Here’s what we’ve got for the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals…
Newton (7-3) at Etowah (10-2)
Hillgrove (9-3) at Archer (9-3)
McEachern (9-3) at Tucker (10-2)
Milton (11-1) at Colquitt County (12-0)
The quarters are populated with six teams that have never won state titles, five that entered the post-season unranked, four that have not been this far in the playoffs in over 25 years , if ever, and two that had never won state-playoff games until this year.
No. 1-ranked Colquitt County (1994) and No. 9 Tucker (2008, 2011) have the state-championship pedigree, and only Colquitt has won a title in the highest classification. The only other ranked team remaining is No. 7 Milton.
Etowah and Archer are in the quarterfinals for the first time. Newton and Milton have won state-playoff games for the first time.
McEachern and Hillgrove are back in the quarters after making it last season. They are from Cobb County, which has not had a state champion since 1967.
Even Colquitt County, the only unbeaten team, was scared for its life Friday, trailing 20-0 before winning 51-30 against fourth-ranked Dacula. Battle scars among the rest are plentiful. Milton is 11-1. Tucker and Etowah are 10-2. The other four teams have three losses.
More observations of the highest class …
-Archer and Colquitt County reportedly have won coin flips to be the home teams in their games this week. Coin flips determine home teams when two same-seeded teams play in the quarters or semis. Archer, Colquitt County, Milton and Hillgrove are region champs. And while it does seem to be a quarterfinals with a lot of misfits and never-won-its, I will note that five are region champions (those four, plus Tucker). And four of the preseason top five are here after slow starts - McEachern, Colquitt County, Archer and Tucker. It might've been all five if North Gwinnett hadn't lost in a remarkable upset to Central Gwinnett.
-The Etowah-Newton quarterfinal is one for the underdog ages. Etowah was 1-8 all-time in the playoffs before this season. Newton was 2-10, with both wins coming in region playoff games in 1987. Congrats to their young coaches, Etowah’s Dave Svehla (in his third season) and Newton’s Terrance Banks (in his second). Newton QB Romario Johnson reportedly passed for 220 yards (20 of 30 passing) and ran for 64, another big game for the junior in a 15-14 victory over Central Gwinnett. Etowah sophomore RB Tyray Devezin rushed for 152 yards in Etowah’s 23-6 win over Westlake.
-The Archer-Hillgrove winner also will produce a first-time semifinalist. Archer was ranked No. 3 in preseason and won nine straight after an 0-3 start. Hillgrove’s three losses are by seven points or fewer to North Gwinnett, Lovejoy and Harrison. Archer’s Gabe Tiller threw for 219 yards in the 56-13 victory over Lee County. Hillgrove beat Roswell 38-28.
-McEachern was ranked No. 1 and Tucker No. 5 in preseason, but both lost their opening games in the Corky Kell Classic, McEachern to North Gwinnett, Tucker to Norcross. We noted that McEachern was a Cobb team hoping to break a county title drought. Tucker would be the first DeKalb team to make the semifinals in the highest class since Stephenson in 2005 and first to make a final (or win it) since Southwest DeKalb in 1995. McEachern blew out Region 6 champion Alpharetta 44-14. Tucker beat second-ranked Grayson 26-23. Jonathan Ledbetter, the Georgia-committed defensive end, ran a Grayson fumble 45 yards for the winning touchdown.
-Colquitt County and Milton have the best records, but one will be playing on the road next week, as both are No. 1 seeds. The GHSA will supervise a coin flip, probably Saturday, to determine whether the game will be played in Milton or Moultrie. Sihiem King scored six touchdowns in Colquitt’s win over Dacula. Milton beat Hughes 17-14.
About the Author
