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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Better-than-expected Round 1 fare
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They could not have done any better, part one. The Fayette County Tigers went 10-0, winning their region, home-field advantage through at least the second round — assuming that they get that far — and awoke to find an opponent that, if opinion means anything, is higher on the food chain than they.
They could not have done any better, part two. The North Cobb Warriors went 10-0, winning their region, home-field advantage through at least the second round — assuming that they get that far — and awoke to find an opponent that, if history means anything, is higher in the pecking order than they.
Thus, sixth-ranked Fayette County hosts fourth-ranked Baldwin in Class AAAA and No. 1 North Cobb hosts defending co-champion Peachtree Ridge in Class AAAAA. High school football fans win, even as the home teams that were supposed to have an easier time of it — by design — stand a much better chance of losing.
Fayette County will. North Cobb won’t.
Fayette County will because it has yet to play anybody as good as Baldwin. The Braves have steeled themselves against the likes of Northside-Warner Robins, Westside-Macon and even an Upson-Lee team that split with Griffin. A year after the splendid running back Darius Marshall graduated and everybody expected Baldwin to slip, the Braves have reloaded and perhaps are better balanced than the team that reached the second round last season.
They’ve been able to go on the road and win a triple-overtime game at Westside and have lost only once on the road all season — and that at No. 1-ranked Northside-Warner Robins, which could be the best team in any class when quarterback Marques Ivory is healthy.
North Cobb won’t because Peachtree Ridge has tried this trick before. The Lions slipped into the playoffs last season in the lowest position they could — the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAAA — and rode an improbable roll to a completely unexpected finish.
Now, here they are again, trying the same stunt — only they’re no longer a blank slate full of potential. They have an impressive resume now, reaching heights more rapidly than anybody had a right to expect. The element of surprise is not among their bag of tricks.
North Cobb knows Peachtree Ridge won’t be intimidated and will have to step up its game accordingly. They also know that Peachtree Ridge quarterback Asher Clark steps up large in the large games, like he did against Norcross on Sept. 28.
They also know that Peachtree Ridge is beatable, as North Gwinnett and Mill Creek discovered on consecutive weeks. North Cobb is beatable as well, but the team that can do it hasn’t been found yet. Maybe North Cobb can get through five games without that team being unearthed. But that’s a prediction for another day.
Speaking of playoff improbables — if not teams who could have done better — who imagined Lincoln County playing on the road in the first round? The Red Devils finished in a three-way tie with Twiggs County and Warren County in Region 7-A, while high-scoring Landmark Christian likewise ended in a three-way tie with Fellowship Christian and Whitefield Academy.
Once all the tiebreaker smoke cleared, Landmark Christian found itself at home and Lincoln County on the road — another of those better-than-the-brackets-say-it-should-be first-round games.
Landmark Christian comes into the game, averaging 51.3 points in its last three contests. Of course, Lincoln County is hardly lumped in the same basket with Mount Pisgah Christian, Eagle’s Landing Christian and Our Lady of Mercy — the teams Landmark tuned up against.
One bets against a Larry Campbell-coached team at his own peril, I have learned through years of experience, while he’s piled up 412 career victories. At some point, I may do it again, but it won’t be today and it won’t be against Landmark Christian.
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With preseason poll out, questions loom
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thousands of fans will pack stadiums this weekend to view the first round of the football playoffs. But a good number of people will escape from the cold to watch some basketball action.
The first Georgia Sportswriters Association preseason basketball poll has been released, and this looks like another interesting year.
Two-time defending state champion Norcross edged powerhouse Wheeler for the top spot in Class AAAAA. Both teams will test their prowess against some tough national competition to prepare for the playoffs.
Now that Maya Moore is miles away at UConn, the large-school girls class seems to be up for grabs. Stephenson has reloaded, and Taylor Turnbow has moved over from Tucker to give the Jags a much-needed inside game.
Douglass returns four starters from its first Final Four team and will battle Stephenson and Redan in a tough Region 2-AAAAA.
Etowah, Mill Creek and Marietta will have a say in the AAAAA crown.
As far as AAAA, will someone other than a team from Region 6-AAAA win the title? With Charenee Stephens in the middle, this might be the year for Southwest DeKalb to break out of the shadows of Marist and St. Pius.
On the boys side, Columbia has appeared to reload. However, Westlake, Fayette County and Miller Grove will be nipping at their heels.
Georgia Sportswriters Associations Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
Girls
Class AAAAA
- Stephenson (2); 2. Douglass (2) and Marietta (tie); 4. Mill Creek (1); 5. Collins Hill; 6. Sprayberry; 7. Houston County and Berkmar (tie); 9. Camden County; 10. Redan and Beach (tie). Others receiving votes: North Cobb, Warner Robins.
Class AAAA
- Southwest DeKalb (2); 2. Marist; 3. St. Pius (1) and Northside-Warner Robins (2) (tie); 5. Westside-Macon; 6. Cherokee; 7. Fayette County; 8. Mays; 9. Dalton; 10. Westlake. Others receiving votes: Hillgrove and Cedar Shoals.
Class AAA
- Southwest Macon (1); 2. Carrollton (3); 3. East Hall; 4. Kendrick (1); 5. Northeast Macon; 6. Hardaway; 7. Franklin County; 8. Dunwoody; 9. Hephizbah and Hart County (tie). Others receiving votes: Mary Persons, Westminster, Glenn Hills.
Class AA
- Wesleyan (5); 2. Randolph-Clay; 3. Buford; 4. Laney; 5. Greater Atlanta Christian; 6. Macon County; 7. Putnam County; 8. McIntosh County Academy; 9. Fitzgerald; 10. Rutland. Others receiving votes: Avondale, Screven County.
Class A
- Southwest Atlanta Christian (5); 2. Hancock Central; 3. Hawkinsville and Truetlen (tie); 5. Calhoun County and Landmark Christian (tie); 7. Gordon Lee; 8. Savannah Country Day; 9. Calvary Day; 10. Taylor County and Terrell County (tie). Others receiving votes: Hebron Christian
Boys
Class AAAAA
- Norcross (3); 2. Wheeler (2); 3. Centennial; 4. Marietta; 5. McEachern; 6. Meadowcreek
- Stephenson and Beach (tie); 9. Mundy’s Mill; 10. Parkview. Others receiving votes: M.L. King, Warner Robins, Tift County.
Class AAAA
- Columbia (5); 2. Tucker and North Clayton (tie); 4. Westlake; 5. Fayette County; 6. Miller Grove and Rome (tie); 8. Riverdale; 9. Griffin; 10. Pebblebrook and Lithia Springs (tie). Others receiving votes: Stockbridge, Richmond Academy.
Class AAA
- Jordan (4); 2. South Atlanta; 3. Dunwoody (1); 4. East Hall; 5. West Laurens and Central Macon (tie); 7. Hart County; 8. Chamblee; 9. Carver Columbus; 10. Northside Columbus. Others receiving votes: Washington County, Westover, Thomson, Blessed Trinity.
Class AA
- Randolph-Clay (1); 2. Manchester (1); 3. Wesleyan (3); 4. Lovett; 5. Rutland; 6. Swainsboro; 7. East Laurens; 8. Dodge County and Buford (tie); 10. Thomasville. Others receiving votes: Greater Atlanta Christian, Decatur.
Class A
- Whitefield Academy (4); 2. Turner County (1); 3. Southwest Atlanta Christian; 4. Hawkinsville; 5. Hancock Central; 6. Terrell County; 7. Wilkinson County; 8. Portal; 9. Taylor County; 10. Wilcox County. Others receiving votes: Miller County, Jefferson.
Post up: The sportswriters in the state have made their choices. Are these teams you think are the best in the state? Who did we miss? Have any suggestions?
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Says here, Geaux Tigers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One has to wonder now that Fayette County has vanquished all comers in the regular season, how the Tigers will handle having no more payback due. I mean, they’ve never lost to their first-round playoff opponent, Baldwin, and the last time the two teams met was in 1977. Virtually every opponent Fayette has had this fall beat them in 2006, so the blood-boiling motivation of revenge was easy to tap into.
Says here they’d better find it. The No. 4-ranked Braves’ only loss was to Northside-Warner Robins, and they might be the most well-rounded team Fayette has faced. Nonetheless, Fayette has played too well this year to falter in the first round, although the brackets did them no favors with this draw. Geaux with that Tiger, but in a squeaker.
Lovejoy at Whitewater
This battle of Wildcats is a fire vs. ice kind of matchup. Lovejoy’s offensive firepower against Whitewater’s icy defense. Before it let up in the second half against Northgate last week, Whitewater had held eight straight opponents to 14 points or less. After traveling to Macon to take on Westside in a Region 4-AAAA playoff, Lovejoy isn’t apt to be scared by Whitewater. A low-scoring game might favor Whitewater, which had gotten 613 yards and 12 touchdowns from Jonathan Frierson. Lovejoy, on the other hand, has found another gear offensively after losing its first four games.
I’m picking Lovejoy, because the Clayton club has shredded five of its last six opponents. Says here, the Wildcats win.
Sandy Creek at Hart County
Sandy Creek was a hiccup away from finishing first in 6-AAA, which means they have to ride. And ride. And ride some more. And after they get there, says here that Rio Johnson and Braxton Lane will have a field day against the Bulldogs.
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Take Warhawks to advance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They’ve set a school record for victories. They have a playoff history that is not stellar. Hence, they’re breaking new ground with their first-round appearance Friday night. They wear black and gold.
Henry County? Well, yes. But also the Warhawks’ opponent, Harris County. The Tigers have been to the playoffs before — in 2000 and in 1976— but they’re the interloper among the representatives from Region 2-AAA. LaGrange, Shaw and Carver are no strangers to the postseason stage, but Harris falls into the category of somebody had to fill the final spot. Their 7-3 record is the best in school history, but their three losses — to LaGrange, Shaw and Carver — were by a combined 100-3 score.
Henry’s only loss was in overtime to Class AAAA Dutchtown, and since then the Warhawks have reeled off nine consecutive victories. Behind quarterback Drew Little (2,916 yards, 30 touchdowns, five interceptions), they’ve rolled up 335 points. The defense looks worse than it is because Henry has allowed 252, but special teams is where they’ve struggled most, and many of those points have come there.
So how do you go about picking a winner in a game where neither team has a legitimate playoff history?
Me? I’m going with the home team. So take Henry to advance to a date with the Thomson-Westover winner.
Eagle’s Landing Christian at Warren County
A college baseball teammate of mine was fond of saying that eventually you were going to have to face the monster. It meant that Brad Lidge would eventually be forced to pitch to Albert Pujols. So it is with ELCA. The Chargers have one of the most potent offenses in Class A, but their three-game losing streak late in the season resulted in the expenses-paid trip to Warrenton, where the Screaming Devils appear to be having one of their breakthrough years. QB Wes Carter, RB Van Jakes and WR Jordan Clanton will give ELCA a chance, but ultimately, Warren will win at home.
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Wildcats to win. Hey, wait…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are some things in football that are simply inexplicable. Like Lovejoy’s 0-4 start that had some observers leaving the Wildcats for dead, then the same team going on the road and throttling a ranked Westside-Macon team. At any rate, they’re hitting the road again, although the trip is significantly shorter, to play Whitewater in the first round of the state playoffs. This battle of Wildcats is a fire vs. ice kind of matchup. Lovejoy’s offensive firepower against Whitewater’s icy defense.
Before it let up in the second half against Northgate last week, Whitewater had held eight straight opponents to 14 points or less. After traveling to Macon to take on Westside in a Region 4-AAAA playoff, Lovejoy (5-5) isn’t apt to be scared by Whitewater and its 8-2 record. A low-scoring game might favor Whitewater, which had gotten 613 yards and 12 touchdowns from Jonathan Frierson. Lovejoy, on the other hand, has found another gear offensively after losing its first four games. Says here, the Wildcats win.
Keep…
On…
Reading…
Southside…
Football…
Fans…
Ha, had you going. I’m picking Lovejoy, because the Clayton club has shredded five of its last six opponents.
Mundy’s Mill at Douglass
The Tigers (6-3-1) hit the playoffs playing well after whipping Paulding County and Morrow by a combined 81-13 to close the regular season, and they face a battle-tested Astros (7-3) club that has had seven games decided by a touchdown or less, including all three of its losses. If the Mill can get a big night from Quintory Braswell, it can win, though this game figures to be another close one. Douglass routed Tri-Cities 42-0, while Mundy’s Mill beat Tri-Cities 27-6. I’ll go with the Tigers to advance.
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