SECOND ROUND

GHSA

Class 6A

Bradwell Institute (R2, 4, 5-6) at Northside (R1, 3, 6-5), at Freedom

            The Tigers are in the second round for the first time since 2008. The Eagles are in the second round for the eighth time since 2008, with two championship visits and three trips to the semifinals. Bradwell, which opened the season with a loss to AA second-rounder Dodge County, has weapons with QB Vencent Gilbert (111-198-6, 1,508 yards, 8 TDs) and RB Kevin Harris (228-1,466, 8 TDs). Three losses have been by 10 points or less, including to 5A top 10 Wayne County.

            The Eagles are the normal Eagles lately, having scored 44, 41, and 43 in their last three games, two wins, in a year during which they’ve played seven ranked teams in 6A, 5A, and 3A, and six of their regular-season opponents are still playing. QB Jadin Daniels has developed into a complete quarterback, with 1,289 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing and a 60.9-percent completion mark en route to 1,3981 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Comparison? Tobias Oliver finished his senior season, and third as a starter, completing 62.1 percent for 1,535 yards, 16 TDs, five INTS and 1,361 rushing yards and 15 TDs in 13 games. Deshaun Maine, Kentrez Anthony, and Tubby McCall lead a defense that has given up 23 points to those unranked opponents.

            Bradwell hasn’t been ranked since 2004 when the N. 10 (GSWA) Tigers lost 21-7 to unranked Houston County in the first round of the 5A playoffs.

 

Class 5A

Ware County (R2, 2, 8-3) at Warner Robins (R1, 1, 9-2)

            Ware County knows the way to The Mac, but this is a new opponent. The Gators haven’t faced the pass offense of Warner Robins, in which Dylan Fromm is 240 for 371 (64.7 pct.) for 3,351 yards, 35 touchdowns and six picks, with three major receiving threats – including the unofficial state leader in yards, Marcayll Jones, in the top 5 in catches – and two rushing threats.

            But Ware County gets a defense having its best scoring year since 2011, one that’s given up some late wasted points. The Demons’ scoring margin of 20 points is the best since 2005. Malachi Weatherspoon and Demarcus Robinson get six-plus tackles a game, Caleb Thomas leads the team in tackles for loss and sacks, and Jatavious Bryant is the top ballhawk in the secondary. The Demons bent in the first half and gave up 31.6 points a game. The last six? 6.3. Pretty ferocious improvement.

 

Class 4A

Woodward Academy (R4, 3, 7-4) at Mary Persons (R2, 1, 11-0)

            Mary Persons has ridden its defense the past few years, but is cruising because of offense this year. The Bulldogs are scoring 13 points more a game than ever before, and the scoring margin of 37.4 points is also a program record. That’s saying something, considering the Bulldogs have had nearly three dozen seasons when they’ve allowed less than 10 points a game.

            QB J. T. Hartage keeps setting records, and has a mind-boggling 45-6 touchdown-interception ratio the past two seasons and has completed a staggering 68.8 percent of his passes. Quen Wilson is among the classification’s top playmakers, and Hartage has, in reality, seven starting-quality targets to throw to.

            The defense has been a little underrated, simply a collection of quality high school players with no stars, and not quite as dominant a few years go. But the Bulldogs are having their best points-allowed season (10.45) since 1994, a quarterfinal season, and a better one than the runner-up season in 1993. DB Desmond Williams is a playmaker against the run or pass, and is a pick-6 threat. Kendrell Watts and Derrick Woodson have teamed for 10.5 sacks, while Daniel Lavelle leads the team with 9.5 tackles for loss.

            Woodward has passed for nearly 2,000 yards and completed 62.8 percent with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, and a 1,200-yard rusher in Tahj Gary. All four of the War Eagles’ losses were to playoff teams, three to ranked teams. In 4A and 3A. This is a playoff program that has won at least two playoff games the past four years, and has two quarterfinal and two semifinal trips the past four seasons.

Columbus (R1, 3, 7-4) at Baldwin (R3, 1, 6-5)

            Baldwin has been something of an underdog this season, especially after that 0-5 start. Underdog? Columbus is in the second round for the first time since 1974. Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks was a toddler. This is the Blue Devils second winning season since 2015, third since 2005 and third playoff trip since 1994. Tre Peterson scored all of the Blue Devils’ touchdown in last week’s 35-32 win at Salem, and is back to normal health, which means he’s a serious 100-yard rusher. Baldwin’s defense has been superb in the six-game winning streak, going from 38.2 points allowed a game 9.3, with the Braves’ first two-shutout season since 2016. Columbus has given up 12.2 points the last five games.

 

Class 3A

Liberty County (R2, 3, 7-3) at Peach County (R4, 1, 9-2)

            This is Liberty County team is statistically not too far off from the team that beat Westside 21-0 in last year’s second round, scoring five fewer points a game and giving up three fewer points, and also going 7-3 in the regular season. The Panthers’ losses are to playoff teams, region rivals Appling County (34-0) and Pierce County (29-26 in the finale), plus 5A Statesboro (which finished 4-7).  RB Kris Coleman is second in AAA with 1,651 yards and 21 touchdowns, and QB Dionte Bowens has completed 54.4 percent for 905 yards in 10 games, with only five touchdowns and four INTs. Peach County’s defense attacks from all over, averaging 7.3 tackles for loss a game, led by Cedric Hillsman’s 14, who also has a team-highfive sacks. Clemson commit Sergio Allen has 99 tackles and Kobe Allen is next with 71. Daelan Smith and Terkel Jefferson roam the secondary. Liberty County’s defense gets to slow down a Peach County offense that averages 333.1 yards a game, but has probably only played in the fourth quarter maybe three times. QB Jaydon Gibson has completed 72.7 percent of his passes, and he has four targets with at least 19 catches. And Peach County’s last home playoff loss? To Greater Atlanta Christian, 13-7 in 2016.

Westside (R2, 2, 8-3) at Benedictine (R3, 1, 10-1)

            The imposing stat is 91 points allowed by Benedictine, good for third in Class AA. And the Cadets have scored 131 more points than the Seminoles. But the Region 3 champs have the No. 347 strength of schedule, as per the Maxwell Ratings, to 160th for Westside. One first-round opponent finished 2-9, the other 3-8, so that’s a wash. All four teams in Region 4 are still playing, and the only close game in the first round was Pike County’s 9-3 upset at Crisp County. Westside’s Victor Dixon is the unofficial Class AAA leader with 1,756 yards, while Benedictine’s Blaine McAllister is sixth with 1,489. The only team since the 28-21 loss to Howard back on Sept. 7 to score more than 12 on the Seminoles was Peach County, whose 28 points were the fourth-fewest scored by the Trojans this year. Westside’s Tyshaun Freeman is sixth in AAA with 1,146 yards, and doesn’t fumble. Run game and defense on the road – and fields will still be soggy – are big.

 

Class AA

Thomasville (R1, 3, 7-4) at Dublin (R3, 1, 10-1)

            The last team to break the 15-point mark against Dublin? Thomasville, one day short of a year ago. This Bulldog team isn’t quite as good as that one, and this Irish team is better than that one. Dublin, in fact, is having its best points-allowed season (7.73 a game) since giving up 6.6 in 2006, when the Irish went 14-0-1 and shared the title with Charlton County. This, um, is also the best points-scored offense since that season. The Irish passing game isn’t as strong. Thomasville can sling it around, QB Chad Mascoe II completing 61.2 percent for 2,184 yards, 21 TDs and eight INTs. The Irish haven’t had to cover or rush much, except when teams pass trying to come back. Region 3 is mostly a running region, and the non-region schedule didn’t have any pass-happy offenses. But Thomasville’s defense must face an offense that has been dealing knockout punches, averaging 43.3 points since Brooks County held the Irish to 10 points.

Dodge County (R3, 2, 10-1) at Jefferson County (R4, 1, 9-2)

            The Indians had the final week of the regular season off, and it didn’t matter much. They pulled away from Jeff Davis last week with a strong 20-0 second half. RJ Carr scored five times and ran for 182 of the Indians’ 310 yards. Nope, Dodge County didn’t try a pass. Jefferson County has won at least eight games every season since 2006 except in 2012, when the Warriors went 4-7, still making the playoffs. The Warriors have a 6-0 series lead over the Indians, all in the regular season, but they haven’t played since 2013. Jefferson County’s  offensive line is big and veteran, and QB Jaden Jenkins  (222 rushing yards and four TDs last week. 1,709 rushing yards and 28 TDs this year). Of course, Dodge County’s big ‘ns up front are pretty salty, paving the way for 220 soul-sapping yards a game on the round, and 31 rushing touchdowns. Carr is likely to crack the 1,000-yard mark in the game, but the Indians are deep with runners, with Erin Pitts, Mikhail Carr, and Daylan Gordon, all getting at least 5.6 yards a carry. The underrated defense is led by Elijah Williams, Jamal Mahan, and Jadin Johnson, who have teamed for 31 tackles for loss.

 

Washington County (R3, 3, 9-2) at Brooks County (R1, 1, 9-2)

            Two of AA’s top programs have played only once, in 1996, a 27-7 Washington County win. Brooks County head coach Maurice Freeman was in his first stint with the Trojans before leaving for visits at Southwest and Brunswick before returning. Last week, he won his 200th career game, and 146th with the Trojans. Since his return in 2008, Brooks County has made the playoffs every year and failed to get past this round only three times. They’ve won nine straight at home since last year’s 23-20 loss to  Thomasville, which ended Dublin’s season and hopes to on Friday. Brooks County uses two quarterbacks, who are completing 63 and 65.5 percent of their passes with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions for 1,521 yards.  A running back group of four help grind out 4.8 yards a carry on 34 carries a game. Washington County doesn’t have that balance in the single wing. Dyquan Bloodsaw is nearing 1,800 yards rushing from the running back/quarterback spot. Preston Daniels gets some touches and does plenty of blocking before causing problems at linebacker. Both teams have played three ranked teams, the Trojans going 2-1 and the Golden Hawks 1-2.

 

Class A Public

No. 14 Dooly County (R7/B, 2, 7-4) at No. 3 Mt. Zion (R6, 1, 9-1)

            The road trip is about 180 miles for the Bobcats, to face a team that has reached two quarterfinals and a semifinal in the past four seasons. But last year, Dooly County went a rougher 225 miles and got a 56-35 win. A coaching change before the 2017 season didn’t slow things down for Mt. Zion en route to a semifinal visit. The third-seeded Eagles had a bye last week. Dooly County’s defense – led by Javarese Black, Ra’quavious Billings, and Malik Burns – will face a wing-T that slips in some veer action with QB Iaan Cousin and wingbacks Breon Henderson and Tyriese Farley. Dooly County changes things up a little on offense, but things still go through QB Bo Lawson, who has passed for 1,711 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 1,216 and 16. The Bobcats move him around occasionally, and get quality play from Reggie Smith, among others.

 
GISA

Class AAA

Trinity Christian (R2, 3, 7-4) at Tiftarea (R3, 1, 10-0)

            Tiftarea has given up only 76 points in nine game with two shutouts, and two 7-point games. The Panthers haven’t been held to less than 34 points.

Bulloch (R2, 2, 9-2) at John Milledge (R4, 1, 10-0)

            The Trojans have won eight straight home playoff games and 10 off 11 under head coach J.T. Wall.

 

Class AA

Brentwood (R4, 2, 8-4) at Memorial Day (R2, 1, 6-3)

            Brentwood is trying to reach the semifinals for the second straight year and fourth time since 2011. Memorial Day is the defending state champ.

Southwest Georgia (R3, 2, 8-2) at Gatewood  (R1, 1, 7-2)

            Gatewood, bye or not, hasn’t been one-and-done in the playoffs since 2011.

 

 

Maxwell Rating predictions

Northside over Bradwell by 22

Warner Robins over Ware County by 25

Mary Persons over Woodward by 39

Baldwin over Columbus by 19

Benedictine over Westside by 9

Peach County over Liberty County by 28

Brooks County over Washington County by 4

Dodge County over Jefferson County by 15

Dublin over Thomasville by 16

Mount Zion over Dooly County by 15