The Georgia High School Football Daily’s Weekend Predictions: Who’s winning and losing in Playoffs Second Round
By CHIP SAYE
For the AJC
The road was particularly harsh for the lower-seeded teams in the first round of the playoffs last weekend. Fourth-seeded teams won only three of 40 games, down from eight in 2008 and the average of six over the previous five seasons. No. 3 seeds fared slightly better, winning 10 of 40, giving home teams a 67-13 record for the week.
Now we look to Round 2, where the competition gets tougher, and the picks get more difficult. Here are some of the stories worth watching in tonight’s games:
Region 1-AA is 4-0: Fitzgerald, Thomasville, Brooks County and Cook swept their Region 4-AA opponents last week, making 1-AA the only region in the state to go 4-0 in the first round. Things aren’t likely to go as well tonight. Fitzgerald should take care of Swainsboro to advance to the quarterfinals, but Thomasville (vs. Jefferson County), Brooks County (vs. Charlton County) and Cook (vs. Appling County) all have their work cut out for them. I expect all three to lose, but Thomasville and Brooks County could make things interesting.
Intriguing matchup for Round 3: Victories by Lassiter and Colquitt County would set up a third-round Class AAAAA game between Lassiter coach Chip Lindsey and his former boss, Colquitt County’s Rush Propst. Before coming to Lassiter, Lindsey was the offensive coordinator at Alabama’s Hoover High School, where Propst was the head coach. Lassiter should survive South Gwinnett in a game that could be reminiscent of their last playoff meeting in 1999, when David Greene led South Gwinnett to a 45-42 victory in the first round. But I don’t expect Colquitt to get past Stephenson, which is aiming for its sixth appearance in the quarterfinals this decade.
Toughest pick of the week: I’ve gone back and forth all week on the Commerce-Darlington game. Both teams enter the game 7-4. Both teams have won six of their past seven after 1-3 starts. Both have gone 3-4 against playoff teams, including lopsided losses to Wesleyan. Darlington has struggled a bit in its past couple of games after wrapping up the Region 6-A championship, losing to Trion in the regular-season finale and then beating Warren County 16-14 in the first round. So I’ll go with No. 2-seed Commerce, which is the hotter team at the moment.
Easiest pick of the week: Most times, the closest thing to a lock you can find is Buford. Not this week. The Wolves are playing an 11-0 Jefferson team coached by T. McFerrin, who has a lot of experience beating teams from Gwinnett County from his days as the South Gwinnett coach. I do think Buford will win, but there are safer picks out there. The one I keep coming back to is Dunwoody at Gainesville. Dunwoody acquitted itself well in the Region 5-AAA championship game against St. Pius and had a surprisingly easy victory against Elbert County in the first round. But I don’t see how the Wildcats can slow Gainesville, which has the state’s second-highest scoring average (46.8 points) as well as the top defense (6.3 points) in Class AAA.
No. 4 seeds: Can the three No. 4 seeds that won last weekend make it two upsets in a row? Yes, no and maybe. Yes for Flowery Branch, the runner-up in Class AAA last year. The Falcons are better than your typical No. 4 seed, and they should move into the quarterfinals by beating Grady. The no is Cook, whose road should end tonight at Appling County. That leaves Brookwood as the maybe. The Broncos upset McEachern in the first round, which I didn’t think would happen, and now travel to Peachtree Ridge, the Class AAAAA runner-up in 2008. I’m picking Peachtree Ridge, but I won’t be shocked if Brookwood wins again.
No. 3 seeds: Ten No. 3 seeds escaped the first round, but I see only two making it to the quarterfinals — Liberty County and Westminster. But don’t count out Rockdale County against Hiram (another difficult pick) or defending Class AAAA champion Tucker, which plays at Sandy Creek.
And don’t forget: I can’t fail to mention the biggest battle of heavyweights on tonight’s schedule, Lowndes at Camden County. Last year, Camden County used its second-round victory against the No. 2 seed from Region 1-AAAAA (Northside-Warner Robins) as its springboard to the state championship. The Wildcats are facing the same situation this year, but this time it’s Lowndes advancing to the quarterfinals, and perhaps a lot further.
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Playoff predictions
Last week: 71-9 (.888); Season: 1,569-385 (.803)
Winner–Loser
Class AAAAA
Grayson–Roswell
Lassiter–South Gwinnett
Lowndes–Camden Co.
Newnan–M.L. King
North Gwinnett–Woodstock
Northside-W.R.–Union Grove
Peachtree Ridge–Brookwood
Stephenson–Colquitt Co.
Class AAAA
Brunswick–North Clayton
Griffin–Ware Co.
Hiram–Rockdale Co.
Marist–Apalachee
Sandy Creek–Tucker
SW DeKalb–Clarke Central
Thomas Co. Cent.–Richmond Acad.
Westside-Macon–Lakeside-Evans
Class AAA
Baldwin–Cairo
Carrollton–Eastside
Carver-Col.–Woodward Acad.
Flowery Branch–Grady
Gainesville–Dunwoody
Liberty Co.–Jackson
Peach Co.–Washington Co.
St. Pius–North Hall
Class AA
Appling Co.–Cook
Buford–Jefferson
Calhoun–North Oconee
Charlton Co.–Brooks Co.
Fitzgerald–Swainsboro
Jefferson Co.–Thomasville
Lovett–East Jackson
Westminster—Callaway
Class A
Commerce–Darlington
ECI–Clinch Co.
Greenville–Wilcox Co.
Holy Innocents’–Bremen
Lincoln Co.–ELCA
Sav. Christian–Miller Co.
Twiggs Co.–Chattahoochee Co.
Wesleyan–Bowdon
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203 comments Add your comment
68 Viking
November 19th, 2009
9:06 pm
this should be an exciting game. The fans, players & coaches all know tha they must play thair A game, I feel sorry for football fans that cant be there to night. This will be a barn burner, Go vikes Lowndes by 5 pts.
slowEd
November 19th, 2009
9:07 pm
vikingdad……please tell what did valdosta do to coach obrien
slowEd
November 19th, 2009
9:08 pm
wonder do viking dad know that lowndes fired coach Tomberlin
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
9:11 pm
i hope mcpherson has got the vikings ready for some suprise pass plays
camdenblue
November 19th, 2009
9:25 pm
camden has not lost to lowndes at home
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
9:27 pm
camden has also not played a mcpherson coached team at home
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
9:29 pm
lowndes should win this game. close gamr but lowndes should win
Karo259
November 19th, 2009
9:30 pm
I Love hearing ALL the Love for my Jackson Red Devils!! I just have to say that I think this is the year that Jackson proves everyone wrong. Our defense is awesome, watch out for the crushing”Ball”, and most of all my boy Charlie Aly, he has had more sacks than I can shake a stick at. I predict the score to be 17-7 Jackson winning. I saw nothing spectacular out of Lagrange or Liberty last weekend,I think its a year for THE RED DEVIL!!!! Go Devils Win!
inthatrenches
November 19th, 2009
9:33 pm
the winner of this game will win the state title. you can mark that down.bksmitty don’t mark that down….. they (either team) will play hard and may make a run but they are not quite the teams they were Lowndes 07&08 and Camden 08 each team has been beaten (by very good teams)…. but it is not a foregone conclusion that these teams get past round three or the Semi’s so don’t make room for that trophy just yet..
blackandgold
November 19th, 2009
9:44 pm
I think lowndes have a problem defending the pass and will have too much pressure on them trying to rebound from the whipping camdem gave them last year and under pressure the viking get violent
JagFaithful
November 19th, 2009
9:45 pm
LOOKS LIKE STEPHENSON HAS SUM MORE HATERS 2 PROVE WRONG
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
10:00 pm
inthatrenches, this lowndes team is better than last years last team. yes they got beat by northside in a game in which they played like crap and missed 4 field goals and only lost by 3 to northside at northside. i go to every game. i think i know what kinda team they are compared to 07, 08. they are just as good if not better. the 07 team lost to harrison the forst game of the year and then won the rest of the way. lowndes is more of a team this year. they dont have to rely just on one player. grayson shut reid down last year and lowndes had no where to turn
ImaTitleTownBaby
November 19th, 2009
10:01 pm
bkackandgold:
Camden didn’t beat Lowndes last year…and they won’t beat them this year.
Pius
November 19th, 2009
10:06 pm
PIUS OVER NORTH HALL….
Tony_T
November 19th, 2009
10:17 pm
Let me tell ya’ll something. Stephenson will be their. However, i agree that the coaching staff must do better and adjust to whats coming. As for those Griffen fans. Don’t worry about setting your sites on SWD they won’t get past Clarke Central or anyone else. I’m not a hatter on Buck Godffrey, but I know he can’t coach when the game is tough and tight.
Class A Fan
November 19th, 2009
10:17 pm
Class A Predictions
ECI Over Clinch Co.
Bremen Over Holy Innocents
Greenville Over Wilcox Co.
Bowdon Over Wesleyan
Lincoln Co. Over ECLA
Savannah Chr. Over Miller Co.
Commerce Over Darlington
Twiggs Co. Over Chattooga Co.
Final 4
ECI V.S. Greenville
Lincoln Co. V.S. Twiggs Co.
spwhite
November 19th, 2009
10:29 pm
I hope all the other bloggers notice the deep respect that Camden and Lowndes have for each other. No trashing of each others schools, players, or coaches. Pulling for each other if the other doesnt make it. This is what high school sports is supposed to be about, great times and great commarodity.
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
10:33 pm
i agree spwhite. camden and lowndes are great teams and programs. i hope lowndes wins and i feel they should. if we dont play a good game on both sides and play like we did at northside(although wes should have won if the kicker wd have made just 2 kicks) then we will get beat. lowndes shows up and plays viking football we move on.
dirty
November 19th, 2009
10:34 pm
carver columbus will win it all. best rb in the state I.Crowell only a jr.
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
10:39 pm
carver is what, 3 a?
robert
November 19th, 2009
10:43 pm
camden beat Lowndes in 2003 21-14 i think that was the score and went on to win the state championship beating Valdosta 21-7 in Valdosta. Who was the Lowndes coach in 2003. Your band also did not come due to playing in the Macy’s thanksgiving parade. It will be loud in kingsland friday evertime the Vikings have the ball. Hope the Cats have some plays up their sleeve they will will need them.
yo
November 19th, 2009
10:50 pm
Actually if you think back to the last time Lowndes met Camden in the Dome, Lowndes totally dominated Camden. What kept the game 10-0 was Lowndes turnovers. Herron’s son was the qback and they weren’t conservative. Lowndes just was all over him.
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
10:51 pm
it kinda sucks that lowndes and camden have to play each other this early
yo
November 19th, 2009
10:52 pm
2003 was Mcpherson’s 2nd year as Lowndes coach and Camden beat Lowndes that year at Camden twice. Both times by 7 points.
yo
November 19th, 2009
10:56 pm
inthatrenches actually this is the most talented team Lowndes has ever had. That includes the 2004 and 2005 teams.
dirty
November 19th, 2009
11:10 pm
yeah Bk
bksmitty14
November 19th, 2009
11:11 pm
some people say that lowndes defense is weaker. well the first team defense is as good anyone in the state. when lowndes gets up 50 points by halftine or 3rd quarter they put the 2nd string in. i think the first string is giving up les than a touchdwon a game. northside loss was a fluke. yea we lost but when you miss 4 field goals what do you expect. 2 were chip shots
hard hitta
November 20th, 2009
4:47 am
watch out for rockdale hiram is good but i think rockdale is better
dunwoody
November 20th, 2009
6:28 am
The Wildcats probably won’t win. I will give you that.
What you failed to mention (oh yeah, you didn’t cover the game) was that the victory last week was led by a FRESHMAN quarterback. (The other quarterback is a sophomore.) The Wildcats are a very young team which returned almost no starters. Not the same team (at all) as last year, but a pretty scrappy group of boys who when they play well, play well.
I hope Gainesville is as confident as you….I hope they are looking ahead.
68 Viking
November 20th, 2009
6:38 am
To Camdenblue, Theres always a first time. Good luck to u guys, I hope all the young men have a injury free game go vikes.
JAGGERSWAGGER
November 20th, 2009
6:41 am
JAGS REMEMBER THE JOURNEY.TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME. NEXT STEP COLQUITT COUNTY.NO STUPID PENALTIES,HOLD ON TO THE BALL EACH MAN DO HIS JOB AND REMEMBER WHAT GOT YOU THIS FAR TEAM WORK.GOOD LUCK!!!
WoodstockFan
November 20th, 2009
6:48 am
Woodstock Wolverines!! So many are counting us out this week, but our school is very hungry and determined! We are going in with the strongest record in school history. We were not expected to go as far as we did last year, but we finished with respect AND we will do that again this year – Win or Lose – WE ARE WOODSTOCK and we are prepared for the battle!! Do us proud Wolverines and know we are behind you 100%!!!
AllDawgs3
November 20th, 2009
7:38 am
Roswell shocks the world…Beats Grayson 10-7 !!!
Wolverine Fan
November 20th, 2009
8:04 am
Enter your comments here
SOUTH MOM
November 20th, 2009
8:13 am
This week’s upset is going down in Marietta tonight!!
GO SOUTH!!
The Cannon Rules!!
November 20th, 2009
8:28 am
hard hitta
Hope Rockdale brings a few more fans than Chamblee did last week. The visitors section was barely 1/2 full???? What’s up with that???…These are PLAYOFF GAMES!!!!
Rockdale’s 7 game winning streak ENDS TONIGHT at the…..
HORNET’S NEST!!! GO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNES!!!!
Playoff football moves to ROUND 3 in Paulding County!!!
SWD Mom
November 20th, 2009
8:37 am
SWD will be rolling over Clarke Central tonight. This game is personal, nothing at all to do with Clarke, but events that have taken place this week. Our boys want this game more than any others, including state.We’re prepared to advance tonight.Panthers all the way!
studentofthegame….. We’re ready for Griffin also.
fenders
November 20th, 2009
8:40 am
Go richmond. boycott TC.
Old high school Bulldog to a lifetime GT Yellow Jacket
November 20th, 2009
8:43 am
Well, well well!! I guess there’s something to talk about since my alma mater, GEORGIA TECH, is on a bye week preparing for a good ol’ fashion beat down of UGA.
Now as a graduated of Chamblee High school in 1998, and a lifetime representer of Dekalb County High School football, I was very surprised to see them make the playoffs to lose to HIRAM in the first round. It’s all good, but I know my other Dekalb County schools going to take care of business. Some of the predictions I agree to, but others I don’t. Here are my predictions:
Winner–Loser
Class AAAAA
Grayson – Roswell
Lassiter – South Gwinnett
Lowndes – Camden Co.
M.L. King – Newnan: who’s going to contain Mack Brown? NO ONE!! DEKALB COUNTY’S FINEST. GO LIONS!!
North Gwinnett – Woodstock
Northside-W.R.– Union Grove
Peachtree Ridge – Brookwood: This is not the old Brookwood that use to beat Parkview.
Stephenson – Colquitt Co. DEKALB COUNTY AT IT’S BEST. GO JAGS!!
Class AAAA
Brunswick – North Clayton:
Griffin – Ware Co.
Hiram – Rockdale Co.: should have been Chamblee!!
Marist – Apalachee: DEKALB COUNTY DOES IT BETTER!! GO WAR EAGLES!!
Tucker – Sandy Creek: DEKALB COUNTY’S BEAST OF THE EAST! GO TIGERS!!
SW DeKalb – Clarke Central: SWD ROCKS THE HOUSE, FOOTBALL AND BAND WISE!
Thomas Co. Cent.– Richmond Acad.
Westside-Macon – Lakeside-Evans
Class AAA
Grady – Flowery Branch
Dunwoody – Gainesville
Jackson – Liberty County: for a new school, NOT MAYNARD JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL AKA SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN ATLANTA, Jackson High has impressed me based on stats, so I think they’ll keep it up and win!
St. Pius – North Hall
black and gold
November 20th, 2009
9:35 am
hey Old high school Bulldog to a lifetime GT Yellow Jacket
u 4got abot the best game in AAA
Washington county(10-1) vs. peach county(11-0)
it gonna be a good game even if my boys(WACO) do lose
if u lose waco i still will be a big fan
Black is Back
November 20th, 2009
9:44 am
Gonna be a full house in the swamp tonight. Let’s go Charlton.
black and gold
November 20th, 2009
10:06 am
Washington County(waco) has beaten som good teams this year so we can have a chance against lagrange
Aug 28 Fri Cross Creek (3-AAAA) Won 47-15 (easy win)
Sep 04 Fri Greene County (4-AA) Won 13-0 (easy win)
Sep 11 Fri Morgan County (8-AAA) Won 55-7 (easy win)
Sep 18 Fri Troup (2-AAA) Won 48-6 (goot team but look at the score)
Sep 25 Fri Liberty County (3-AAA)* Won 17-14 (beat liberty who beat lagrange)
Oct 09 Fri Thomson (3-AAA)* Won 19-7 (easy win)
Oct 16 Fri 7:30 PM West Laurens (3-AAA)* Won 36-12 (easy win)
Oct 23 Fri Burke County (3-AAA)* Won 44-31 but them and they only lost by 1 touch down 2 a #1 carver columbus
Oct 30 Fri Baldwin (3-AAA)* Lost 7-27 (yea we lost)(still no shame in our game)
Nov 06 Fri Richmond Hill (3-AAA)* Won 55-13(easy win)
Nov 13 Fri Troup (2-AAA) Won 28-21(beat them 2 times in 1 yr)
Nov 20 Fri Peach County (1-AAA) Away-2nd Round (now the best oppent of the year….if liberty can beat lagrange then waco can beat peach)
go waco go waco gooooooooooooooooooooooooo
SportsFan31313
November 20th, 2009
10:13 am
Greetings Topper,
As I said so many times before, This game between Camden County and Lowndes, this will be a fight to the finish. I said Lowndes in my earlier comment, but I really don’t know as I have much respect and admiration for both teams. What I do know that this will be a close and low scoring game between the two. This game s the unofficial State Title game with the winner going to the Dome and will be the Class AAAAA State Champions. Good Luck Tonight. I would come but I will be at Red Devil Hill Stadium tonight located in Jackson Georgia.
SportsFan31313
November 20th, 2009
10:18 am
Greeting Black & Gold,
I wish you all well tonight. Remember you come from Region 3-AAA (the toughest region in the State in Class AAA) Peach County is a great team, and i will let you on to a little secret. A High School in Liberty County have beaten them (Peach County) twice, and they have never beaten that School. So they can be beaten. But I would also say that this same school have beaten Washington County too, and Washington County have never beaten that School. Same for Baldwin County. I believe that you all can win if you play hard. Good Luck.
THS
November 20th, 2009
10:23 am
Good luck to the Thomasville Bulldogs on their trek north to Jefferson County today. Keep the faith and play like brothers!
PROSKILLpat
November 20th, 2009
10:24 am
Does anyone know if the quarterback for Union grove is healthy now? Will he play against Northside Warner robins? Need answer fast…………lol
Advisor
November 20th, 2009
10:28 am
guru why are you hatin’? The man’s coach of the YEAR! His team is 11-0 with no signs of faltering.He listened to ya’ll haters against Bradwell and studdered for a minute …MADE ADJUSTMENTS and rolled right over them.He has one of the best(unpaid)coaching staffs in the State.I will be here tomorrow to see what your excuse will be when we win.If you are at the game tonite … make yourself known … see you on the fifty!
BIG Mike ,Malcolm,Miles,Dorale,Brandon,Polk, SHO’EM WHY YOU’RE THE BEST!!!!!!!!start FAST … stay FAST … finish STRONG (got it right this time)gooooJAGUARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denise Hartley-Joseph
November 20th, 2009
10:41 am
Go Stephenson Jaguars!!! Excellent team this year. It is called “TEAMWORK”, (coaches, players, and assistants). Do your thing #15 – Denzel.
black and gold
November 20th, 2009
11:06 am
thanks sportsfan31313….r u from libery county
grayson_ram
November 20th, 2009
11:42 am
yall just dont get it. Every year yall underestimate Grayson and every year we prove something to yall. Grayson will get to the finals no matter what yall say. No one thought we was going to make it to play-offs last year but guess what??? WE DID!! We got it this season so don’t hate on us. Camden yall good and what not we know that but that don;t mean yall going to win. so when all yall can get on our level and do what we do talk bout us. some yall got in by luck. but i do respect other teams.
GRAYSON WILL BEAT ROSWELL TONITE NO MATTER WHAT YALL SAY!!!!