AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBetter-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.
Permalink | Comments (67) | Post your comment | Categories: Darryl Maxie
Comments
By Jenkins Warrior 1993
November 15, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
good luck to my alma mater Herschel V. Jenkins against coffee tomorrow night. they are going to need it.
By Carter
November 15, 2007 8:35 PM | Link to this
Good luck to the Calhoun Yellow Jackets!!
By war eagle
November 15, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
watch out for landmark against against lincoln tommorrow
By SeminoleWarrior
November 15, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
Go Thomasville Bulldogs!!!
By devil lover
November 15, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
upsets may include;
Hooch over Grayson Mill Creek over Harrison
By Richard Martin
November 15, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
As an HV Jenkins graduate of 1993 living in metro Atlanta, I also wish my alma mater well. Back in 1993, we hardly EVER won football games. We were too busy having football players doing homework on the sidelines since they were all in the Math/Science magnet program :) Now that I teach up here in Atlanta, Isee how awesome football can be especially now that the school I teach at is in the playoffs. Go Jenkins Warriors and GO North Gwinnett Bulldogs!!!!
By old lion
November 16, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
WHEW! Glad to see you picked SPX to lose again. I knew we were in trouble when you picked us to win last week. Keep picking us to lose, please.
By George Gipp
November 16, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this
Devil Lover, you’re half right. Mill Creek will beat Harrison, but Hooch won’t beat Grayson.
By NHS Eagle Fan
November 16, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
NSWR is still the best team AAAA even without their starting quarterback. Scott will lead them to the state title. GO EAGLES!!!!
By Mr. lion
November 16, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Peachtree Ridge 31 North Cobb 24
By Big Joe
November 16, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Mill Creek all the way baby! Who is Harrison anyways. Watch out cuse we are not going to be denied this game!!!
By Warrior Woman
November 16, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
Mill Creek over Harrison? In some alternate universe, maybe.
By Mr. lion Peachtree Ridge 31 North Cobb 24
And Mr. lion is nuts. More likely North Cobb 35 Peachtree Ridge 17
By Astro 4 life
November 16, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
Douglass 24 Mundy Mill 14. keep an eye on #1 he’s going places!!!
By Knight Time
November 16, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
I left last Friday night’s game between Roswell & Centennial I was more impressed with the Knights than the Hornets. For those who only saw the final score, the Knights were down 28-3 at halftime with each of the 4 Hornets TD’s coming after Knights turnovers, before coming back and eventually losing 31 - 24. Those weren’t 2nd stringers in there for the Hornets either as the final score mattered in the playoff structure. Hornets you have my support, only because of me being a citizen of Roswell, but you gotta show more in the playoffs!!
By Nina
November 16, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
GO NORTH COBB! GO WARRIORS! We are very proud of what you have accomplished and will be there to support you the rest of the way! GO BIG ORANGE!
By Jaguar33
November 16, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Stpehenson 15, East Coweta 12
By Lewis
November 16, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
Wow, no respect at ALL for 5-AA! All 4 first round losers. I mean, I guess that’s understandable because the region’s down this year, but 7-AA is not too much better, with the exception of Calhoun. Just a little surprising. My picks for these matchups: All 1 and 2 seeds win. No upsets.
By East Beast
November 16, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
Congratulations Raiders on the 1st perfect season in school history! Easy win tonight then feed Mays some leftover turkey in week 2. Go Beast!
By A WITNESS
November 16, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
ALL YEAR LONG “WE BELIEVE” HAS BEEN OUR COMMITMENT. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ALL IS FOR HIS GLORY. WINNING FOOTBALL AT FCHS THIS YEAR HAS DRAWN MANY MANY MORE TO THE WITNESS OF THE CHRISTIAN ATHLETE AND WHAT IMPACT HE CAN HAVE ON ALL AROUND HIM. ALL FOR HIS GLORY. WE WILL FIGHT THE BRAVE FIGHT FOR HIS GLORY.
By Jenkins Warrior 1993
November 16, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
to Richard Martin
i remember you. you was the drum major in the band at jenkins when i was on the football team
By Mr. B
November 16, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Ok, Does ANYONE know weather Douglass is playing tonight OR tomorrow? I asked because Mays is listed at the EXACT same time today and they both cannot play at the same time on the same field.. Once again the AJC is doing its usual bang up job. :(
By The Original Cougar Mom
November 16, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
It is going to be a sad day for George Gipp when Hooch tears into Grayson!
GO COUGARS!!!!!
By gator
November 16, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Mr. B,
Douglass plays mundy mill, 7:30 lakewood tonight.
By pfm
November 16, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
For the Fayette County Tigers “WE BELIEVE” they will come through again tonight! This record year still has life in it.
By Warrior nation
November 16, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
I’m rooting for the Warriors from WHite Co. tonight. First playoff game in about 6 or 7 years. Go Warriors!!
By Warrior nation
November 16, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
White County Warriors go fight win
By HSballfan
November 16, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
By RM
November 16, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Looks like the AAAAA State Championship will have to come through the City of Kennesaw. Either North Cobb or Harrison . Go Warriors and Hoyas.
By Richard Martin
November 16, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
To: Jenkins Warrior 1993
Yes that would be correct. Things have changed since we were at HVJ. That’s why I moved to teach in Gwinnett. :)
Nice to see other Jenkins grads up here in metro ATL. Didn’t know many on the football team, but had some classes with team members. I hope they do well tonight. We will see.
By the bull
November 16, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
Upset of the night. Carver-Atlanta, #8 in AAA, will lose and lose big. Their record is a by-product of playing really, really bad teams on their side of region 5AAA. Their opponents combined record is, drumroll please…a staggering 27-73. They are nowhere near as good as their record would indicate. I can say this because I have had an up-close and personal view of this team in action and this is a bad football team that has played teams that are worse. I will give them kudos for having their first undefeated regular season in school history. But the fun ends tonight.
By Rocket Man #47
November 16, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this
Folks, Gwinnett County is where football legends are made. Cobb might have baseball for a year or 2 more, but Gwinnett Rules Football!!
Let’s Go PR Lions!!!!!!!
By One and Done
November 16, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
Then there were 16. bye bye Courgar Mom, bye bye NC Fan.
NC Fan, You take that crow with wine sauce?
By big willie
November 16, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
We’re North Cobb nobody can beat us…Ha ha ha
By GwinnettFan
November 16, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
North Cobb is beatable as well, but the team that can do it hasn’t been found yet
By Steve
November 16, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
Peachtree Ridge will take no prisoners all the way to the Dome.
By sch boy 4 life
November 16, 2007 10:53 PM | Link to this
Well we tried AAAAA. i dont think marietta tried very hard(L44-0)but i know that north cobb did(L35-28). and CONGRATS HARRISON (W30-10)BRING IT HOME FOR US WE’RE ROOTING FOR YA. told ya’ll marietta didn’t deserve to be there.
south cobb forever.
By sch gurl 4 life
November 16, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Well we tried AAAAA. i dont think marietta tried very hard(L44-0)but i know that north cobb did(L35-28). and CONGRATS HARRISON (W30-10)BRING IT HOME FOR US WE’RE ROOTING FOR YA. told ya’ll marietta didn’t deserve to be there.
south cobb forever.
By sch gurl 4 life
November 16, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
Well we tried AAAAA. i dont think marietta tried very hard(L44-0)but i know that north cobb did(L35-28). and CONGRATS HARRISON (W30-10)BRING IT HOME FOR US WE’RE ROOTING FOR YA. told ya’ll marietta didn’t deserve to be there.
south cobb forever.
By HSballfan
November 16, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this
Looks like we may have to take another look at the power ranking of 4AAAA. Only NS Warner Robbins survived round one,with an unimpressive win over a mediocre Creekside team. Thomas Central, Hab Central and Tucker are looking a lot better right now.
By Randy Clokey
November 16, 2007 11:27 PM | Link to this
Guessed wrong yet again. Go FCHS
By Tucker Tigers
November 16, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
Tucker was very impressive tonight with the 24-0 win over Clark Central. Defense had ANOTHER shutout, and the offense finished long drives and dominated the time of possesion. People have really underestimated Tucker, and they better watch out! Of course, let’s take care of buisness the next two weeks…
By nelaon
November 16, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
Mr. Lion,
Your predictions are amazing. Gwinnett Football reminds me so much of SEC football. We are so good we beat each other up. When we go outside the region the bar gets raised. Go Peachtree Ridge. We are very proud of you boys!!!
By Nelson
November 16, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
Mr. Lion,
Your predictions are amazing. Gwinnett Football reminds me so much of SEC football. We are so good we beat each other up. When we go outside the region the bar gets raised. Go Peachtree Ridge. We are very proud of you boys!!
By BR
November 17, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this
Mr Lion you were right. Peachtree Ridge won but it was 35-28.
By MAGNUM
November 17, 2007 1:24 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Clinch, Charlton and Ware on making it past the first round in the playoffs! That fire is still burning down here in Swamp, it is just on the football field now!
By homet
November 17, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
LOL!…Yep…as predicted East Paulding is now 11 & 0!!!…
We are taking the EP road show over to the Mays game tonight to watch and see who is making the trip to the “BONEYARD” next week…maybe we’ll do one half on each sideline, we’ll see!…LOL!
Anyway listen for the cowbells and if you need directions to East Paulding we’ll have some printed directions with us…
Oh if any of the AJC folks wanna stop by and visit feel free too…since you NEVER come to the East Paulding games we’ll have a few copies of last nights highlights you can have!…GO RAIDERS!!!
By FC52
November 17, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
yea keep picking against us Mr. Maxie cuz we aint stoppin til tha wheels of this Black And Gold thing shoot straight off and dats not gonna happen before we get to tha Dome!!!!!!!!!!!
By GRAYSONFAN
November 17, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow, it makes me proud, you beat NC, because we beat ptree ridge! you would think grayson could get a little more respect. i guess they are to new to the big 10. its coming, just need to get pass norcross, that has beaten us once this year. i dont think our players will go into the game, even thinking about that, because so much has changed for the better on our defence. they are feeling very confident at this time. they will force norcross to go up the middle or throw, there will be no, sweeps. it should be a very good game, hope it better then this weeks!
By dawgsig
November 17, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
Hey Maxie,
Newnan played again … and won again. Look it up! Other papers are reporting it. Perhaps, next Friday you will grace us with the honor of even a mention of the 2nd round playoff game between Newnan and Coffee County. Please, Prince Maxie, recognize that we exist way down here in Coweta County.
By will
November 17, 2007 6:55 PM | Link to this
walton will win state
By Broncospirit
November 17, 2007 7:44 PM | Link to this
not hardly this year, huh?
By Brookwoodfan
November 17, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with the comments: I love Gwinnett football. For years, being a Brookwood fan, I thought the majority of our competition would always come from Parkview and South GA. Even though Lowdnes and Camden are still impressive as usual, I am very proud of the other Gwinnett schools: Peachtree Ridge, N. Gwinnett, Norcross, and Grayson. Way to go Lions. I had to make a comment about a Hootch fan dogging Brookwood. I told my friends, “she better stop talking about Brookwood and worry about Grayson” and I was laughing so hard when Grayson gave them a 34-0 beatdown. Also, Mill Creek is a young Gwinnett school that is on the rise. I know Harrison, M.L. King, and a few other schools have a chance. Go Broncos! Go Gwinnett!!!
By Jenkins Warrior 1993
November 17, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
to Richard Martin
im still in savannah, but i look at the ajc a lot. jenkins lost 37-0 last night. coffee (those boys were huge) they had several 6-5 over taller and 340 plus pound players on their team. a lot of jenkins players were hurt including their star running back-franklin green. only dress like 35 players. jenkins was playing people who didnt play all year they was sitting on the bench and they was starting a playoff game.
By Jenkins Warrior 1993
November 17, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this
jenkins will have to rebuild (start all over next year) losing 17 seniors. all but 3 played consitently
By Sean V Grant
November 17, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this
To all who consider themselves intelligent, How is it that Buford became the number one team in AA? I would understand if they won more games than everyone else they would deserve it, but they didn’t. Charlton County won all their games as well. They have one fewer win, true, but they played one fewer game. Charlton started the season at no.1 and are the three time defending state champion! It is ashamed that politics have to enter into the high school athletics polling criteria. Once again if they both win, Charlton will have to travel to Buford to play. Why is that significant? They have done that for the last four years in a row! On the GHSA playoff bracket it says the higher seeded team will host. Last year Charlton was number 1 and lost a coin flip to travel to a lower seeded team. We already know you guys don’t want us to win, but at least beat us fairly on the field or just take your ball an go home. Thanks just the same.
By GRAYSONFAN
November 17, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
haha, i remember you saying, “better stop worring about brookwood, and worry about grayson”. i was thinking the same thing, at the time. well i sure hope we get to play brookwood again, it seems like a big dream, but, no hard feelings, but i do believe the grayson defence can stop mr. kenny now. any team that plays us, will have to win by passing.this is why im a little concerned about norcross. grayson defence has made some changes on the corners too, but time will tell, we will see. i sure want get cocky about, for sure!
By MLK Lions Fan
November 17, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
Way to go MLK Lions!!! (11-0) We are pulling for you over here in South DeKalb. The AJC never gives you any respect. Let’s make it 12-0 this week. Go Lions!!!!!!
By Concerned EPHS Dad
November 18, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Wow! Mays, why are you so angry? You have a great team it appears. Should we be concerned Friday night about allowing our kids to safely run around their own high school? I hope Paulding County has plenty of their finest to keep things in order. It looks like Marist and Cedar Shoals had to do more than just play a football game, looks like they had to defend themselves out of bounds and during the post game handshake…. Mays, welcome to the Boneyard.
Real Raiders Wear Black!!!!!!
By lyle
November 18, 2007 8:35 PM | Link to this
You have not seen anything until you have seen NORTH HALL!!!!
By jeff
November 18, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this
Could someone explain to me how home teams are chosen for the playoffs. This week N. Gwinnett is playing at Brookwood. N. Gwinnett is ranked higher and has already beaten the Broncos but must play them on the road. Why?
By hornet grad 07
November 18, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
Home Field is given to the team with the higher Region Seed. In the Brookwood / North Gwinett case, Brookwood is Region 8 Seed 1, while North Gwinett is Region 7 Seed 2.
By homet
November 19, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
The Mays team has tried this crap ALL season…they are nothing more than a group of “THUGS” and their coach’s have done nothing to control this attitude!
This type of thing however seems to be “winked” at by Atlanta School System members as this quote printed in the AJC shows:
“”Once they settled down, they played a good game and remembered what they were out here for,” City of Atlanta athletics director Billette Owens-Ashford said.”
They should have been saying how embarrassed they are by this type of student behavior but then again it is THE CITY OF ATLANTA we are talking about!
Bottom line—-STOP GLORYFING the fighting and call it like it is…this is a team that DOES NOT BELONG IN THE PLAYOFFS…and has a coaching staff that has LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF ITS PLAYERS!!!
Well at least the issues will be put to an end this friday night at “THE BONEYARD” home of THE REAL RAIDERS from East Paulding!
This may actually be good for the coachs, fans, and players from Mays to see what a true CLASS FOOTBALL PROGRAM is all about!
Bring on TCC…now that should be a FOOTBALL GAME!
By For real though
November 19, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Maxie, you were wrong again about Da Ridge. You were right about us starting in the same place we were last year in at the #4 seed. You were right about us not being a surprise element this year. However you were wrong when you said we slipped in at the #4 seed. No, we played to win to get into the playoffs this and last year. We were actually a legitimate 4 seed according to our win-lost record last year. This year we had a tied regional record with Mill Creek (6-2), Mill Creek went in as #3 since they beat us in the head to head view. We didn’t have the same points against comparison as the Hooch and Roswell went through to break their regional tie. You were wrong about Da Ridge when you said the team to beat NC had not been found yet and it would not happen that night. Well, in spite of them bringing their “A” game, and they did for the most part, they lost and it probably would not have been that close if we did not go into conservative mode after being up 35-14. They fought tenaciously at the end but the Lions were not to be denied. So now we move onto round two minus NC, so Maxie, how do you like us now going up against Roswell? Roswell has the same basic team as last year, only the juniors are now seniors with maturity and playoff experience. Da Ridge has the same but a lot of seniors graduated last year including the quarterback, our go to receiver, the notorious defensive end and a host of other starters. This years Ridge team is much younger and different boys found in key positions? To make matters even more questionable, we are also operating with a new head coach. Like last year, they have to be road warriors as all games leading up to the dome and beyond are played on the other team’s home field. The odds are stacked against them even more so than last year. However, what is ever so present is what makes the difference in any game, heart to make the plays, a great coach, and a favor of good old fashion luck. I think destiny is on their side and as you and I will see, no team in its path can interfere with destiny. Sure, the same point of destiny could be made for other teams, but “for real though?”
By LOL
November 19, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
Some of you people have been reading too many comic books.
By GRAYSONFAN
November 19, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
re:for real though, congrats on your win, every team can have a bad night, looks like your oponent did! i do hope you beat roswell, as they are so over rated. sorry you have to play on their field. my son use to play for that divsion. everytime they played on their atificial turf, someone got hurt. put my son out of his sophmore year! my biggest advise to you is, practice on some similar turf. and ware the right cleats for it. take it from a mom that had to learn the hard way, and a coach that should have known this simple thing, that didnt. im almost convenced, this is why some teams cant compete there. go ridge! sure hope we cant get past roswell, they are really good!
By Richard Martin
November 19, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
To Jenkins Warrior 1993: I saw that HVJ lost when I got home from our football game up here. I was sad to see that happen. Maybe Jenkins can get it going again. That’s the best season they’ve had in a long, long time. We won our game, beating Marietta 44-0 at halftime. After that, we let JV play alittle while until the clock ran out. But we have some real football to play this Friday. Beating Brookwood 3 times in a row will be HARD TO DO. But we will see. Hope all is well in Savannah. I don’t miss it AT ALL!!! LOL
By justinfh88
November 19, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
I GUESS WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM COUGAR MOM ANYMORE HUH?