AAAAAA blog: Who is for real? We’ll find out about Lovejoy, Norcross & others this week
The assignment for today is ‘five things to watch in Class AAAAAA’ this week.
In my mind, this week helps us find out who’s real and who is not. These are teams, and even one player, that I’m curious to find out more about.
Are they for real?
Lovejoy: It won’t surprise me if Lovejoy beats North Gwinnett. Let’s get that out of the way. What we’re saying is that Lovejoy has played fewer games that define a team than anyone else still standing in AAAAAA. The Wildcats have played one ranked opponent, Colquitt County, and lost 14-7 in early September. Taking out perennial power North Gwinnett would change the perception of a program with a great record (35-3 over the past three seasons) but without a defining victory in the highest class.
Jacorey Lewis: No player in AAAAAA has had a better post-season than Jacorey Lewis, the senior running back from Mill Creek. He has rushed for 595 yards and eight touchdowns in his two playoff game. For the season, he has rushed for 2,040 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. Those are all-state numbers, to be sure. Lewis wasn’t in that conversation at mid-season. Mill Creek plays at North Cobb on Friday in a game that could send Mill Creek to its first-ever semifinals and give Lewis more ammunition as a potential player-of-the-year candidate.
North Cobb: Here’s another team that hasn’t been to the semifinals in the highest class. North Cobb did make the Class C semis in 1959, when Acworth was the size of Hooterville. North Cobb is the only Cobb County team left in a classification that has been won almost exclusively by south Georgia and Gwinnett County teams since 1996. Gwinnett teams (of which Friday’s opponent Mill Creek is one) are 2-0 against Cobb in these playoffs. No Cobb teams outside of east Cobb (Walton, Lassiter) has made the semifinals since Harrison in 2000. And no one would’ve seen North Cobb as the one to break that drought. The Warriors haven’t had a winning season since 2007.
Norcross: The Blue Devils’ dominance of their schedule this season is so impressive that the computer Maxwell Ratings have made Norcross a 12-point favorite at Camden County this week. That’s intuitively absurd, but rather than dwell on the prediction itself, consider how the prediction came to be. It’s based purely on scores, not history and common sense. For example, Norcross has never made the state semifinals. Norcross has never played a game below metro Atlanta. This is a school that opened in the 1950s. That’s history. But here are some scores: Norcross has beaten Parkview by 20, North Gwinnett by 10 and Mill Creek by 8 after leading 49-14. Who has Camden County beaten? Nobody with a winning record that made it past the first round. It’s something to think about.
Parkview: No coach could be having more fun this season than Parkview’s Cecil Flowe. Here’s a guy with four state titles but a program that had been in decline – no playoff win since 2005, no region title since 2004. Parkview was 4-6 last season. Then came the upset of Grayson, but later a heart-breaking loss to South Gwinnett in the final regular-season game to cost the Panthers the region. Now, Parkview has won its first two playoff games in overtime on road. No team had ever done that before. And Parkview has played without leading rusher Chris Carson. On Friday, Parkview plays its first playoff game in its Big Orange Jungle since 2008 against Colquitt County with a chance to prove this is not just a good story, but a legitimate championship contender.
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86 comments Add your comment
GwinnettDad
November 29th, 2012
9:52 pm
To Norcross, let me encourge them to “Decease The Cats!”
I tawt I taw a Puddy Tat!
Good luck to all Gwinnett teams!
D-Nice
November 29th, 2012
9:53 pm
@The Cross, did you guys make it safely to Camden?
PackerHawg
November 29th, 2012
10:14 pm
Columbia Blue….Boy will all those “Big Talking” Norcross fans be surprised when they make it to Gilman Stadium….It should be a good night for the Cats….Hope to be making a return trip next week to Kingsland!
sportsnut
November 29th, 2012
10:38 pm
@ How bout == I am pleased that they will be on for everyone to see. They should be seen. This is good. I feel lucky to see this every friday. I do remember “AGF” and know we can be beat but this is so much fun.
bjohndawg
November 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
I dont know who will win tomorrow night, I hope Camden.
But I do know this:
For YEARS Camden has had to listen about how they did not play anyone in region 3 and that was why they were so good. And how if they were in any other region they would just be an average team.
Well this year they were in region 1. And won that region, and won every game except losing to Colquitt by one point on the road. So I hope you people from the North can accept that this theory was a bunch of sullbhit.
The Cross
November 29th, 2012
10:58 pm
D-nice-We arrived safely tonight and I am resting comfortably at the Ritz in Amelia Island. I really am looking forwaurd to the kick-off tomorrow! Win or lose I think both teams will be shaking hands with each other with great respect and admiration for each other.
God bless Norcross, Camden and the United States of America!
The Cross
Grayram
November 29th, 2012
10:59 pm
Well surprisingly enough most of the posters from Gwinnett are not impressed with Camden and Squirrel and others are not impressed with Norcross.
Norcross fans, it’s clear you have a great team, and I think the Devils are capable of winning this….
But… You are about to face a little different animal than you have up till now. It’s a mistake having Camden picked as an underdog at home against anyone. The devils will need to be at full intensity from the opening whistle.
Abu Dhabi
November 29th, 2012
11:17 pm
I love it, I just love it. North Cobb is quiet on these boards becasue we know who we are…Jimb doesn’t know. Keep watching your tapes, boo. God speed to all the teams playing Friday night. I’m so proud of you. ‘I have, myself, full confidence that North Cobb will all do our duty, we will neglect nothing, we will execute to perfection the best plays, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our home turf, to ride out this battle, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, the enemy, Mill Creek. At any rate, that is what we are going to do.’ That is the resolve of the North Cobb High School Football Team, henceforth named the 2012. ‘That is the will of the Warrior Nation. The Offense and the Defense, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the end their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though lesser teams and many old and great teams have fallen, we shall not fail, we will not fall. We shall go on to the end, to the Dome. We shall fight at the Kick Off, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air with every catch – catching anything and everything that comes our way, we shall fight on the run, during the punt, in the end zone, we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, the Offense puts up less than 42 points, then our Defense waiting for their turn, walking and waiting on the sidelines, peering through their helmets, anxious to get one foot on the field, armed and guarded by strength, speed, and heart would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the 2012, with all its power and might, steps forth into the Semi-Finals, into history, into glory, as the team that would not be denied, the team that liberated football in Cobb County, GEORGIA. Let’s Ride.
57Cat
November 29th, 2012
11:47 pm
@The Cross – I envy you man. Can it get any better than being Amelia Island, at the Ritz! And getting ready to watch what looks to be a terrific high school football game! Hope all you Norcross and Camden fans have a great time. All we Valdosta fans can say at this point, “Wait til next year!” God speed.
WildcatGuy
November 30th, 2012
5:59 am
It is game day. This is what we all live for and best of luck to teams, especially the Camden County Wildcats. Play with class and just have fun!
BulldogsStillBite
November 30th, 2012
6:47 am
Looking forward to watching some great football tonight and recording the rest for later….some of the best HS football in the country is played right here; it is truly awesome to witness!!! Best wishes to all taking the field tonight and travelling. Go BULLDOGS!!!!
TItletown USA
November 30th, 2012
7:23 am
There is a lot of false bravado on here, I just that is to be expected for making the Final 8….but I am not sure that either Camden or Norcross should be so confident, I think it comes down to one or two plays and that is anybody’s guess. Good luck and safe travels to all.
Thank God for internet streaming technology!
Elan
November 30th, 2012
7:25 am
Mill Creek will dominate North Cobb on both sides of the ball (and play 100 kids). North Cobb will get a feel for a school that plays the likes of Brookwood, Parkview, North Gwinnett week in and week out vs the likes of Kennesaw Mountain, Pebble Brook, Campbell and Osborne. Hahaha. Dream on wannabees you are getting what you asked for
david kidd
November 30th, 2012
8:00 am
yes, norcross has a couple of blue chippers as do we. camden has one 3 state championships with no real bluechippers but what they had was a complete unselfish team. that is the herron way. and remember this; offense wins games, defense wins championships!
go bluecats!
RealBoyCat
November 30th, 2012
8:03 am
Is the “CSS” broadcast of Camden/Norcross game the only video option? Or is it possible to get internet video streaming via some other means?
Blue DEVIL
November 30th, 2012
8:39 am
I see some pretty bold predictions on here for the Norcross/Camden game. I think Camden fans are in for a rude awakening. Kamara will have a 100+ yards guaranteed and Norcross wins by two TDs.
sportsnut
November 30th, 2012
9:01 am
It’s friday and time for the rest of the state to see Lovejoy and North Gwinnett to do battle. North will be coming to 12 Oaks and the Cats will be waiting. I expect a good game. Lovejoy needs to play Lovejoy football to win this one. Michael Haynes is a good Qb. He deserves attention from the defense. I am sure he will get it. It is hard to argue with his numbers and Lovejoy will need to be on their toes. On the other hand, North had better be ready on D as well. The Cats will put points on the board in a hurry or take the slow, methodical approach that eats the clock. Either way, this should be a good football game between two very well coached teams.
topper
November 30th, 2012
9:05 am
Blue DEVIL- Trust me we know the quality of your team and can’t wait to see them. I believe our boys will be ready to play what I think may be the best team in the state right now, looking forward to a great game tonight and am really excited to see those RB’s you guys have! Good luck to you ands safe travels.
topper
November 30th, 2012
9:06 am
sportsnut- Good luck to your boys tonight.
NG17
November 30th, 2012
9:49 am
Lovejoy is a very talented group. If they can protect QB and get the ball to the 6 +++ receivers they have a good chance to win. Good luck if they can’t.because running the ball will be hard on this defense. Micheal Haynes is better than Seagraves so get ready to face the best QB you have seen this season.
Titletown USA
November 30th, 2012
10:05 am
Why can’t the NCAA see how wonderful this system is……an 8 game playoff is the bomb,,especially in Georgia HS football…compelling matchups across the board.
Colquitt Fan
November 30th, 2012
10:17 am
NG, it’s hard for anybody to be playing better than Segraves is right now
Camden03
November 30th, 2012
10:25 am
@Colquitt Fan you aint lying. I can attest to that…firsthand account. HA!
jimb
November 30th, 2012
10:30 am
Thought Segraves was a backup to a hurt sophomore, thought the coach told him to take some offers early and he didn’t and was benched?
jimb
November 30th, 2012
10:42 am
Abu
That’s some poetic well spoken smoke, can you share that stuff. In the end the Creek will ride off with some more cobb county myth. Your team does look good and so does Wake Forest, Vanderbilt,but this the SEC of High School football in Georgia
THE_ULTIMATE_WARRIOR
November 30th, 2012
11:18 am
jimb & Elan
Stop by Saturday to watch the SEC championship game with me. I’ll be serving BBQ CROW to you and the rest of you Gwinnett homers. We don’t care who you’ve played before. The only thing that matters is who you play tonight. So go ahead and overlook the WARRIORS. Just don’t take this butt whippin personally.
LET’S RIDE
The Cross
November 30th, 2012
12:32 pm
57cat-Nobody has it better than me. 5:53 minutes to kick-off!!!!
I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!!!!
The Cross
sportsnut
November 30th, 2012
12:34 pm
@ topper == Thanks for the well wish’s and good luck to you and yours.
@ NG17 == Travis Custis has rushed for over 3500+ yards the last 3 years and I don;t think he is going to stop now. He has over 70 Td’s during that time and he is still playing so he can get more. Protecting the Qb is an issue that North has to worry about. 2 seconds. That is all you get. Remember, 2 seconds. I don’t doubt you when you say Haynes is better than Seagraves. I saw him play.Is he as good as Jennings at Marietta or Dobbs at Alpharetta ? His numbers don’t say so but that is not always the determining factor. Should be a contest worth watching. Good luck.
D-Nice
November 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
@The Cross, The Hard Hat Crew will be tailgating around 4:00. We are located in between the Home and Visitors entrance on the grass. We welcome all Norcross Fans to stop by and talk some Good OL highschool football.Just look for the Hard Hats……..Time to gas up the truck and head to the field. Go Wildcats………………
Rod Macho
November 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
Camden will crush Maloof’s Meatballs by at least 4 TDs tonight.
Camden74
November 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
Roll on Camden County Wildcats, Roll on!……….Release the CATS!
NorcrossGuardMom
November 30th, 2012
10:46 pm
It’s so hilarious looking at all the posts saying that the12-point spread was a joke and that Norcross would be embarrassed. Well one thing was correct, the 12-point spread wasn’t big enough since we beat Camden by 14!!!! Woo hoo!!!! Go Blue Devils!
Abu Dhabi
November 30th, 2012
11:01 pm
…and then there were FOUR! I keep telling folks that North Cobb is the truth.
THE_ULTIMATE_WARRIOR
December 1st, 2012
12:25 am
Mill Creek fans – mainly jimb & Elan. I’ll have that CROW ready for you to munch on. Just let me know when you want to come pick it up.
Abu – X balled out
NCHS in the Dome
December 2nd, 2012
1:04 am
I just love the irony of these pitifull Armchair QB’s. Every week we hear about how we are going down and they are going to teach us how to play football and then at about 10:00 pm Friday night they are going home to turn in their gear and start prepping for NEXT year, while we are still in uniform preparing for NEXT friday night. One thing beats all this every week and that one thing is consistency. Round one 42 – 14, round two 42-14 round three 42-35 (minus one Blue chip player, Miller who was sorely missed on both sides of the ball and special teams). 40 or more points in 11 of 13 games, numbers do not lie, if you aren’t averaging this many a game don’t talk smack, or expect anything less than a season ender when you face the WARRIOR NATION.
sportsnut
December 2nd, 2012
8:46 pm
Did Lovejoy answer your question ?