Class AAA blog: Calhoun-Peach rematch takes focus in second round of playoffs

Calhoun's trip to top-ranked Peach County highlights the second round of the Class AAA playoffs, with 16 teams trying to earn quarterfinal berths.

The history of the Peach-Calhoun matchup is well-known, although it's only the fourth meeting between the programs. Calhoun won the first game at home -- 20-14 in overtime in 2015 during the second round of the playoffs. In 2017, Calhoun defeated Peach 10-6 in a controversial state title game. Peach County got its revenge in the semifinals last season, winning 22-14 at Calhoun.

Peach County defeated Brantley County 19-0 last week in a driving rain. It was the Trojans' its lowest point total of the season, but Peach has outscored opponents 519-144, and the offense should pose a constant threat to the Yellow Jackets. During the regular season, quarterback Jaydon Gibson was 96-of-145 passing for 1,762 yards and 20 touchdowns. Senior Noah Whittington led the Trojans running game with 824 yards and 18 touchdowns on 80 carries. Linebacker Sergio Allen, a Clemson-commitment, and senior defensive end Jaqualin McGhee lead the Trojans defense. 

Calhoun enters the game after beating Morgan County 38-10 in the first round, but the Yellow Jackets will have to weather a hostile environment. The Yellow Jackets offense has relied on quarterback Jake Morrow and running back Jerrian Hames, who combined for five touchdowns last week. A Calhoun loss would mark the first time since 2007 that the Yellow Jackets have not advanced past the second round.

Worth noting: Peach County's last home playoff loss was to a Davis Mills-led Greater Atlanta Christian program in the semifinals in 2016. The Spartans won the battle of the Greek-inspired mascots 13-7. On Saturday, Mills broke a Stanford team record when he passed for 494 yards and three touchdowns in the Cardinal's 49-22 loss at Washington State.

Here are some other key second-round games:

-- R3 #2 Benedictine at R5 #1 Cedar Grove: Cedar Grove, the defending champ, is coming off a 36-7 first-round victory against Fannin County; Benedictine advanced by beating Monroe 58-0. It will be Benedictine's biggest challenge since joining Class AAA. Why? Well, it might be a rematch of the quarterfinal game from last year, when Cedar Grove won 55-0, but this game provides Benedictine a chance to stake its claim as one of the better teams in the class. Cedar Grove is already there. Quarterback Holden Geriner led Benedictine in the regular season, completing 95 of 193 passes for 1,260 yards and 14 touchdowns. Last week, Geriner was 6-of-16 for 105 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior Gavin Stewart. Three players -- Kejuan Mack, Zaquan Bryan and Leshon Brooks Jr. – rushed for touchdowns against Monroe. In Round 1, Cedar Grove got rushing touchdowns from four players – Chavon Wright (73 yards, two touchdowns), Langston White (65 yards, one touchdown), Eric Harper (40 yards, one touchdown) and Rashod Dubinion (34 yards, one touchdown).

R8 #2 Hart County at R2 #1 Pierce County: This will be the first meeting between the programs. Pierce enters the game after a 49-6 victory against Central-Macon. Hart beat Haralson County 56-27. The unbeaten Pierce team averages 233 rushing yards and 108 passing yards per game. Quarterback Jermaine Brewton is 69-of-110 passing for 1,192 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with 90 carries for 447 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Junior L.J. Newton has 114 carries for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the Bear's running game. which has gotten touchdowns from 10 players. Senior Quavien Bell has 51 carries for 438 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Haralson County last week, Hart built a 35-21 lead at the break and held the Rebels to just points in the second half.

R2 #2 Appling County at R8 #1 Jefferson: This will be the first meeting between the programs. Appling enters the game after beating Westside-Macon 28-7 last week. Jefferson earned its second-round berth by beating Sonoraville 49-17. Jefferson's offense prefers the run – 348 rushing to 51 yards passing – and has scored 47 of its 63 total touchdowns rushing. The Dragons are led by senior Colby Clark, who is 26-of-48 passing for 524 yards and nine touchdowns. Clark has carried the ball 157 times for 881 yards and 19 touchdowns. Three players – Kolton Jones, Kade McNally and Malaki Starks – have rushed for five touchdowns each. Appling also favors the run – averaging 268 rushing yards and 51 passing yards. Junior quarterback Jeremiah Holmes is 25-of-60 passing for 528 yards and five touchdowns and has rushed 72 times for 629 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior R.J. Conaway has 102 carries for 646 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sharode Roberts has added 96 carries for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.

R7 #3 Dawson County at R3 #1 Jenkins: Dawson is riding momentum from its 27-3 first-round victory against No. 10 Westminster. Jenkins cruised to a 41-0 victory against Adairsville. The programs have never met. Both programs are relatively balanced -- Jenkins averaging 206 rushing yards and 137 passing yards. Dawson County averages 203 passing yards and 158 rushing yards. Jenkins quarterback Patrick Blake is 90-of-141 passing for 1,319 yards and 17 touchdowns. Damozzio Harris has 132 carries for 1,192 yards and 20 touchdowns. Donavin Hall has 35 carries for 280 yards and six touchdowns. Five players have added one rushing touchdown for Jenkins. Dawson County sophomore quarterback Zach Holtzclaw is 125-of-207 passing for 2,167 yards and 22 touchdowns and has rushed for four touchdowns. Senior Shawn Thomas leads the Tigers with 800 yards and nine touchdowns on 135 attempts. Isaiah Grindle has 55 carries for 393 yards and seven touchdowns.

Second-round schedule

R6 #2 Calhoun at R4 #1 Peach County

R3 #2 Benedictine at R5 #1 Cedar Grove

R8 #2 Hart County at R2 #1 Pierce County

R1 #2 Cook at R7 #1 Greater Atlanta Christian

R2 #2 Appling County at R8 #1 Jefferson

R7 #2 North Hall at R1 #1 Crisp

R4 #2 Jackson at R6 #1 North Murray

R7 #3 Dawson County at R3 #1 Jenkins