for bear this season. Nance is one HECK of a qb, especially with the ball in his hands and he has Da'Rick Rogers to throw to and the best coach in Northwest Ga area.

LOOK AHEAD....Lassiter has a tough stretch with Milton then traveling to Walton (a game that GPB.org/football will be broadcasting). After the next two weeks, we'll know all about Hutson Mason. He should be getting a big time offer too, one would think.
South Gwinnett faces Parkview and the Comets could clinch the No.2 seed but likely would still need to sweat Brookwood. I think the Comets are better though.
Newnan faces Westlake for the defacto Region 4-AAAAA title. Westlake has a pretty good LB, but he is no Ogletree, Zander or Alec.
Finally in 5A, Stephenson faces ML King and Mack Brown, who has guaranteed a win for the Lions. Hey Mack, could you just guarantee that you'll play in the game and be over the hamstring issues? Maybe try for your first 200-yard game of the year?

Be sure to log on to gpb.org/football for 6-0 Collins Hill @ 5-1 Peachtree Ridge. Both of these teams have been ranked at one point or another and the Lions were preseason #3, before losing to Lowndes. They are still strong defensively. PS, this game could come down to Nick Lombardo making plays from the QB position for the Lions. Brad Roby, Charles Perkins, Lions, Eagles, LOG ON THIS FRIDAY!