Blessed Trinity isn’t bringing the ninth grade team to play Friday’s Class AAA quarterfinal game at Dawson County. It may just seem that way.
The No. 2-ranked Titans (11-0-1) could have as many as four freshmen on the field when the Titans play the game that will determine whether they’ll be playing in the state semifinals for the second straight season.
“This is definitely a God-thing,” Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin said. “There’s no other reason to explain how we’ve held it together.”
The Titans have had 10 players undergo surgery this year. They lost four starters for the season before the end of the first game. The trouble struck again last week with three more players leaving the field with injuries.
Blessed Trinity may have gotten lucky last week. Quarterback Colin Davis left with what was originally thought to be a broken collarbone, but was later diagnosed as a shoulder injury. Running back Milton Shelton, who was just 82 yards away from 5,000 career rushing yards, felt a pop on his neck and was taken off the field on a stretcher as a precautionary move. The injury was later diagnosed as a stinger. Tackle Griffin Gilder was taken off the field with what appeared to be a lower leg injury after he was leveled with a chop block. But Gilder actually suffered a concussion when he fell and hit the ground on the play.
There is a chance all three could return to the lineup – if Blessed Trinity can survive this week’s test against the Region 7-AAA champions. Dawson County (9-3) has had great success this year under first-year coach Sid Maxwell, who has taken the Tigers to their first region title and second appearance in the state quarterfinals.
“They remind me of the teams that Sid had when he was at Sequoyah,” McFarlin said. “They’re hungry to win. This is all new to them and they’ll do anything he tells them. Their kids are playing hard and they’re playing with a lot of confidence.”
Blessed Trinity isn’t willing to settle for anything less than success. The four freshmen who will start this week are quarterback Jake Smith, wide receiver Ryan Davis, free safety Steele Chambers (who will also play running back) and defensive end/tight end J.D. Bertrand, who earlier this week made the All-Region 4-AAA team.
“We’ve got a young football team right now,” McFarlin said. “But I’ve never had kids play any harder than these kids.”
And the defense features three all-region players: defensive lineman Shane Parton, linebacker Logan Craighead and defensive back Elijah Hamilton. The Titans have not allowed more than 14 points in a game all season and are coming off a 38-12 win over Jefferson.
The defense will have to at its best against a Dawson County team led by quarterback Coey Watson, who has thrown for 1,556 yards and 12 touchdowns, and running back Hunter Mitchell, who is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing.
Here are capsules of the four semifinal games, courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Daily.
Westminster at Adairsville
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Adairsville
Records, rankings: Westminster is 8-4, the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAA and unranked; Adairsville is 11-1, the No. 2 seed from 6-AAA and No. 8.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Westminster has recorded five consecutive lopsided victories since dealing with injuries during a 3-4 start. The Wildcats broke a 10-year quarterfinal drought in 2014, when they lost to state champion Calhoun in the semifinals. Adairsville reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2001 last year and can tie the school record for victories with a win this week. 2. Westminster RB Zay Malcome surpassed the 1,000-yard mark (1,070) for the season by rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-28 victory over Callaway in the second round. PK Blake Gillikin kicked a school-record 52-yard field goal and a 43-yarder, averaged 54.3 yards on three punts, and put six of nine kickoffs into the end zone. Sophomore LB Truman Jones had 12 tackles, including four for loss. 3. Adairsville RB Sidnee Johnson rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in a 34-16 second-round victory over Region 2 champion Jackson. Johnson has run for 1,692 yards and 25 TDs this season. Torrey Hale had a 35-yard touchdown catch, a 20-yard TD run and a late interception that secured the victory. Adairsville led 21-0 at halftime, saw the lead cut to 21-16, then pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Adairsville by 7
Winner plays: Westside (Macon)/Cedar Grove winner
Westside (Macon) at Cedar Grove
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, James R. Hallford Stadium, Clarkston
Records, rankings: Westside is 9-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 2-AAA and unranked; Cedar Grove is 10-1-1, the No. 2 seed from 4-AAA and No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Westside was the only No. 4 seed in Class AAA and the only Region 2-AAA team to survive the first two rounds. The Seminoles are making their first quarterfinal appearance since 2009, Sheddrick Risper's first season as head coach after taking over from Robert Davis. Cedar Grove is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, and a win would put the Saints in their first semifinal since 1991. 2. Westside QB Savion Knowlton was 7-of-11 passing for 89 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 139 yards and three scores in a 43-10 second-round victory over Sonoraville. Knowlton has 2,412 yards and 35 touchdowns passing and rushing this season. Sonoraville was held to less than 150 yards rushing by the Seminoles after getting more than 450 in its first-round game. 3. Cedar Grove RB LaBron Morris rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the Saints' 28-14 victory over Oconee County in the second round. Morris, the leading rusher in DeKalb County, has 1,561 yards and 18 touchdowns for the season. QB Jelani Woods was 7-of-14 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns, increasing his season totals to 1,680 yards and 18 TDs. Cedar Grove outgained the Warriors 438-221.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Cedar Grove by 19
Winner plays: Westminster/Adairsville winner
Elbert County at Calhoun
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Phil Reeve Stadium, Calhoun
Records, rankings: Elbert County is 10-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAA and unranked; Calhoun is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 6-AAA and No. 1.
Last meeting: Calhoun won 19-17 in the 2014 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Three things to know: 1. Elbert County is making its third quarterfinal appearance in five seasons but has not reached the semifinals since its 1995 team won the Class AA championship. Defending state champion Calhoun has won 27 consecutive games and is in the quarterfinals for the eighth straight season. The Yellow Jackets played in the state final in six of the previous seven seasons. 2. Elbert County QB Mecole Hardman rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns and had a key interception in the final two minutes to help preserve a 23-8 victory over previously unbeaten Dodge County in the second round. In two playoff games, Hardman has run for 523 yards and scored all five of his team's touchdowns. Dodge County was averaging 292.9 yards rushing but was held to 148. 3. Calhoun coach Hal Lamb earned the 200th victory of his coaching career when the Yellow Jackets beat Peach County 20-14 in overtime in the second round. Lamb is 200-46 in 19 seasons, all but two at Calhoun. QB Kaelan Riley passed for 166 yards, ran for 165 and scored the game-winner on a 15-yard run in overtime. Peach County had the ball first in overtime but fumbled at the 1-yard line. Olico Dennis had 78 yards rushing on 22 carries and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Calhoun by 21
Winner plays: Blessed Trinity/Dawson County winner
Blessed Trinity at Dawson County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
Records, rankings: Blessed Trinity is 11-0-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAA and No. 2; Dawson County is 9-3, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Blessed Trinity and Dawson County both had to overcome injuries to two of their offensive stars during second-round victories. Blessed Trinity QB Conor Davis and RB Milton Shelton left the game in the first quarter of a 38-12 victory over Jefferson. Dawson County lost leading receiver Tucker Maxwell and leading rusher Hunter Mitchell late in the first half of a 22-12 victory over Spencer. The status of the players for this week is not known. 2. Former Sequoyah and Lambert coach Sid Maxwell has led Dawson County to unprecedented heights in his first season in Dawsonville. The Tigers, who have been playing football since 1967, have set a school record for victories with nine, won their first region title and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time. Dawson County was 2-8 in 2014. 3. Blessed Trinity got a big night from the backups after Davis and Shelton left last week's game. RB Garrett Dupuis ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries and caught a touchdown pass. Freshman QB Jake Smith was 12-for-14 passing for 200 yards.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Blessed Trinity by 35
Winner plays: Elbert County/Calhoun winner
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