AA blog: Who’s the biggest second-round longshot?
Who’s the biggest longshot left in the Class AA football playoffs: the team with the most losses or the team that has to play four-time defending champion Buford?
There are two teams with 7-4 records: Blessed Trinity and Westminster, both Atlanta-area representatives from Region 6-AA. Neither has an enviable task, as Blessed Trinity must travel to Barnesville for a game against 11-0 Lamar County, ranked No. 7, and Westminster must travel to No. 9 Dublin to play the 10-1 Fighting Irish. None of the teams have met previously on the football field.
Blessed Trinity came up big in its road victory at Heard the first round; it was the first playoff win in the school’s history and a three-interception day by Chris Dore certainly helped. Lamar County is in the second round for the first time since 2001 and hasn’t reached the quarterfinals since 2000 when the Trojans lost a one-point decision to Cook.
Westminster pulled out all the stops last week in beating Callaway. The Wildcats scored off a fumble, blocked a punt and took advantage of a faked punt play that went awry. Westminster must find a way to slow down Dublin’s Cedric O’Neal, who ran for 161 yards and scored three touchdowns against Northeast Macon.
No.1 Buford hosts Jefferson County (8-3), the No. 3 team from Region 3-AA. Jefferson County has won seven straight games since stumbling to a 1-3 start, a surge that coincided with the decision to move Lafayel Williams to quarterback. Williams, has since rushed for 800 yards an gives JeffCo a two-pronged threat with Dontavious Kitchens.
But Buford (11-0) has rolled up 41 straight home victories and has won 14 consecutive home playoff games. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
The other first-round games also offer some interesting twists:
No. 8 Brooks County (9-2) at No. 2 Calhoun (11-0): Too bad this had to come in the second round. Brooks will put its defensive reputation on the line against a Calhoun offense that hasn’t scored fewer than 35 points since the season opener. Calhoun beat Brooks 38-35 in the 2008 semifinals.
Appling County (10-1) at No. 5 North Oconee (11-0): Both teams have quality offensive weapons, but this could be a battle of defense and field position. Appling has shutout four opponents and North Oconee has blanked five.
Laney (8-3) at No. 4 Carver (10-1): Carver is another team that doesn’t get enough praise for its defense. The Tigers have four shutouts and allowed only three opponents to score in double figures (one of them was Buford). Carver limited Lovett to 33 rushing yards in the playoff opener.
Adairsville (10-1) at No. 3 Fitzgerald (10-1): Adairsville won 10 games for the first time since 2001 against a schedule that did not include a ranked opponent. Fitzgerald played a pair of Class AAAAA opponents and prevailed in what most consider the toughest region in Class AA.
Cook (7-4) at No. 6 Elbert County (10-1): Playoff football returns to the Granite Bowl, truly one of the state’s great stadiums, for the first time since 2002. Elbert’s defense (four shutouts, six opponents held to seven or fewer points) will try to stop a Cook team that’s put up 43 the last two weeks. Three of Cook’s losses came against its Region 1-AA brethren by a total of 14 points.
Here is an opinion about the three biggest longshots for the second round:
- Adairsville
- Westminster
- Jefferson County
What do you think?
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35 comments Add your comment
Jefferson
November 17th, 2011
11:22 am
Fitz had no problems with Brook’s D.
trojanfan09
November 17th, 2011
11:39 am
dont matter what fitzgerald didnt have a problem with. we learned from our mistakes. we will be ready for calhoun
Bwolves
November 17th, 2011
12:48 pm
Jeff Co
Laney
Adairsville
Devil in Atlanta
November 17th, 2011
1:05 pm
The Granite Bowl rocks! Especially on Friday night…
Stephen Cole
November 17th, 2011
1:47 pm
No matter what happens Friday, Adairsville has had a wonderful season! If they win, it will be great; if they don’t, we are still proud of our Tigers. Go Tigers!!!
CANEFAN
November 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
Go Cook and Brooks……………………Finish strong guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anything can happen………..its the playoffs……Adairsville better bring their A game because the 1AA train is building steam……………………
RUSTYNAIL
November 17th, 2011
7:24 pm
LONGSHOTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BREAK THE BANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POOMAN
November 17th, 2011
9:15 pm
It’s a huge BANK tho!!!
toptencane
November 17th, 2011
9:50 pm
The Canes will not be over looking Adairsville. It’s playoff time and all that are still playing must have done something right. Canes win and will have that rabbits foot in the pocket on the coin toss with Carver.
KayeLynn
November 18th, 2011
9:28 am
Jeff Co!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the way!
Eternal Optimist
November 18th, 2011
10:56 am
Jefferson County upsets powerhouse Buford.. Yeah, I said it!!!!
tbone steak
November 18th, 2011
12:14 pm
Elbert county beat Cook County tonight all the way to the state baby yeah player
tbone steak
November 18th, 2011
12:16 pm
R C this for you ELBERT COUNTY ELBERT COUNTY BABY
CANEFAN
November 18th, 2011
1:04 pm
I would NOT underestimate COOK,,,,,,they are a better team than when we played them.. they only get stronger…. very good qb and rb’s sooooooo good luck
Jefferson
November 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
Good luck CANEFAN, should be no problem, if it is we should have no problem.
CANEFAN
November 18th, 2011
3:22 pm
GOOD LUCK JEFFERSON…..it should be…….well ..good luck….
Jason
November 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
As usual the trophy in AA is for the state runner up title. 30518 – need I say more?
Go Wolves!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jefferson
November 18th, 2011
4:51 pm
Cook will probably win.
Franchize
November 18th, 2011
6:29 pm
Cook, Brooks and Fitzgerald. We all tested each other in region play, so now to time keep it going in playoff play. Should be no surprise, we always bring the competition. Sleeping on the Big 3 wouldn’t be a good idea.
david
November 18th, 2011
7:08 pm
buford 45-7 easy win
david
November 18th, 2011
7:11 pm
cook elbert co close gm cook pulls it out late 21-17
david
November 18th, 2011
7:14 pm
Calhoun Buford… that will be the big gm to watch
david
November 18th, 2011
7:16 pm
FITZGERALD should have easy win 35 -6
david
November 18th, 2011
7:17 pm
Calhoun 31-14
david
November 18th, 2011
7:20 pm
No. 5 North Oconee close game here but i think.. Appling co 20 -16 in upset
IrishFan95
November 18th, 2011
10:14 pm
Dublin is riding on borrowed time. I wish they would just cancel the AA playoffs and give the trophy to Buford… would save a TON of people a lot of money. GHSA should move them to AAA anyway. Speaking of that.. would it not be neat to have the Champions of each region meet in another playoff for the OVERALL State Champion.. just thinking.
Jefferson
November 18th, 2011
10:51 pm
Calhoun had Brook 36-0 late in 3rd, unloads the bench, Brooks keep #1s in, their subs get no playofff experience, Calhoun’s JV does. Final 43-30. Heads or tails ?
Jefferson
November 18th, 2011
10:59 pm
I blew the Cook call, congrads to Elbert Co. Appling & Dublin, Region 2 got it going this year.
roy
November 19th, 2011
4:14 am
fitzgerald against Adairsville would have been a better game if not for the Nasty/Faul Mouthed parents cursing at the players and the band menbers. I have seen many games in my life time and never knew that grabbing the face mask of the opponent was allowed in front of the refs than flippinng over the players head would count for a five yard increase. Those must be the new rules we didn’t know about. The place was very nasty with garbage all around and even the Fitzgerald students that sat on the Adairsville side were swearing at us throughout the game and very direspectful all thought the night. Even when the game was over the student and parents would leave shotting the bird at our team and band. That is really some message to send to people about your school and your pride for yourself. So fair warring to the next team that plays at Fitzerald High School please watch your back because they play dirty, with no respct for other or themselves.
Jason
November 19th, 2011
2:33 pm
Well, let’s see now. It looks like the AA high schools below Atlanta should focus on fishing or deer hunting. You should really stick to something you are good at.
GT VET
November 19th, 2011
6:24 pm
Give the AA trophy to Buford?? Why would that be??I understand that most teams cant play with Buford in AA football but I do know one team that BUford wont take lightly.CALHOUN!!,Now yes Buford has beat Calhoun evry time they have played so far but To here Buford fans and especially the Atlanta media talk Calhoun has No chance against Buford.Funny thing is the last 2 games against the two was by 3 points and then last year overtime.I do know that Buford is the Atlanta medias little darlings,and according to them Buford is head and shoulders better than everyone else in AA.I still believe that the past 2 years Calhoun did have the better team only to be overwhelmed by the Buford History.Buford has a great football team,but so does Calhoun.Lets not crown Buford U just yet.It is the YEAR OF THE JACKETS!!!!
Chan
November 20th, 2011
8:17 pm
Real Buford fans know Calhoun has a good team. However, Buford is the King of AA football. This is why they get the praise. They deserve it. They earned it.
Calhoun needs to win or they will not get their due from fans or media. At this time, Calhoun is known as a good team that can’t win the big one. The “Buffalo Bills of AA football” in Georgia aka Calhoun Yellow Jackets.
YELLERJAKITZ1
November 21st, 2011
7:21 am
Calhoun should have won two of last three against UofB coach Lamb of Calhoun made some bad decisions great coach knows how to study will not happen again I JUST DO NOT KNOW IF UofB CAN GET BACK TO DOME!TOUGH ROAD.Good luck.Calhoun has great run D diverse O.GO JACKETS!!!BRING IT ON
football guy
November 21st, 2011
2:04 pm
Calhoun reminds me of a college team. Alot of seniors and alot of poise. I just don’t see anybody beating them. They have no weaknesses.
GT VET
November 21st, 2011
11:30 pm
Calhouns just a Good team??You dont win 11 straight region crowns by just being Good.(something btw that Mighty Buford hasnt accomplished)…On another topic ,
is everyone aware that in AA football this year,there is one team from every Region still in the playoffs..1-8…dont recall that happening lately….Go Jackets!!!