We have learned two big things during the Class AAA high school football playoffs that head to the semifinal round Friday: 1) Cedar Grove is crushing opposition like a overpowering steamroller hell bent on winning a state championship, and 2) Pierce County's 24-7 victory against the most productive Monroe Area team in recent history was not easily foreseen.
Pierce and Calhoun are the only undefeated teams left in the class. Pierce enjoyed a 14-0 lead after three quarters and put away the game while holding the high-powered Monroe Area offense, led by quarterback Chandler Byron, to just a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Pierce started scoring on a short rushing touchdown with six minutes left in the first quarter. John Jones extended the lead early in the third quarter on a 70-yard run. Another short run early in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 21-0. Byron’s 3-yard touchdown run cut into the 21-7 lead with eight minutes left in the game, but a Pierce County field goal with five minutes provided insurance and a tall-task: Cedar Grove in the semis.
Do we even need to talk about the other semifinal matchup? Peach County held off Westminster, 21-3, in dreadful weather in Fort Valley to advance. Calhoun defeated Jenkins 24-12 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggests.
Here's all the hype you need for that matchup, courtesy of last season's controversial title game which sent the state into a frenzy. So far, the Peach County Facebook page has already instructing its fans to arrive early to thwart any attempted Calhoun 'seat-stealing' if that's even a thing.
During the Thanksgiving weekend, Tiger and Phil had the pay-per-view golf event called "The Match."
On Friday, high school football has "The Rematch."
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