Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football semifinals playoff scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE
Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell
It’s the semifinals 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.
HOT TOPIC: The GHSA has released the 2010-11 region realignments but the bigger news may be a possible return to the old two-year reclassification cycle from the current four-year cycle. Post your thoughts on the two-year cycle vs. four-year cycle (and region changes) RIGHT HERE.
GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
Here are the semifinals playoff games you can find stories and photos from later tonight on ajc.com…
Northside-Warner Robins vs. Newnan
Griffin vs. Sandy Creek
Flowery Branch vs. Gainesville
Don’t forget to check out these semifinals gamers…
Lovett vs. Calhoun
Rockdale Co. vs. Clarke Central
Don’t forget to check out our roundups from around the state. Here’s what you’ll find…
Colquitt Co. vs. Camden Co.
Eastside vs. Peach Co.
Buford vs. Fitzgerald
Wilcox Co. vs. Clinch Co.
Savannah Christian vs. Darlington
GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A
Semifinals topic: Would a return to the two-year reclassification cycle help or hinder the playoffs in the coming years?
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1,185 comments Add your comment
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
3:43 am
Fred, I am sorry buddy. I was at both games. Peachtree Ridge totally dominated us. I honestly believe that when Northside made that long completion (in TOTAL desperation), PRidge was a little shocked. Bill Ballard is a very good coach and he literally outplayed us with the exception of one play. That play tied the game and that was it.
I believe most coaches would have done what Newnan did tonight. I do not agree with it. Newnan had us (Northside) on our heels. It was 4th and 1 with about 2 minutes left in the half. Newnan led 14-13. If they made it, they could have continued the drive. If they did not make it, Northside gets the ball at midfield. They did not make it. All of the momentum was with Newnan, plus they had the home crowd. The risk was far too great.
Newnan lost two yards. Northside drives down the field to take the lead 20-14. Then, Northside gets the ball to start the 2nd half, evem more reason to punt the ball. Northside would not have driven the field. We had just gotten the ball at the 8 and the Newnan defense forced us into the 3 and out.
Remember you are talking about the #1 defense in the state. Newnan forced too mcuh upon their offense. Instead of playing ball control football. Peachtree Ridge was really unlucky. The game is not on GPB. However, I can tell you as an Eagle loyalist, PRidge controlled the entire game until the 4 minute mark in the 4th quarter. Northside could not do anything against the Lions.
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
3:45 am
CougFan88: You obviously had it out for me the moment that our Eagles beat up on your Cougars. I am not going to beat around the bush. You calling ENR during the game was classless and anyone can scroll back to see that you certainly wanted to get something off of your chest.
Go and enjoy the girls’ basketball. I will continue to watch high school football. You can twist it in any manner that you wish. I was at Drake Stadium. Most of the best players for Newnan play both ways. They looked tired. They look beat. They got dominated. It is that simple. Let’s make it more simple, it is girls’ basketball season in Newnan.
You say that Northside’s team did not impress you. I believe you. You are entitled to remained unimpressed. It is a subjective state of mind. However, I know, just as the posters on this site know, that most Newnan people spent the week chiming about that defense…the best in the state (that only played one school south of the Gnat line prior to Northside…that school fired their coach). If you have a defense that is the best and a team practically hangs 30 points on that defense and you remain unimpressed, you are probably a person that will NEVER be impressed.
Conrad Nix road the hot hand (Brair Van Brunt). Meanwhile, Newnan made very few or no adjustments and we literally took the football and ran it down your throats. Any of about 3 or 4 Northside offensive players could have gotten 200 yards. Do you want the truth? Newnan played the worse on defense of any “big-game opponent” that I have seen Northside play in years. You are correct. It is inaccurate for me to include all opponents. I was honestly speaking about teams that I thought might actually beat us. I was talking about Lowndes County, Warner Robins, Camden County, Peachtree Ridge, Parkview, Tucker, Ware County, Statesboro, etc.
Northside has played in the semifinal game of the state playoffs 6 times in the past 10 or so years, going 5-1 in those games. Tonight Northside easily scored 29 points against Newnan. It was the easiest game in the semifinals that Northside has played. EVER. That is completely accurate CougFan88. With the exception of the Lowndes County game where Northside jumped out to a huge lead we have NEVER been so DOMINANT from a statistical standpoint (yards, completion percentage, etc.). You can call me a bad person. It is the truth. Tonight was the 2nd most points by a Northside team in the semifinals in school history. I was impressed.
1999: Lowndes County 31, Northside 28
2001: Northside 17, Collins Hill 7
2005: Northside 28, Baldwin 7
2006: Northside 20, St. Pius X 17
2007: Northside 31, Tucker 28
2009: Northsie 29, Newnan 24
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
3:46 am
…sorry, Conrad Nix rode the hot hand…
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:48 am
enr wat up do u think my cats have a chance
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:49 am
i saay cats 24-21
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:53 am
can i get an amen
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
3:54 am
Fred: I believe it is a feel that coaches develop with their own team. That may mean kicking it away and playing field position football. I believe that you play field position football, especially in big games. People may call that playing not to lose. I see it as running the clock and playing field position.
I put the responsiblity of not giving up a “big play” on the players. You mentioned Bill Ballard from Peachtree Ridge. He did not give up the “big play” against Northside. His players did because they unnecessarily bit on a run fake in the secondary. The Lions defensive line and linebackers were so dominant last Friday night, no one needed to bite on a fake.
Newnan went for the knockout in the 2nd quarter of a 4 quarter game and it cost them. Northside did the same thing in the State Championship game in 2005 against Statesboro, failing to convert in a game. We gave Statesboro the football on their side of the field. They only got a field goal out of it. Those 3 points came back to haunt us as we lost 13-10. I believe that you play it safe, unless you have to. I am sure that most people disagree.
I just don’t know how gambling and doing things different than you have done all season somehow means that you are playing to win.
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:55 am
is any1 there?
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:57 am
enr what is camde sucess this year 1-100
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
3:58 am
I was not going to pick against Camden County or Newnan at home this week. I am not going to pick against Camden County on any week. I saw Camden County play Grayson in the Georgia Dome. I was not blown away and I would have bet money that the Wildcats would not be back in the State Championship. What was I thinking. The Wildcats are one of the finest high school football programs in America.
I always think that Northside can win. I just believe in our Eagles. However, I will NEVER pick against Camden County. I look forward to the State Championship game and the inevitable atmosphere in the Georgia Dome with these two programs playing one another. I like our defense against a wing T, as opposed to a team that passes most of the time. I like our chances.
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
3:58 am
??????/…..
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
4:00 am
Good night Collins. Good luck and have safe travels up here to Atlanta. I will join about 12,000 Northside Eagle fans greeting you and the Wildcats.
EagleNationRising
December 5th, 2009
4:00 am
It is great to be a Northside Eagle!
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
4:02 am
i will joi about 20-30 thousand camden fan to greet u lol im not joking either ttyl
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
4:04 am
its a great day to be a wildcat:)
Collins #31 Camden Wildcats
December 5th, 2009
4:07 am
bye
Jordan
December 5th, 2009
4:42 am
You must have misunderstood me, I’m not saying anything about sport to sport talk, or athletics in Savannah (which do favor bball over football in region matchups i.e schools w AAA enrollment playing AAAAA classification) I was speaking directly to the individuals who come on here and speak as if they are responsible for their teams success, its one thing to root for your favorite school, but to act as if you as a fan have any impact on how the kids play is assanine, yeah having a good crowd does help your motivation but if you as a player are relying on the fans to carry you through the game then you’ve missed the point. If it becomes more about winning than giving it you all then again the point is missed. Lets not forget that this is HS football and less than 10% will go on to play college football, not to mention less than 10% of them will move on to the pros. Lets help to bring the sport back to the basic fundamentals and fun it was created for. not a bunch of HAS BEENS (myself included) who sit here and argue whose hometown teams owns another’s when they had no accountability for the win. Again I’m all for cheering them on, but when personal insults and the I’m better than you attitude b/c the team I root for beat yours comes into play you are taking away from the kids who actually matter in the game.
So congratulate the winners, commend the losers for making it 14 games into a season, look forward to the finals and move on, next season the kids will still be in the same age range and we’ll all be a year older and just one more year removed from the glory days were all living in
SGT CHRIS
December 5th, 2009
6:02 am
NHS (Northside High School)–There is a Northside Columbus already, the patriots.
As I watched that game, it looked very similar to last years semifinal game Newnan lost. But Northside got the job done point blank, plain and simple, BUT they are going to have to find a “little bit more” offense than just running their QB if they are going to beat Camden. Glad thats a Saturday game though so I can make it up.
cane fan–all good things must come to an end right? even hurricanes dissipate over time *grins*
cant believe flowery branch choked last night
but congrats to all who won, those that lost congrats on a great season!!! ONE MORE WEEK LEFT!!!
Bleed Blue
December 5th, 2009
7:22 am
EagleNationRising shut the hell up!! Football aside
SWD Player
December 5th, 2009
7:30 am
Griffin is hibernating those Patrioits shot a cannonball up their rears
SWD Player
December 5th, 2009
7:39 am
So Newnan didnt make it I figured their defense was great but offense was highly suspect aside from Alec Ogeltree….Lindell Arnold is not a decision maker.Man Griffin got exposed for what they really are I cant say this was a bad night for their defense but their offense man they were horrible at times. How do you call successful plays and then always seem to call the lob pass to negate your success. If that was how a #1 ranked team plays I am ashamed. The thing about it was that Sandy Creek wasn’t even that good they had a couple of linebackers and that safety but other than that they were slow. Griffin’s wideouts were burning em its just Marcus Waller is not a decision maker or THE LEGENDARY DEVOURSNEY is not a genious. Told you your region was weak and so were your first 3 rouns of playoff opponents. So gon head and hang your equipment up and try next year Griffin, you disappointed South Georgia and even though you all made it further you could NOT EVER HAVE BEAT SW DEKALB PLAYING LIKE THAT. YOU WOULDN’T HAVE BEAT CLARKE CENTRAL AND YOU DIDN’T BEAT SANDY CREEK.
1977PCHSAlumni
December 5th, 2009
7:54 am
Go Peach County Trojans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
inthatrenches
December 5th, 2009
8:12 am
ENR & Northside eagle nation
Great win the Northside defense stood tall when they had to…….Coach Mcdonald allowed the momentum to shift…..The play of the game was the Northside 4 and 1 stop….
“I told Sanity; right there showed where a first year coach listens to the fans and makes a bad decision” and that was the the momentum shift,,,that killed the Cougars…instead of punting and pinning and going into halftime with a lead……..14-13 the Northside team “as quality teams do” drove down and scored the TD…. 20-14, 3rd quarter the Eagles drive the field… kicked the Field goal…23-14 I knew if Newnan did not drive down and score a TD that the Cougars would not steal the Momentum back…. Newnan is held by the Northside Defense again….23-17 Newnan would never get close the rest of the Game….
Tebow (I mean Van Brunt) was the weapon of choice for the Eagles……..Coach Nix seen a 3 down lineman Defense and took advantage……smart, smart coaching….. Newnan never turned that play to the inside and to the strength ofthe Newnan D…Newnan never adjusted from the half and that my friends was the 141 yards of a 281 yard night….and the dagger to the Newnan faithful……Congrats to the Eagles they played well and Coach Nix congrats on Win 300…. ENR thanks for the reminder it is time to trade the cleats in for Sneakers…LOL enjoyed blogging with you guys this year it has been fun…… see you in 2010
topper
December 5th, 2009
8:37 am
Don’t Think So Paesine -’National attention…give me a break”
Camden is ranked 15 by the USA Today! I do believe that is national attention! They were on National Tv ESPNU Against Hoover ! I do believe that is national attention!!! Need I keep going?
wardawg
December 5th, 2009
8:39 am
Great game in Camdne County friday night. I do recall some Packer bloggers mention that Camden would not be able to run against a vaunted Packers Defense. Camden ran for 396 yards. I back had over 240 yds and 1 back had over 130 yds. Held the versatile Packers offense under 200 yds total offense. Packers biggest threat on offense was #4. I was not impressed with #3, the starting QB. It started good for the Packers passing game, but when Camden started to put pressure on th QB #3 he dissappeared, also Camden started playing press coverage which took away the slant passes and that deadly short screen. Good strategy for a fast defense that likes to get after the QB. To go to #4 as QB in the second half was a great call. He could not be productive though, because #22 was not able to crack the front defensive line of Camden. The QB #3 could not get him the ball when the Packers tried to go vertical. Packers only running game was #4, their only receiver was #4, only special teams player was #4. You can’t beat Camden with 1 player. Only 1 team nearly pulled that off, that was Northside last year with Xavier Bacon, I can still remember some of the runs this kid had. No matter what Camden tried, they could not contain him. It seems like he avg about 7-8 a carry. It seems to me the Packers game plan was to pass in the 1st half, get a lead, and then go to their running game and run until the Camden’s defense tired out. Never materialized. The rain may have had something to do with the passing, but it was not a down pour rain, and both teams held onto the ball well considering the rain. #4 was showing frustration in the 4th quarter, most likely because he thought he could beat his man 1 on 1. If the QB #3 does not have time to get you the ball, you need to cut your route short, he ran a lot of deep routes. If the Packers could have established some sort of running game, it may have opened up the passing, but since that did not happen, Camden was able to put an enormous amount of pressure on the QB, he was not mobile at all. Staning in the pocket against a defense like Camden, you are asking for trouble. Packers defense held in the red zone well, holding Camden to 19 points. Camden had a fumble and Colquitt had an interception, so turnovers were even. The game was really a game of field position. There were 2 big plays, Colquitt had that 47 yards slant screen to #4 for a touchdown, and Camden had that 76 yard touchdown run by #15. Great game. Colquitt has the beginning of a nice run for their program.
Ace
December 5th, 2009
9:01 am
ENR – You are one smug know-it-all. You have made a Camden fan out of me. Hope your car don’t crank after you lose. That’s about all I have to say to you.
COUGFAN88
December 5th, 2009
9:22 am
ENR: I like how someone else attacks you and you continue to go after COUGFAN88 as if he said it…I got into your head and now you can’t stop…look at the posts I went to work along time ago..and just got home..but you continue on as if I were writing you back..nobody cares anymore ENR….Camden County …Congrats to your team making it back to State..Have a safe trip up to the Dome both Teams…May the best TEAM WIN…
EAGLE1
December 5th, 2009
9:29 am
Congratulations to the Eagles for a very impresive win! They played a complete game! And to top it off, Mr Van Brunt will be back next year! ON TO THE DOME! Congratulations to the Wildcats! The Northside Eagles remember playing you guys last year in Kingsland, we owe you one! It’s going to be a great close game! I’m proud to be a Northside Eagle. 1975 Graduate!
plowboy
December 5th, 2009
9:37 am
ENR Greg Reid was in the Under Armour Game , better athletes than the U.S. Army game and Yes WARNER ROBINS should have been a PLAYOFF team, the game they played against LOWNDES they knocked out 3 of our STARTERS , only Geraldo Orta played the remaining games…the other two were out with concussions.oh yeah they are division 1 prospects , so I hope NORTHSIDE BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF CAMDEN!!!!!!!!!!bring it back to REGION 1 AAAAA ,
topper
December 5th, 2009
9:45 am
cchswildcat86 -”I know one newnan fan that doesn’t quit….”
Good one!!!! Did you stay dry last night? Great game wasn’t it?
topper
December 5th, 2009
9:53 am
GO PACK GO – Thank you . That Colquitt team has nothing to hang there heads about! I believe if #4 had gotten more time with the ball things might have been different! He is a fantastic athlete! After seeing him air the ball out there at the end I wondered why he didn’t get more shots at throwing the ball! The kid has a cannon! But all it was a hard nosed down and dirty football game….
Shawn
December 5th, 2009
10:10 am
It seems as if alot of yall have been around for awhile. In your opinion what is the biggest upset in Georgia High School playoff history? My vot would be 1987 Carver(col) going down to Valdosta and winning 21-7. Carver had never won a playoff game until that night. Looking back that Tiger team was packed full of talent. Some wasted, some not.
HOLLABACKK
December 5th, 2009
10:13 am
Looks like another AAAAA State Championship for AAA Region 3……LOL
GO CAMDEN……… All that Savannah area school region does is win CHAMPIONSHIPS…..LOL
cchswildcat86
December 5th, 2009
10:28 am
Topper…I did stay dry… what about u? The game was great!!!!
HOLLABACKK
December 5th, 2009
10:29 am
Just a little info…
Hoover won the Alabama State Championship last night. They beat National power Prattville who only lost to North Gwinnett and National power Don Bosco Prep.
PTC DAWG
December 5th, 2009
10:49 am
Any more questions about Sandy Creek from the Griffin crowd?
topper
December 5th, 2009
10:51 am
cchswildcat86 – It really wasn’t that bad just the steady drizzle! Trash bags worked like a champ! Boy that # 15 andre johnson was a monster last night wasn’t he? He played on my sons rec league team when he was 8 and ran exactly the same way head down knees up straight ahead!
topper
December 5th, 2009
10:59 am
I meant Andre ran the same way not my son
Grey Lion
December 5th, 2009
11:03 am
There is always a lot of “should” in the playoffs. But that’s not how the chips fall sometimes. One great play, one key mistake, one improbable bounce of the ball from lady luck and all “should” goes out the window.
That’s what makes the playoffs so special.
@ENR – I agree that fans should stay and give their team a rousing sendoff if they have suffered a loss in one these games. They have just played their guts out and left it all on the field. When St. Pius ended up on the short end of overtime vs Peach County the entire Pius community stayed. It was quiet and emotional. The team left the stadium walking through a walled corridor of fans thanking them for one of the best seasons in school history.
And that’s how it should be for any of these teams.
hsfootball fan
December 5th, 2009
11:14 am
once again no spread offenses made it to the finals in 5 A good luck to both teams on saturday.
GriffinMBABulldawg
December 5th, 2009
11:18 am
PTC DAWG – I’m guessing you watched the game on CSS from your warm, comfy and posh PTC abode rather than risk life and limb by venturing to Griffin. FYI – nobody got mugged or murdered.
I saw only two things that impressed me last night: the Sandy Creek kicker and the Griffin defense. How many touchdowns did the Sandy Creek offense generate?? ZERO.
Griffin finally met a worthy adversary last night – THEMSELVES. Neither Griffin nor Sandy Creek were impressive. Griffin made enough mistakes for a lifetime. The defense only gave up two field goals. The offense spotted Sandy Creek 9 points with the Pick 6 and safety.
Beginning the game with an onside kick was very unwise. We have a phenomenal defense as demonstrated last night. That set the tone for the entire night. It is the Christmas season, and the Bears were in the giving spirit with all the turnovers. I will commend Sandy Creek for capitalizing on those gifts. But heck, Forest Park would have beaten us had we played like that.
I hope the Clarke Central Gladiators are well prepared and put a dose of reality on Sandy Creek next week. I’m sure PTC DAWG will again watch the game on GPTV from his nice over-leveraged house on the golf course. After all, Atlanta is a big city with a crime problem. He wouldn’t want to become a statistic.
NHS (Northside High School)
December 5th, 2009
11:20 am
Northside does not have a great offense this year or did they last year. But we are definitely not one dimensional/one player dependant either. This week it Van Brunt running. Last week it was Masteller, the backup, passing. Some weeks it was ONeill, some weeks Brison. The Northside staff will use whatever works that night or whatever is required because of injuries, Oneill is currently hurt/half speed. Last night the Newnan defense never stopped Van Brunt, so we rode his back. Last year against Camden, Camden never stopped Bacon, so we rode his back. We lost because Camden’s offense was too good and they outscored us. The key next week will be the same, Northside will score 20 but can the defense hold Camden to under 20, a tough task indeed.
cchswildcat86
December 5th, 2009
11:20 am
Topper.. Andre is a beast blocking and running..Did you see Days block on Andres long run..Wow
topper
December 5th, 2009
11:35 am
cchswildcat86 – I did also there was a hit in the first half I believe where they had the runner by the legs and then someone hit him high Wow what a hit.. Camden by the third quarter had their QB rattled you could see he had happy feet in the pocket.. I am glad they didn’t use #4 back there more he was very impressive!
NHS (Northside High School)
December 5th, 2009
11:36 am
I did notice some Newnan folks leaving early last night but most fans stayed to the end. It was cold and the parking exodus was going to be nightmare. Every school including Northside has some fair weather, ride the bandwagon fans but most Newnan Fans were true fans last night and at the end gave their team a loud ovation for a great season. Nothing but respect for the Newnan team and fans from this Northside Fan.
NHS (Northside High School)
December 5th, 2009
11:38 am
Congrats to Fort Valley, another great Middle Georgia team and Northside rival. See you in the dome
NHS (Northside High School)
December 5th, 2009
11:44 am
Can’t believe those Grayson fans are still on here. Your team lost, get over it, wait til next year. No? I guess you will be sticking around cheering for Camden to beat Northside, the team that beat Newnan which beat Grayson.
WarEagle03
December 5th, 2009
11:47 am
The best game in the finals will be in AAA where the teams who have held down #1 and #2 most all of the year will finally meet. Gainesville has a team loaded with talent, boasting 5 legitimate D-IA recruits which include by far the best backfield in the state. Peach Co. may not have any D-IA recruits, but their team is built on speed and big plays.
Gainesville will bring its rowdy fans to the Dome and expect to far outnumber the fans from Peach Co. Peach’s defense has been impressive in their bend but don’t break play over the past two playoff wins over Saint Pius and Eastside, but they’ve never had a challenge like the one they will face in the Dome. Gainesville has beaten every opponent handily this season. Although they played a tough game in the semi’s against Flowery Branch, they had beaten that same squad 49-17 just a few weeks earlier.
Looks to be a the best game going for those who are headed to the dome. It just edges out the Northside-Camden matchup, which also promises to garner a lot of attention.
NHS (Northside High School)
December 5th, 2009
12:10 pm
Dear GHSA,
My team will be back in the dome this year and I will attend again. The last 4 times I attended games at the Dome, it was for the semifinals and I bought tickets for both days since there were many good games on both days. This year I will only attend Sat so you lost money on me and probably a lot of other folks. Also, you denied Northside another chance to win a chapionship at the MAC. Win or lose Sat, it will not be as good as a being in a high school stadium. Get a life and put the semifinals back in the dome and put the championship games back at the schools. It will put more money in your pockets and be a better ecperience for the fans.
Thanks,
SLO56
December 5th, 2009
12:18 pm
Great posts, ENR. Hope Northside kicks some butt on Saturday night, Conrad gets his 5A championship,and retires. That would help level the playing field in middle and south Georgia. I have long felt tha he and his coaching staff has been the difference . You just cannot argue with the success. the records speak for themselves. Go EAGLES, bring another title back to Warner Robins!!!!! .