Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football second round playoff scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE!
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It’s the second round of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will try to blog live and take your questions about high school football and related topics.
We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep it clean, and POST IT HERE.
Michael Carvell’s Video Spotlight: Greenville High Coach Jeremy Williams
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PHOTOS: WHO’LL ADVANCE? Vote for each bracket’s best — AAAAA | AAAA-AAA | AA-A
GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see the Round Two results.
Here are the second round playoff games you can find stories and photos from later tonight on ajc.com…
M.L. King vs. Newnan
Roswell vs. Grayson
Wilcox Co. vs. Greenville
South Gwinnett vs. Lassiter
Colquitt Co. vs. Stephenson (game story in metro roundup)
Don’t forget to check out these high school football gamers and stories…
Woodstock vs. North Gwinnett
Buford vs. Jefferson
Stephenson eager to shed ‘best team never to win state’ title
Don’t forget to check out our roundups from around the metro area. Here’s what you’ll find…
Brookwood vs. Peachtree Ridge
Tucker vs. Sandy Creek
Marist vs. Apalachee
Clarke Central vs. Southwest DeKalb
North Hall vs. St. Pius
Flowery Branch vs. Grady
Bremen vs. Holy Innocents’
East Jackson vs. Lovett
Bowdon vs. Wesleyan
PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see the Round Two results.
GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
Round Two topic: Pick the winners / losers from the list of games we’re covering.
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1,158 comments Add your comment
grayram
November 21st, 2009
11:57 am
Peachtree Ridge had an awful game against Lowndes, gave them a bunch of points and a very good lowndes team did what good teams do and took full advantage and then some. How many did Mceachern beat Brookwood by? Lowndes is a great team but you can”t say because they beat someone in the first week that if that team goes all the way its somehow tainted.
TwoCents
November 21st, 2009
11:58 am
OldDawg — Some body like Tomberline would never be appointed to coach a team in south Dekalb. You may or may not have some good hits on the coaching in Dekalb. But don’t forget the poor discipline and poor academic performance in these schools. You can’t play serious ball without discipline and sharp minds. Too many of the kids are blind to the connection between what goes on in the school building and what goes on on the field. The SWD quarterback got in trouble for throwing food in the cafeteria. And don’t get me started on the behavior issues at Stephenson and MLK. Maybe the Dekalb wipeout in the playoffs will get some people to pay more attention to just how bad things have gotten in their schools.
grayram
November 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
enough about the eliminated teams. lets talk about newnan. I hope Grayson can raise their game or it will be along night. They have not put it all together yet in the playoffs.
GO PACK GO
November 21st, 2009
12:12 pm
Great game Packers. Still waiting to see the offense click. If we would have gotten it going last night the game would NOT have been close. Maybe a sneak in dome appearance is about to happen.
SanityRules
November 21st, 2009
12:17 pm
Grayram,what kind of secondary do Grayson have as far as size and speed? I know Grayson’s a little banged up but Newnan is relatively healthy and ready to come up and take care of business. Serious Grayson Hater, where are you?
cane fan
November 21st, 2009
12:20 pm
just in , fitzgerald won the coin toss will be playing in cane country, dont know much about them,they do have 2 losses against 1aaa and lovett, dont see them doing much against the canes though, fitz has to many weapons on offense, the defense was shaky last night but i imagine mike west will make it right, i dont see callaway scoring that much next friday. GO CANES…….ALL OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU COOK
Grey Lion
November 21st, 2009
12:35 pm
Grayram – I agree.
Interesting reading about all of the games. Too bad I can’t clone myself on Friday nights and be in attendance at all of the games. I am missing out on some good football!
But I definitely believe one thing.
No matter what level you play at, be it NFL – Arena League – Semi Pro – College – High School AAAAA – AAAA – AAA – AA/A or Pop Warner – EARLY LOSSES IN THE SEASON DO NOT MATTER if you are still standing in the playoffs.
Yep.
Topper
November 21st, 2009
12:43 pm
So what can we expect from NG?
Dekalb Watcher
November 21st, 2009
12:45 pm
You people criticizing the coaches in Dekalb are missing a BIG picture. It takes a COMMUNITY to build championship programs, NOT just the coaches. Look at Tucker, they have the BEST community support in ALL of Dekalb County. The Booster club for the football program raises $100,000 a year! You know MLK, Stephenson, and SWD come NO where near those numbers… Also what makes you think coaches like Tomberlin, Nix, O’Brian would dream about coming to Dekalb? NO TOP Coach can work under the revenue sharing system that Dekalb County has. You cant build State of the Art Facilities, keep top coaching staffs, and build your program the way you want. Why do you think Flowe, Hunter, Mcferrin, Maloofs left years ago? Look at where they started once they got to Gwinnett, and look at what they were able to build, at Parkview, Brookwood, and South Gwinnett. You all complain about the job these coaches are doing, but they are not on a level playing field. Sure they have talent, but they don’t have the same kind of Money, Facilities, and Support that all these coaches you keep naming have. What can ANY coach do without the proper support???
Black is Back
November 21st, 2009
12:50 pm
Way to go Charlton County it was a great game, our offense was on fire!! Congrats Brooks you put up agood fight in the Swamp.
inthatrenches
November 21st, 2009
12:53 pm
Is the GHSA based in Gwinnett County? Sanity how many people think a coin flip is geared toward Gwinnett County is there double sided quarter with Gwinnett County teams on each side I do not know….conspiracy theories are not really my thing…. are these done in a public forum or phone? either way Newnan will have to take it on the road…
Fred
November 21st, 2009
12:59 pm
The interesting thing about this blog is *everyone* is prejudiced towards their team no matter how much they think they are independent thinkers including me. I could argue SanityRules’ points but they are his perception and I have mine. In any event, I think we can agree that the rules are what they are regarding playoff scheduling and everyone has to abide by them.
On to SanityRules’ question about the Grayson secondary. I have felt all year that this was our week spot. The middle of the field has been good against the run but not strong against the pass. If you go deep, we have been strong – beaten a few times but overall strong with pretty decent number of picks. I was impressed last night with how far we have come in pass defense. Yes, we got beat a few times but overall I think we did the best job we have all year. There were some definite size mismatches but our little guys hung tight with the giant Hornet receivers (good grief what do they feed those guys!
).
We struggled some but did the same the same thing we have done all year – whatever we needed to do to win. Style points count in the rankings but not in the standings. It should be a very strong and physical game.
See you in the dome!
Grayson Student
November 21st, 2009
1:11 pm
grayson secondary was very strong last night for the most part, best all year… i hope the rain holds off this week cuz that field was sloppy last night
JayBo
November 21st, 2009
1:13 pm
Hey Cannon, thanks for the congrats!!! You know I am estatic that TCC won, but I expected us to..its who we are and what we do…we go deep in the playoffs…period!!! And this wasn’t suppose 2 happen this season…we are really young with the majority of our starters returning next season…look out next year!!!! Anyway, Sandy Creek is heading south next friday and again, I expect us to win!!! Looks like we might see mighty Griffin next if we both win. LET’S GO JACKETS !
grayram
November 21st, 2009
1:13 pm
SAnityrules
Grayson is far better at stopping the run than the pass. If a QB just throws one up for grabs Grayson has a safety that can go and get it. The secondary seems to give a big cushion and give up easy short throws and slants. If they can keep from giving up the big pass play eventually the other teams try to run and end up in 3rd and long.
NHS
November 21st, 2009
1:14 pm
Congrats to Camden on their win against Lowndes. However,the Camden bashing will continue until they have some competition for the #1 seed in the region. It is an unfair advantage plain and simple. Last year Northside had a great team but lost 1 game in region 1 and had to travel to Camden in 2nd Round and lost in a close game. This year Lowndes had a great team but lost one game in region 1 and had to travel to Camden in 2nd round and lost in a close game. Camden would have most likely lost both games if they had not been the home team. Point is Lowndes, Northside, and other #1 seeds have to earn their home field advantage each year while Camden does not. Camden says its not their fault. True but still unfair.
grayram
November 21st, 2009
1:15 pm
What about Newnan, what do they run mostly?
SanityRules
November 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
Inthatrenches, I wasn’t surprised at that outcome but nevertheless those are the cards we were dealt. I know Grayson is an extremely physical team and maybe some of that stuff we were running last night might work(lol). Be we as Newnan supporters need to be in Loganville as a community to help bring home a victory. If you want to be number one, you got to beat number one and that would be Grayson.
Colquitt County Underdog
November 21st, 2009
1:19 pm
Colquitt vs Lassiter is gonna be a good one. our defense against their vaunted offense. we got a taste of Lassiter during the preseason game and held them to 14 points in 3 quarters…ran a kick back for a TD and blocked a punt in that game. special teams is what won the game for the Packers against Stephenson. maybe we can use the same formula to beat Lassiter again but our offense has to improve.
Lassiter is much better now than they were in the scrimmage, but the Packers are better too. i think our d-line can get pressure with just 4 and force Mason to make some throws that he does not wanna make. Lassiter is probably going to get their fair share of points but i guarantee you they will not drop anything close to 70 next week. GO PACK GO!!!
TheMan
November 21st, 2009
1:21 pm
DeKalbWatcher – Great Comments! The revenue sharing plan sucks. A down year for DeKalb football. In past years we’ve often sent teams to the elite 8 or final four. One year does not tell the story.
Dunwoody – I just read your comments from last night and you’re an idiot! Speak for your own mediocre school! It’s just football, for god’s sake. If you have an agenda against Crawford Lewis then just say it! How are you going to plan him for the football teams losing? DeKalb County has some of the best schools in the state and the nation. We also have poorly performing schools and I understand that as well. But don’t indict a whole system because of one night of football.
JaguarMan
November 21st, 2009
1:23 pm
When you have a mixure of players, you tend to win. Lets face it, DeKalb Co. schools are 98% African American. We have the speed and the ability. We often don’t have the resources or fundamentals. Tucker has a mixture and support. I know this is a harsh thing to say but its the truth. Do you support Stephenson?, or do you just go to the game and complain? Yes I question the coach play calling… but does the Stephenson Program have clinics,football camps, proper weight trainning facilities? My heart bleeds for the guys this year. Last nite reminded me of the first Camden Co lost. I will continue to support Stephenson. Next year I plan to do more. I hate we lost like that.:(
Topper
November 21st, 2009
1:25 pm
NHS -Whatever! We have to travel and play NG next week what is the excuse if we win that one?
SanityRules
November 21st, 2009
1:26 pm
Grayram, Newnan runs a spread offense, no huddle and qb in shotgun formation with a runningback beside him. All are first year starters so it’s been a work in progress. Defense runs a 3-5-3 formation with two great corners and an all-american safety #39.
NHS
November 21st, 2009
1:30 pm
No excuse since it was a fair coin toss. However, the team that earned their #1 seed won the toss as they should have. Good luck.
yo
November 21st, 2009
1:31 pm
Topper since you asked. Pretty simple….at the end of the game Camden had more points than Lowndes and that is all that matters.
I hate 10-7 scores….;-)
Some insights into the game.
Lowndes #29 had only 4 rushes last night…..why?
He seemed to be the one Camden couldn’t stop.
Possibly Camden was keying on #2 and #33?
I don’t know but the 4 times #29 was given the ball
he went for very good gains. I believe he also caught the
TD pass. Big question marks on that one for me?
Every time Lowndes would get down into Camden territory
they would get called for holding or some other penalty.
Unlike some of my Lowndes faithful I don’t blame the
referrees for this. Penalties are generally caused by
2 things. Stupidity or your man is beating you and so
you hold to over come that fact.
Turnovers were equal, however Lowndes picked the wrong
side of the field to give theirs.
Camdens final drive (helped by our 4th down off sides call)
was a thing of beauty and the game sealer.
Until that drive Lowndes had considerably more offensive yardage
and that drive almost equaled things out.
Camdens kicking game was better than ours.
As I stated in a earlier post I sensed trouble in pre game from that left footed punter coming our way. Not just because he was left footed but because he also got them in the air pretty high.
A left footed punters ball comes down with the point of the ball in the
opposite direction of what they have been fielding all year.
Plus the ball will have a tendency to float in the opposite direction
than accustomed to.
I hate to say I saw that coming, but I did, and it happened on our 17 yard line, Camden touchdown.
Camden’s bend but don’t break defense, kicking game, and taking advantage of their opportunities when given to them were the game winners.
Football is an amazing game.
2007 state champ Lowndes team wasn’t nearly as talented as the 2008 and 2009 teams. IMO
Yet the 2008-2009 versions go home early.
I think that may come down to 2 things.
Lowndes coaches need to look at how they take road trips and make some changes because what they are doing now isn’t working.
There is absolutely no reason why there should be such a drop off in
play on a road game as compared to a home game as much as Lowndes has demonstrated the past 2 years.
Also, I am a strong believer in leadership.
I’m not talking about coaching leadership, but leadership with in the ranks, the players.
I think that was lacking for the 2008 and 2009 Lowndes versions as compared to their previous state championship teams. Sometimes you just
need a player or two to take a team on their backs and refuse to lose.
Final thought….the most talked about team on this blog is Lowndes. Thanks for the honor guys but we lost.
We are history. So move on because you have another game
to play next week.
Oh yea….Lowndes by end of game was without both of our starting safeties (Hunter and Orta). Word on Hunter is he will be able to play
again next year. Hunter dominated the game against Peachtree Ridge and was a one man wrecking crew. Orta did the same against Valdosta.
I think the one that was missed the most last night however was Jordan Black. An offensive/defensive lineman who also is getting Div 1 offers.
We badly needed him in the trenches last night.
Injuries are a part of the game however, just seems Lowndes injuries
started mounting up the last game of the season against Warner and continued from there. Maybe a little luck is also what is needed to win a state championship.
So here is to the teams lucky enough to win home field advantage in a coin toss this week.
CAMDENCOAST
November 21st, 2009
1:32 pm
NHS, They Should let us play football in region 1 and the rest of the sports stay as is. But until then ya’ll need to leave it alone. If it is that big a deal every year to Northside and the rest, I have never heard one of you say that you want to join our region it is always we have to join yours. We can easily fix this by having the complaining ones come to region 3.
yo
November 21st, 2009
1:36 pm
Dekalb Watcher that is called democracy at its best (or maybe I should have said at its worst). It can’t make football teams greater (revenue sharing) nor will it ever make a country great. Think about it.
NHS
November 21st, 2009
1:43 pm
Unfortunately, there is no solution. But we retain our right to bash Camden for it, just for fun of course. Since you have such a good, school, team, and fans, there is nothing else to bash.
Topper
November 21st, 2009
1:46 pm
Thank you Yo i knew I would get a decent honest response out of you! I too was wondering why #29 didn’t get more carries he killed us everytime he touched the ball! And yes that last drive by Camden was a thing of beauty! I will say I was very impressed by your fans I spent quite a bit of time talking to several of them after the game.. Really good people!
Fred
November 21st, 2009
1:46 pm
Something else strikes me about these games. Unless you are there or watching on TV, you really can’t tell much about the games from the blogs or the news reports. As an example, I just read the AJC coverage of the Newnan game. From reading it, it would seem like it was a ho-hum kind of game when I am sure it was far from it! So much is made of Grayson’s running attack and yet the passing game came through last night with some BIG plays and there is no mention of it in the articles. Maybe this is why we all tend to get surprised or at least don’t have a realistic view of the games we don’t attend.
NHS
November 21st, 2009
1:55 pm
The intangables such as emotion, the calls, the fans, the intensity, the location, and the luck are not usually well described by the written word.
Black is Back
November 21st, 2009
1:56 pm
Pity poor monroe area
I have to disagree with you on your AA theory. First off if Lovett is gonna get it done they have to go through the Swamp to do it. Secondly I don’t think there is any way Buford is going to beat Fitzgerald in Fitzgerald. With that said that is why we play the game! Go Indians!!!! Gonna be another great game in the Swamp Friday night…
NHS
November 21st, 2009
1:58 pm
Whats are the keys to the game/prediction from anyone that has seen both Northside and Peachtree Ridge play this year?
Grey Lion
November 21st, 2009
2:02 pm
Excellent points Dekalb Watcher The Man and Jaguar Man –
I have also been watching DeKalb football for a long time and you guys hit a lot of nails on the head. The county setup definitely makes it hard. But at the same time, I don’t think a coach needs $100,000 in community support to:
- teach players to put team needs before self
- to know how to play full speed and not needlessly rough the punter or quarterback when the game is on the line
- to know that if I taunt or showboat after I score I am definitely going to draw the flag and hurt my team’s field position on the kickoff, because that’s what the rules say
- to know that if I taunt or showboat after I gain 4 yards or make a tackle I will probably draw a flag and that will hurt my team because that’s what the rules say
- to know that if i’m running down the field holding the ball out in one hand, I deserve to have it stripped by the defense and that will hurt my team
- to know that if I blatantly cheap shot, chop block, hold, etc. it’s going to kill this crucial drive for my offense
That’s just coaching 101 – in my opinion.
I have seen all of the above in various DeKalb playoff losses. You can generally get by with this stuff during the regular season within the region but mental mistakes like these kill our teams in the playoffs.
Topper
November 21st, 2009
2:02 pm
With Camden being at NG next week guess I will make a trip to Folkston and check out the Charlton County game!
cane fan
November 21st, 2009
2:25 pm
congrats to charlton, they played a very good game, brooks was no push over, I am glad lovett has to play in the swamp, they will never make it out alive, I believe charlton will handle calhoun, charlton has a very good coach……….. it would be so awesome for a fitzgerald Vs charlton state championship
South Side
November 21st, 2009
2:33 pm
I wanted to chum in on the responses from the bloggers criticizing Dekalb county football for one reason or another. IMO all of this talk and complaining is a waste of time. These are just excuses. I’ve heard “Fire the Coach”, “Bad Revenue Sharing”, “Undiscipline players”, “inadequate facilities”, blah blah blah. The fact of the matter is your teams just lost a football game. Dekalb county didn’t lose. It was those individual schools that lost. Remember one thing to all of those fans whose teams lost in the playoffs. THERE ARE SOME DAMN GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS/TEAMS SPREAD ACROSS THIS STATE OF GEORGIA. Their is no evidence that they all play/live in Dekalb county.
wildcat fan
November 21st, 2009
2:36 pm
NHS, Camden is Damed if they do or Damed if we dont, if we win its because of home field advantage, if we lose its because of our competition, or we are just overrated. One fact no one can deny is we are 11 and 3 against your region with loses coming from Lowndes 2 and WHS 1 and in the last six we are 4 and 2 against Lowndes. In the Jeff Herron era. Your Coach said on his show last week it doesn’t matter where you play, kick it off in a corn field, the better team should win. Hoover, Newnan, Stephenson,Lowndes,Valdosta, just a few games we won on the road. In no way am i saying this to bash your region, all im saying by the looks of its we have done dam good against the SEC of highschool football, can we get a little respect now. In all honesty you may not want us to join the region quit yet with this young team playing this well,and most of them would be back for 2 to 3 more years, the future of Camden Football looks great. Im off for the Thanksgiving Holiday so i will be making the trip up for the game very early.
Dekalb Watcher
November 21st, 2009
2:42 pm
South Side who runs those schools? You can’t call them individual schools unless they are allowed to operate as such, until then they are Dekalb County Controlled! They don’t have there own stadiums, they have to share, and share all the money they make with all the teams in the county. Yes I know that Dekalb is not the only county with talent. Georgia is loaded with talent from top to bottom my friend. But the fact still remains that Dekalb County system is NOT set up to promote championship programs.
SWD Player
November 21st, 2009
2:43 pm
Okay anybody who has anything to say about us knows nothing you dont understand how hard we work week in and week out Carvell put us in a bad spot (media wise) by riding our bandwagon. Stuff happens but dont hate on us because it can easily be your team next week. Im talking to schools like Griffin, and all of these other people who hate but wouldn’t have the balls to run your trap in Coach Buck’s face. We are still 6-AAAA Region champs and you can’t take that away. As for Clarke Central they were descent we just didnt execute efficiently which is why we are eliminated.. But for god’s sake dont be a coward and type up garbage about Dekalb, especially if you called yourself a fan of our school. Fans stick with you through good and bad, but most of the black people in dekalb county are fair-weather fans. Especially for SWD stop hating on Coach Buck he has 2 so he did something right at some point.
Dekalb Watcher
November 21st, 2009
2:45 pm
You are right Grey Lion, it’s up to the coaches to have those things straightened out. Also the money that Tucker raises is for the whole program, not just the coaches. No coach in Dekalb makes that kind of money.
Dekalb Watcher
November 21st, 2009
2:49 pm
SWD Player you are right, you already know how it goes. That happens with sports in general regarding fair weather fans. I know I’m proud of Buck and staff, and the players. You all put out a complete team this year, you had all that a team is supposed to have, and most importantly you did it as a team. I’m proud of you Panthers!
studentofthegame
November 21st, 2009
2:51 pm
SWD PLAYER I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION BUT WE(GRFFIN) BEAT YOU LAST YEAR SO THATS THAT. ALSO TRASH TALKING IS APART OF THE GAME. BUT HEY THATS A WAY TO STICK UP FOR YOUR COACH I DO ADMIRE THAT ABOUT YOU. NEXT YEAR JUST KEEP WORKING THATS AFTER GRIFFIN WINS THE STATE
SWD Player
November 21st, 2009
2:54 pm
Southside thats the truth its about football not about the coaches salaries and revenue sharing. URBAN BLACK PEOPLE are somewhat close minded to the fact that those are not white boys in other towns that beat us. Those are good ol cornbread fed black country boys who we lose to AND FAIR WEATHERED spectating fans harshly criticize their own these are good black men using football as an influence on our young men’s lives and as soon as we lose a game now they are horrible in your minds. They produce athletes which produces college scholarships which is all that matters. For that reason alone they are a success.
eagleforlife
November 21st, 2009
2:54 pm
So, according to the babble of a lot of u on this blog, NSWR is not as good this year as they were last year and Lowndes is much better… So, tell me why NSWR is further this year and Lowndes is out sooner, and NSWR beat Lowndes this year and didn’t last year.. I’m just saying…
NHS
November 21st, 2009
3:13 pm
I dont think Lowndes is as good this year as last because of Reid. My opinion is Northside is not as good because we are making too many penalties and turnovers due to a young inexperienced team.
Bear_Essentials
November 21st, 2009
3:35 pm
Exactly as I stated earlier….it was only a matter of time till the IDIOT losers from Dekalb break out the race card… If you think just playing football will make you get through life, you are as STUPID as they come…See how much CORNBREAD you can Cook, cause it will be the only skill you end up with. the Griffin folks did not HATE on you. there were a lot of them on here wishing you all well and applauding the talent on you team…I know because I take the time to READ..maybe a skill set you are not used to. If there are any FAIR WEATHER folks it is YOU for coming on here and spewing GARBAGE like you do….get a life losers.
Gryphon
November 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
Will Griffin ever win a coin flip that decides home field? In recent memory they seem to always lose the coin flips. I was expecting to travel to The Chee the moment they won, but it would have been nice to have been wrong once.
loyalbearfan
November 21st, 2009
3:46 pm
SWD Player, As a Griffin fan I can truly tell you that we admire the talent that SWD had this year. Truthfully we were probably just thankful that we did not have to face you. I think some of the animosity on here is for a couple of your fans, but not the players or coaches. As a booster club member and a parent I know how hard you guys play and how much dedication you put in to this sport. So keep your head up, you guys had an awesome season. Do not let any of the crap on this vent diminish that for you. Good luck next year!!
South Side
November 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
Thanks for your honest opinion SWD Player. And I agree with you loyalbearfan. But what’s with your friend B’essential? I am not a fan of Dekalb county, but I am a fan of GA HS Football. Football DOES builds character/leadership in ALL YOUNG MEN OF ALL RACES. If a person wants to express their race, its not pulling the race card.