GAHS football Review and preview

We'll do the midweek entertainment report tomorrow so that we can include updates from tonight's episode of The Ruins. Until then, enjoy the Georgia High School football review and preview.

Class AAAAA No.1 Lowndes faced off against No.4 Northside (don't call us Warner Robins) last Friday and I was lucky enough to call the game for Georgia public broadcasting. I was surprised to hear that coming into the game, Lowndes was ranked No.4 in the country by one outlet (Maxpreps, i believe?). Going into the game, I would have put them as no better than third in the state. Following the game, after I saw that, while possessing a talented running game and a VERY talented defense, Lowndes has ZERO passing game and the kicking game was less than average (three missed field goals gets you a "less than average" ranking from SBF.) All three missed field goals were makeable in my opinion. As long as Lowndes defense holds them in games and makes plays for the Vikings, the WingT running game can keep them in it. However, if Lowndes ever fell behind and was forced to pass, they would be cooked. Couldn't do it. I take a look at the other top teams in the state and they can both pass AND run. Lowndes seemingly can only win by running to an early lead and letting the defense come up with shut down the other team. Not a bad strategy, but eventually you are going to need to pass, and the Vikings showed me in this game that they cannot....right now. Their backfield (excluding Franklin) of Brasswell and the QB are both Juniors. Perhaps by next season they both can help out with the passing attack. And on defense, the Vikings have a future star in Tyler Hunter. Whether it is LB, safety, RB or QB, this guy is going to be huge next season.

Meanwhile, Northside has a pretty good junior tailback itself in Shaq O'Neal. O'Neal is a big back with incredible speed to boot. He can get the three yards with a cloud of dust, but then he can also GET UP AND GO once in the open field. He reminds me of Bowser in Mario Kart on SNES. Get him going and he's hard to stop.

Bottom line, Northside fed off the crowd but got lucky that Lowndes missed three field goals. Northside is right playing in AAAAA because they would be UNSTOPPABLE in AAAA. I would put Lowndes as the No.4 team in the STATE right now, behind Grayson, SWD and Northside.

Speaking of Grayson, Ean Pemberton was back at it with 157 and three TDs in his team's 34-0 win over Shiloh. It was the third shutout for the Rams and that means Shawn Green was BACK AT IT, along with LB Terry Williams, S Kori Gaines and DT Joe Champaign. The Rams HAVE to be the favorite to win the state title right now. Best team in the entire state. Also, SOOOO impressed with Pemberton. The new Louisville coach (Fulmer, perhaps?) should seriously give this kid a look as KR ala Brandon James.

If there has been a better RB in the state this season than Rajaan Bennett, could some one please tell me? (Maybe the North Clayton kid C. Jackson). 219 and 3 TDs on 30 carries. Dude is over 1000 yards for the season as his team is 6-0, THANKS TO HIM! He was the guy that started the team's comeback at Woodstock. Bennett may have even played his cards right in terms of getting a scholarship to a bigtime school by not committing early. UK should be banging this kid's door down before Miami, Clemson or FSU get involved. McEachern also has a two-QB system that is actually working. The Indians are dangerous with the pistol in just Coach Hockman's second season at the MAC.

Synjyn Days tallied three TDs in Hillgrove's win over South Paulding to stay unbeaten. 7-9 for 96 yards and one TD passing and 153 yards and two tds rushing is a pretty good day for Days. The future Tech QB has his team rolling in Class AAAA. I'd love to see Days go against Tucker or SWD to see how he'd do.

Southwest DeKalb is only up to No.3 in the rankings because Griffin and Westside-Macon are still both ahead of SWD because the Panthers had the GALL to lose to ML King (a Class AAAAA school) the first week of the season. Go ahead coaches and media members. Keep the slotting going while I laugh and realize that, just like last season with Tucker, SWD despite a loss is still better than the two undefeated schools ahead of them. And when SWD wins the title while Westside-Macon flames out yet again in likely the second or third round of the playoffs, I will say I TOLD YOU SO.

Jon Lee at Apalachee continued to make SBF beam with pride with his 272 yards and four TDs in a 56-0 win over Winder-Barrow as the Wildcats improved to 5-0 on the season. I called Apalachee's games two years ago and remarked that, by the time this kid was a senior he'd be lights out. I was right, yet again. Apalachee won't win the state title, but the region title is within reach and maybe a trip to the Elite 8.

finally South Gwinnett looks strong heading into the second half especially with Kent Rollins (237 yards and 2TDs on Friday v Dacula) throwing to Jonathan Krause (headed to Vandy. Two td rec against Dacula. 7 catches 136 yards). Factor in Aaron Wimberly and Trevon Walker in the ground game and the Comets might just finish second in Region 8AAAAA. The team showed it could play with Grayson (the Comets lost, but had a REAL SHOT) and with Parkview competing for No.4 seemingly because of the QB Barnes' injury, South Gwinnett gets both the Panthers and Brookwood at home and travels to Shiloh and Berkmar, two winnable road games. The Comets should knock off Brookwood at home and gain that No.2 spot. Congrats, you get Etowah in the first round of the playoffs.

Let's look ahead to this week. Grayson travels to Brookwood in a game that might allow Grayson to skate to a second straight Region crown after the Broncos won 6 straight(was that the number?) Look for Ean Pemberton and the Rams to batter the Broncos defense.
Valdosta travels to Lowndes as the Vikings look to rebound after a 10-7 road loss. Lowndes looks strong at home, but on the road, they tend to lose big games. Good thing this is a home game for the Vikings.
As for AAAA, #2Griffin travels to #5North Clayton this weekend and if the Bears win on the road, I will permit them to remain above SWD, but NOT WESTSIDE MACON. JUST SAYING.....
In top 10 AAA, Peach Co hosts defending state champs Cairo while Flowery Branch travels TO North Hall. NoHall has fallen short of my expectations for them and the Falcons will likely win this one too, further making No.Hall look even worse. Thanks guys. I my defense though, North Hall IS 2-0 in region play and will likely still make the playoffs out of Region7-AAA, as AT WORST a No.2 seed. Plus they host Gilmer, their main competition for the region crown. 7-3 Region winner, however really 0-3 with losses to Gainesville, Buford and FlowBranch in the team's only real games entering the playoffs.

Have a great weekend of football and on Friday, GPB (that inclues me) will be at the Sandy Creek v McIntosh game. Rajion Neal and Isaiah Johnson for The Creek. Log on to gpb.org/football starting at 7:15 this Friday....or go to ghsa.tv starting Saturday.