Several regions were clinched over the weekend and a nickname was assigned in the next to last week of the regular season. Running backs again ruled the week and a huge upset highlighted the week, but before we get too far into this thing, let me start by saying Jabari Johnson of Stephenson was a treat to speak with last night on Score Atlanta's Official Visit on Sports Radio 790 the Zone, and though I'm a Georgia fan, I'll be rooting for this kid next season at UK as he plays either FB or LB. What a great kid, great personality and he sounds motivated to bring UK up to the level of Tennessee and Georgia in the SEC. His Stephenson Jaguars knocked out Greenbrier 48-13 with Jordan Tarver throwing 4 TDs and The Colonel Raymond Sanders scoring three times in the victory. (Sanders, headed to Kentucky, get it?) I will refer to Sanders as The Colonel for the rest of the season just to see if it can catch on.
Last night on the show, my co-host Scott Janovitz and I proposed the topic of Stephenson's defense to GHSFD's Todd Holcomb perhaps being better than Grayson and maybe, with Northside's loss, could Stephenson be No.1 instead of no.5. Holcomb agreed that the sheer talent and D-1 prospects makes the team special, but he was concerned about their experience and lack of a region. I still think that their defense could go up against anyone's in the state and with the Colonel running hard, as he has all season long, Stephenson could be a major player to watch come playoff time.
In the on-going battle of the Rajion/Rajaans Bennett got the better of Neal last Friday and McEachern's Rajaan rushed for 256 with 5TDs to help the Indians beat KMHS 42-14 to clinch the school's first region title in roughly a decade. The Pistol is really working and Bennett should be getting harder looks by the bigger schools. COuld UK be so lucky as to get both Bennett AND The Colonel? As for Rajion Neal, dude had three touchdowns and 99 yards as Sandy Creek took care of bidness, but numbers dictate that Bennett get the nod this week. I'm sure I'll get the Rajion bandwagon in a huff over that, but Bennett is doing it at a higher level, for the record.
Now to the big upset. Warner Robins trailed 20-0 entering the fourth quarter before scoring three fourth quarter TDs to edge out Northside (don't call them Northside-Warner Robins) 21-20. WR's reward? They have to beat Lowndes (No.22 in the NATION) now or hope Valdosta loses to Houston CO (3-6, 0-6). Sorry Warner Robins. PS, Valdosta is doing this with a lameduck coach in there. Tomberlin will get hired and will turn a program around. What does Valdosta expect right now? Too much methinks.
Up in Gwinnett County, Grayson was off but South Gwinnett clinched the No.2 spot with a 17-14 win over Brookwood. Aarom Wimberly posted 146 yards on 24 carries with 1 TD. The QB is more than serviceable in Kent Rollins 13-22, 194 1 TD to last year's leading receiver in the county, Jonathan Krause. SoGwinn could really surprise a team or two and John Small is a good enough coach to diagram up an upset or two come playoff time.
Peachtree Ridge and North Gwinnett both won (20-10 over Norcross and 34-0 over Duluth respectively) to set up a winner-take-region matchup at NoGwin this Friday. Chris Sawdey (Sawney?) rushed for 101 plus 1TD in the win over Norcross but Paul Lombardo scored once and the kicker Watts hit on two field goals. On the flip side, CJ Uzomah didn't play, but Soph Scott Hosch did and he ran for two scores, threw for one and Cordero Dixon helped out with a 53-yard PR for TD. In the "Battle for my neighborhood" I have to think that NoGwinn's big OLine holds an advantage. Brad Roby is really matched by Dixon in terms of playmakers in the special teams department.
In Cobb, Lassiter got 231 yards and 4 TDs thru the air from Hutson Mason and 1 rushing TD from the QB to rally from a 21-7 hole to win 42-35. And it was the defense that did most of the rallying as the Trojans recovered the second half kickoff, then Rip Rowan intercepted a pass and the Trojans stopped a fake punt to comeback. Kudos to Lassiter and to Roswell (who also rallied to beat Walton) to set up an exciting matchup for the REgion6 title. (A game you can watch on gpb.org/football)
Moving on to 4A, I was uber-disappointed when Ken Malcome didn't play in SWD's game against Tucker (I mean, I pushed for the game for GPB and when I got to call the game, Malcome wasn't even playing, "tweaked ankle ;)" ) Oh well. What I DID get to see was TJ Stripling, even undersized, command a constant doubleteam and open up the Tucker backfield for Terrence Smith, the Junior DE on the otherside. I was also impressed with Jabari Carney, the DE/DT who just wreaked havoc all night. The most-telling thing about SWD was that even without Malcome, the Panthers still whitewashed the defending state champs 26-0. I don't care what the rankings say, SWD is the best team, just like how Tucker was last season and at the end, I'll be the one saying, "I told you so."
Speaking of I told you so....Westside Macon lost to TCC 27-10 after leading 10-7 at the half. Hmmmm, looks like WSM is already starting the swoon that I called for. I guess the only thing I did wrong was say that it wasn't going to happen until the playoffs. Oops. But I was still right.
North Clayton's Clarence Jackson was at it again: 163 + 3tds rushing and 1passing TD out of the Wildcat. Jackson is a beast and he deserves to be on my list for best RBs in the state and he's making a case for SBF Player of the Year for Class-AAAA.
Kudos to Dalton for the 35-11 win over NW Whitfield as the Catamounts improved to 7-2. Yet another year with a winning record. They remind me of Cal Ripken Jr. a little bit. Stryker Brown led the Catamounts with 113 rushing yards from the QB spot and 4 TDs. Shaquon Moore was the more traditional RB with 121 yards and 1 TD in the win. He's going to be one to watch as well come playoff time, especially with Watts Dantzler paving holes on Offense and Jalen Fields clobbering opposing QBs from the DLine side.
Hey Storm Johnson committed to The U. Good for him, the self-proclaimed best RB in the state. He interviewed him last night and he could be JUST WHAT MIAMI NEEDS: A big back to carry the load for Whipple's offense and Jacory Harris running around as a QB. But we'll have to see. He is getting numbers, but his team isn't doing as well as Loganville likely hoped when he moved over from Buford. If Johnson isn't asked to be a leader, Miami will probably be better.
Heading down to AAA, Isaiah Crowell...best junior in the state. Done. 230 yards with 2 TDs as Carver beat LaGrange 27-7. That gear he threw it in during the Baldwin game....unlike anything I've ever seen before.
Gainesville is still likely the team to beat from the northern part of the state, but I'd LOVE to see that matchup in the Dome. The Red Elephants against the Tigers. Blake Sims is one heck of a player and the defense might be able to contain Carver...we'll see.
In Class AA, Da'Rick Rogers finally broke out with 216 receiving yards, including a 96-yard catch for 6 plus a 33-yard TD run. Nash Nance and Rogers will be hard to beat, but if anyone can.....
it could be Buford. The champs seem to be getting things back together after the loss to Lovett. Buford's 21-0 win over Westminster was the fifth shutout in its last six games. The Wolves forced seven turnovers, five being INTS...from a defensive secondary that lost D.Carr to Gainesville. The rematch of last year's championship game could be a really good one, unlike last season.
In Class A, Kyle Karempelis rushed for 154 yards. Done. Ballgame. Wolves win, likely for the next 10 years. With the move down to Class A, Wesleyan will win EVERY SINGLE state championship EVERY YEAR in EVERY SPORT. Almost unfair, just so they could get away from Buford.....Disappointing.
This week, North Gwinnett will host Peachtree Ridge for one region title while Lassiter hosts Roswell for another. Colquitt Co can win a region title with some help, but first Rush's boys must knock out Northside at Northside. Not likely.
Warner Robins will cling to its small playoffs hopes with a game at Lowndes. I'd take the Vikings there as Valdosta gets into the playoffs for its lameduck coach.
In Region 8-AAAAA, Parkview's streak of consecutive playoff appearances is on the line at Brookwood. Winner between the Panthers and the Broncos is in the playoffs while the loser's season is donezo.
Should be a great final weekend of the regular season. Log on to gpb.org/football to check out Lassiter v Roswell with the Region 6 Title on the line. I want the ref to actually give a belt to the winner after the game. That would be awesome. Coverage with Charles Ward and myself begins at 7:15 with the kickoff at 7:27 this Friday.
No comments:
Post a Comment