Friday, November 4, 2011

Region Titles on the line across the state, metro

The YouTube war apparently didn’t end with Grayson/Brookwood last week as Stephenson got into the game earlier this week with its own call-out of ML King. Videos aside the Jaguars are looking to avenge a loss last season to the Lions. The passing attack of ML King will face a stout Jags defense and it will be interesting to see if Jonquel Dawson and Blake Tibbs can hook up or if Stephenson’s Kyle Fleetwood can shut down that side of the field. This game features 12 players that have appeared at one point on the Score 44. ... Peachtree Ridge will head to North Gwinnett to play for the Region 7-AAAAA title on GPB TV. The two teams have combined to win the last four region titles. ... Columbia will take on Grady in a Region 5-AAA play-in game that will leave one deserving team out of the playoffs. ... McEachern will celebrate senior night when Kennesaw Mountain pays a visit. The Indians senior class has helped push McEachern into the discussion of whether this will be the year the Cobb County title drought ends. ... Buford rolled Blessed Trinity earlier this season but the Wolves will have to win again in order to clinch the Region 6-AA title and earn home field advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs. ... Archer is just one win away from the first playoff berth in program history and hosts South Gwinnett. Parkview, which needs to win against Dacula and have Archer lose will no doubt be paying attention to this game. ... Grayson locked up the Region 8-AAAAA title one week ago but it will be interesting to see what Central Gwinnett does against the Rams. The Black Knights started the year on fire before falling to 4-5. Central Gwinnett’s offense against Grayson’s defense will be a chess game to watch.


GPB GAME OF THE WEEK PREVIEWS! NoGwinn v PTR; ColquittCo v Valdosta

Rush Propst took his Colquitt County Packers all the way to the state finals one year ago but has a chance Friday to do something he hasn’t done during his tenure in Moultrie: win a Region 1-AAAAA title. Propst’s explosive offense will travel to Valdosta to face the Wildcats with a shot at completing a perfect region slate. While Cole Seagraves, Ty Smith and the rest of the offense can dent a scoreboard like few others, the Packers have also scored six non-offensive touchdowns this season. If that trend continues, Propst could be hoisting a GHSA state title in December.

On man that has hoisted GHSA state titles before is Valdosta coach Rance Gillespie. The Wildcats coach has his team in a position to win the region with a victory at home in Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Despite losing Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell to the University of Georgia, Valdosta can still make some noise this postseason thanks in large part to former Packer quarterback Shelby Wilkes, now under center for Valdosta.

Region 7-AAAAA will also be on the line tonight on GPB TV when Peachtree Ridge travels to North Gwinnett to face the Bulldogs. Bob Sphire’s team is looking for its third region title in a row and his third straight win over the Lions of Peachtree Ridge. Scotty Hosch leads an offense that recently rallied from down 22 points at Norcross to keep its region hopes alive. Joe Jones and Donnie Miles each scored two touchdowns apiece last Friday in a victory over Duluth.

Peachtree Ridge is looking to give new coach Mark Fleetwood a region crown in his first season as head coach in Suwanee. The Lions attack can run with Diandre Atwater and Raham Dixon as well as pass with Billy Best and Joe Horn. The defense isn’t shabby either, allowing just 15 points per game.

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