Class AA in brief: Predictions autopsy
Welcome to the final edition of “In brief” for the 2019 football season. Every year at the start of spring practice, anticipation starts to build for the next football season, and from that moment to opening week can feel like forever. Then, with that very first kickoff of the brand new season, time seems to fly by and before it’s realized, the season’s end is here.
On Friday at Georgia State Stadium, the No. 7 Brooks County Trojans (10-4) and No. 5 Dublin Fighting Irish (13-1) will play for the Class AA title, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
(For the semifinals recap, go here.)
On Thursday I will preview the AA title game extensively. For now, we’ll take final look at the predictions I made before the playoffs started. With Callaway losing in the semifinals, that put the final dagger in those predictions, as I had the Cavaliers winning it all.
Here’s my bracket’s remains:
As I’ve said all along, AA is difficult to predict because it’s the most competitive classification in the state — by far. For example, before Thomasville was eliminated in the semifinals by Dublin, it barely escaped the first round with a 31-26 win over Dodge County.
My bracket started OK, as I correctly picked all first-round games. I was still in decent shape after the second round, though Rockmart losing Javin Whatley for the season due to a knee injury put a bit of a dent in it. The quarterfinals is where my predictions mostly went south, with only Callaway remaining, though the Cavs would be eliminated by Brooks County the following week, putting an end to my run as self-proclaimed fortune teller.
So, what went wrong with Callaway, the team I picked to win it all? For me, I’ll say it was the slow start the Cavs got off to, starting in the quarterfinals. They dug themselves a 14-0 hole against Douglass but were able to climb out of it for a 41-20 win. Then on Friday in the semis, Brooks County jumped to a 20-0 lead on them. Again, the Cavs came all the way back and actually took a short-lived 35-26 lead, but this time — unlike against Douglass — they found a team that would fight back.
The fact that the Cavs even came back to take a lead showed to me that they were capable of winning it all. They certainly had the talent. It just didn’t work out this year. Winning a title is hard.
Though the Cavs lose some of their best players from this year’s team to graduation, including the country’s top-ranked running back Tank Bigsby, lineman Tate Johnson and receiver Jacob Freeman among others, they have plenty coming back. Quarterback Demetrius Coleman, running back-linebacker Charlie Dixon and cornerback-receiver Jalin Shephard are all juniors. The Cavs could very well again be in the mix for title contention next year in the new-look AA, which most notably adds Pace Academy and Lovett while subtracting Dublin, Brooks County, Rockmart, Hapeville Charter and others.
Now, there’s one game left. Since I failed to pick Brooks County or Dublin to get this far, I’ll go ahead and sit this one out as far as picking a title game winner goes. Good luck to both teams.
In brief:
- Attention Class AA programs — Are you looking for a stiff non-region challenge to fill out your schedule for next season? Reach out to Irwin County. The Indians (12-0) will play for the A-Public championship on Saturday.
- Therrell lineman Jacobi Sims has been invited to play in the 2019 Atlanta Public Schools all star game, along with teammates Jamontae Jean, Rashod Pruitt, Cameron Fortson and Jonah Cotton.
- Members of Callaway's team recently returned to the elementary school they grew up attending.
- Here's al.com's Tom Green reporting on Callaway standout and Auburn commit Tank Bigsby's profile boost by Rivals.
- The Walton Tribune's David Johnson opines that Social Circle's next coach must bring to the program patience and the ability to work miracles. Chad Estes resigned in late November after six seasons, including a 2-8 campaign this year.
- All On Georgia's Casie Bryant recently wrote about longtime Chattooga assistant Charles Hammon, who recently resigned.
- Therrell senior linebacker-tight end Patrick Brittain has been invited to play in the Georgia vs. Florida All Star Game, with festivities taking place Dec. 27-29 in Orlando.
- Rockmart lineman Jamaal Thompson has been invited to the Georgia Elite Classic.
- WLTZ's Larissa Liska recently spoke with Callaway standout and Auburn commit Tank Bigsby.
- Here's Dublin coach Roger Holmes speaking with The Midday Sports Zone ahead of the semifinals.
- Here's WTXL's highlights of the Brooks County-Callaway game.
- Callaway radio announcer Andrew Caraway had a note and a thread for the class of '19 Cavs.
- Here's The West Georgia Football Podcast's breakdown of the semifinals.
- Dublin is cancelling school for Championship Friday.
- Here's all the info you need for attending Championship Weekend.
- The Bleckley County Royals are in mourning following the loss of one of their own.
- Hephzibah lineman Jerkerris Griffin has been selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl, Jan. 4 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
- Crisp County coach Brad Harber recently expressed gratitude toward his mentor, Dublin coach Roger Holmes.
- Here's Dublin celebrating reaching the championship after the final play of the Thomasville game.
- Region 1 has united to pull for one of its own this coming Friday.
- Junior five-star lineman Amarius Mims is going to Hawaii as a Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
- Elbert County senior lineman Caleb Hale earned himself a scholarship at the team's annual banquet.
- Armuchee released its schedule for 2020.
- Hapeville Charter '22 linebacker Devon Irving will play in the Georgia Army National Guard All-Star Classic.
- Dublin coach Roger Holmes was recently featured in GHSF Daily's "Four questions with..."
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