Here's a look at five things we learned from the quarterfinal round of the high school playoffs...
1. Jefferson in good position for Thomson rematch
Most programs -- and fans -- would think that the difference would come in the fact that Jefferson was set for a rematch with the one team that defeated the Dragons during the regular season. The first contest was closer than the 42-20 score indicated as the Dragons gave up a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a crazy onside kick that turned into a kickoff return for a touchdown for the Bulldogs. But it's not just about a rematch. Jefferson is a different team than the one that fell to the Bulldogs on Sept. 2. Freshman quarterback Colby Clark was inserted after the Thomson loss and has given the Dragons an even more potent ground attack, which already featured Colby Wood and Zack Boobas, and has guided them to 10 straight wins. But the Jefferson defense has been the heart of the team down the stretch. The Dragons have allowed just 69 points over their last eight games (8.6 points per game) and held a Cairo team averaging 31.5 ppg to its second-lowest output of the season in a 17-13 win in the quarterfinals. Hopefully familairity, and a second bite at the apple, will be enough for the Dragons to avenge their only loss and get back to the championship game for the first time since winning the Class AA title in 2012.
2. The Mill Creek defense is one of the best, but will get its ultimate test this week.
We knew the Mill Creek defense was one of the best in the state coming into Friday’s Class AAAAAAA quarterfinal showdown with McEachern. And the Hawks remained third in the classification in points allowed even after allowing their most points all season in a thrilling 31-28 win. The reason why is its immovable run defense. The Hawks were yielding just 28 yards a game on the ground and lowered that average against the Indians, who managed ZERO yards on 20 carries, forcing the Indians to all but abandon the run by the fourth quarter. It was all the more impressive considering McEachern had torched second round opponent Parkview for over 400 yards rushing the week before. A solid wall of Ayoola Ogun-Semore, Ryan Cox, Jack Griffith, Jonathan Gipson, Shaka Heyward, Victor Heyward, and Jake Stewart combined for 28 tackles as they constantly swarmed to the ball. The Hawks registered 11 tackles for loss for the game and McEachern had just 7 rushing plays go for positive yards. But the Hawks will meet their ultimate challenge this week in Grayson, which has been the favorite to win the AAAAAAA title since the preseason. The Rams churned up 375 rushing yards on defending state champion Colquitt County last week. They are averaging 54.6 ppg in three playoff games so far. But we’re sure that defensive coordinator Bill Stewart will have something dialed up and ready as the Hawks look to advance to their first-ever state championship game.
3. Buford may have to single-handedly shut down Region 7-AAAAA to win another crown
While the Wolves won the Region 8-AAAAA title earlier this season, it turns out that they may have to also win the Region 7-AAAAA title to claim a state crown. Buford pushed past 7-AAAAA No. 2 seed Carrollton on Friday, 34-27, setting up a semifinal showdown with 7-AAAAA No. 3 seed Kell. Meanwhile, 7-AAAAA champ Rome also won in its quarterfinal -- 42-13 over Ware County -- garnering its own semifinal battle with Stockbridge on the other side of the bracket. Certainly Buford will only be concerned with Kell this week, but there is a chance that the Wolves will have to beat three teams from 7-AAAAA in order to claim another state championship. And, as we saw this past Friday, it is a region with plenty of talent. Carrollton was a physical equal for Buford in most positions and was not intimidated by playing in a Tom Riden environment where most opposing team's playoff dreams come to die. And while Kell is the No. 3 seed from 7-AAAAA, fans should not expect a lesser foe this week. The Longhorns were good enough to defeat eventual 7-AAAAA champ Rome -- which also defeated Carrollton (Carrollton did beat the Longhorns, setting up a three-way tie for first in the region that was decided only by tiebreakers). The Longhorns are back in the semifinals for the second time in four seasons and feature Tennessee commit Solon Page III at linebacker. In other words, it is everything fans should expect from a state semifinal.
4. Fitzgerald combination of speed and deep-ball accuracy just too deadly
Rabun County coach Lee Shaw knew how tough of a task faced his Wildcats in their long trek south on Friday night. And while everyone knew of the Purple Hurricanes' athleticism in the ground game, Shaw warned that it was Fitzgerald's deep passing game that was the biggest threat. Unfortunately for Rabun County, that proved prophetic. The Wildcats battled throughout in their 35-16 defeat and put up a balanced 386 yards of offense in their second straight state quarterfinal appearance. But Fitzgerald's deep ball proved too much. Rabun County actually threw for almost as many yards as the Purple Hurricanes, 229-248, but the real key lies in yards per completion. Fitzgerald racked up 41.3 yards in just six catches, including three touchdowns. Quarterback James Graham had both the arm and accuracy to turn this contest. And, frankly, it's hard to see any defense stopping this offense over the next two contests. Congrats to the Wildcats for another great campaign -- including their first undefeated regular season and third-ever quarterfinal appearance.
5. Commerce legend steps down
Since 1972 there has been something even more constant than winning for Tigers football, and that is the work of Jeff Prickett. Commerce's esteemed statistician and program historian witnessed 572 of the 584 games the Tigers have played since the '72 season. But Commerce's 44-0 loss to Clinch County on Friday night marked Prickett's final contest on the job. In 45 years Prickett witnessed two state titles, a host of region crowns and countless exciting match-ups. And his consistency and hard work ensured that those exploits were always in print in the various media outlets around northeast Georgia and the state that cover the Tigers. We know he won't want excessive plaudits for a job he thoroughly loved, so we'll keep it short. But whomever steps into Mr. Prickett's position is taking over a legacy -- one that was always appreciated by us in the media -- of ensuring Tigers exploits for posterity. Congrats also to Commerce for another big season that included yet another state quarterfinal appearance.
STATE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS, NOV. 25
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek 31, McEachern 28
CLASS AAAAA
Buford 34, Carrollton 27
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson 17, Cairo 13
CLASS AA
Fitzgerald 35, Rabun County 16
CLASS A PUBLIC
Clinch County 44, Commerce 0
STATE SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE, DEC. 2
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek at Grayson*
CLASS AAAAA
Kell at Buford
CLASS AAAA
Thomson at Jefferson*
*- Home field was determined by coin flip
