Prep Zone: High School Sports » Football

GAC’s Cokely leaves for Florida job

Todd Holcomb — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:01:51 +0000

Tim Cokely, the football coach who led Greater Atlanta Christian back to prominence in his two seasons, is leaving for Florida.

Cokely is the new head coach of Marianna High.

Cokely’s GAC teams were 9-2 and 8-3. GAC finished 1-9 the season before Cokely was hired.

Cokely led Northwest Florida Christian to six state champions. He also coached at Colquitt County from 2005 to 2007.

“I make decisions in my life for what’s best for my family,” Cokely told Jackson County Floridan. “With my son graduating in Atlanta, we had an opportunity to see what was out there. [Having family close] was a part of it, but I think in the past when I was a younger man, it was about climbing that ladder and trying to find the most money and ambition, ambition, ambition.

“At this point in my life, if I haven’t learned anything else, I’ve learned that you work for people more than anything, and I really liked the people at Marianna. I like that part of the country. It was an easy …

HS basketball rankings: Down year in AAAAA, or just lots of good teams?

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:49 +0000

Got rankings. Also some comments on each class on how the rankings were shuffled and other going-ons in each class.

One vent — Kinda crazy that Wheeler can stay in the top five with nine losses and losing to Langston Hughes, but there are only three teams playing like top-five teams right now. Milton, Shiloh, Westlake. And we’re not sure about two of those. Almost everybody has lost games to teams in lower classifications, or multiple games in their region.

Is Class AAAAA down this year, or just more spread out?

AAAAA- The top three looks pretty good. Milton, Westlake and Shiloh each have good wins and no bad losses. Every other team in the state has multiple stains on their resume. … Random fact: Milton’s Shaquille Johnson had seven dunks in the first half against North Forsyth last week. … Berkmar lost to Archer last week, and Mill Creek lost to North Gwinnett. Berkmar and MC out. In their place are North Gwinnett and Norcross, the two that will play for first place …

HS rankings: Jordan, Model take No. 1 in AA … Milton beats Wheeler … Norcross upset … and other news

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:39:36 +0000

Two new No. 1 teams this week – Jordan’s boys and Model’s girls.

We’re trying something a little different this week in that we’re adding some commentary to each class. It’s a little heavy on the boys side this week, but we’ll balance it more next week when we get the routine down.

AAAAA- No. 1 Milton beat Wheeler 65-60 in a boys game on Saturday as Tevin Glass had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Milton. (See MDJ story.) Wheeler’s Chuck Mitchell scored 30. Both players are their teams’ top inside players. … Previous No. 5 Norcross was upset by unranked Stephenson 51-48 on Saturday. Is that score right? Stephenson is 5-16. … No. 2 Shiloh went 2-1 in a tournament in Florida and blew a four-point lead in the final 90 seconds in the defeat. … No. 3 Westlake needed two overtimes to beat Marcus Hunt-led North Clayton 75-75. … No. 8 Berkmar beat unranked Alpharetta 65-62 on Saturday when Brandon Thompson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. … No. 5 Mill Creek lost …

AAAAA blog: It’s Wheeler-Milton on Saturday; Shiloh drops one in FLA; Pope to honor TJ Yates

Todd Holcomb — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:56:18 +0000

Milton’s boys will try to solidify their No. 1 ranking in Class AAAAA on Saturday when they play at No. 4 Wheeler.

Milton has won 13 straight games and is undefeated when point guard Charles Mann, the Georgia signee, has played. Wheeler has lost two starters since December to academic ineligibility, so this will be a measure of whether the Wildcats remain serious state-championship contenders.

Milton defeated Wheeler 77-59 in the 2011 regular season and 72-71 in overtime in 2010. Wheeler beat Milton three times in 2009, including in the state final. Milton’s Evan Nolte and Wheeler’s Chuck Mitchell, both highly recruited seniors, have been around for all those games.

In other news around Class AAAAA, second-ranked Shiloh lost its opener in the Montverde Academy Invitational to Orlando Christian 59-55 this week after failing to hold a four-point lead in the final 90 seconds. Orlando Christian made a pair of 3-pointers, and Shiloh called a time out it did not have, leading to a …

AAA basketball blog: Westover D’s up

Jay Stone — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:34:42 +0000

The Westover girls went to the third round of the state tournament last year, and even with the loss of two starters who transferred, it seemed obvious they’d be good again.

The way Westover coach Lewis Smith talks, though, a 20-0 start wasn’t really what he expected.

“We replaced those two startes with some sophomores, and it’s a big deal for them,” said Smith, whose team improved to 20-0 overall and 8-0 in Region 1-AAA with a 51-41 win over Dougherty Tuesday night. “They’re in a little over their head, because we’ve kind of thrown them into the fire.”

How have they done it? By employing the three four D’s: DyTiesha Dunson, defense and determination.

Dunson, a senior who has signed with Florida Gulf Coast University, is averaging 24 points per game and burned Tift County with 35 in a win Saturday. Classmate Ieshia Young averages 14.

Smith points to the defense as the key. The Westover girls have held 13 of 20 opponents under 40 points.,

“Defensively we’re …

New HS basketball rankings: Fayette County replaces Miller Grove at No. 1 in AAAA; GAC boys, Buford girls also take top spots

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:59:31 +0000

Fayette County and Greater Atlanta Christian are new No. 1 boys teams while Buford’s girls regained the their top ranking in the high school basketball rankings this week.

Fayette County’s boys, who made the Class AAAA semifinals last year but have never won a state title, replaced three-time defending champion Miller Grove, which lost Friday to Chamblee in a Region 6-AAAA game. Miller Grove has nine losses, but Chamblee was the first Georgia team to defeat the Wolverines in over a year.

In AA boys, defending champion Greater Atlanta Christian replaced Vidalia, which lost to Long County 70-68 on Tuesday.

In AA girls, Buford returned to No. 1 after a 58-44 victory on Saturday against Lovett, the previous No. 1 team, which dropped to No. 5. The return of Andraya Carter, the 2011 Class AA player of the year who has missed most of the season with a torn ACL, should provide a big boost for Buford down the stretch.

New this week to the boys rankings are Tift County, North …

How will GHSA set up Class A public, private playoff draws? Here’s how I’d do it

Todd Holcomb — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:29:23 +0000

Now that the GHSA has agreed to hold separate state championships for Class A public and private schools, the next step is determining how set up the state playoff brackets for each division.

This week, most Class A private schools met at Eagle’s Landing Christian and came up with a proposal that would seed the 16 playoff qualifiers in football based on a points system. (Let’s stick to football now, as other sports will make this very complicated. In some sports, such as soccer, few Class A public schools field a team.)

Remember that public and private schools will continue to play each other and compete in the same regions — in the regular season. It’s in the playoffs that they’ll separate.

The private schools’ plan for the football playoffs is pretty simple. Teams get 10 points for each victory, and additional points for every victory won by teams that they have beaten. For example, Holy Innocents’ went 8-2. That’s 80 points (8 wins x 10). Those eight …

HS basketball rankings: Milton boys, Douglas County, Lovett girls are new No. 1’s

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:23:00 +0000

Milton is the new No. 1 boys team in Class AAAAA after an impressive tournament victory in Erie, Pa., on Saturday.

Milton defeated four-time New York Class A champion Jamesville-Dewitt 93-52 in the final of the Burger King Classic as Evan Nolte scored 23 points, 12 on 3-pointers.

Milton (13-4) took the place of Shiloh (13-2), which lost to Berkmar 46-45 on Friday. Milton has lost four games, but three by forfeit over the ineligibility of point guard Charles Mann. Since Mann returned to the lineup, Milton has not lost.

There are two other No. 1 teams, both in the girls rankings.

Douglas County (15-1), which reached the state semifinals last season, took advantage of losses by previous No. 1 Chamblee (to Redan) and No. 2 Alcovy (to Newton) to move up from its No. 3 spot last week in AAAA.

In AA, Lovett (14-3) moves up one place into the top spot. Buford, the previous No. 1 team, dropped to No. 3 after losing to Alpharetta 60-42 on Saturday. Buford will have a chance perhaps to …

Douglas County hires Howard offensive coordinator Respert

Todd Holcomb — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:18:12 +0000

Howard offensive coordinator Jason Respert is the new head football coach at Douglas County.

Respert is a former all-state lineman at Northside of Warner Robins who played at Tennessee. He also has been an assistant at Northside and Peach County.

Douglas County was 23-28 in five seasons under John Oglesby, who resigned after a 2-8 finish in 2011. Douglas County has not had a winning season since 2007 after having winning seasons each of the previous seven seasons.

Douglas County will compete in Region 3-AAAAA next season. It will be the first time since 2001 that Douglas County has played in the highest classification.

Centennial hires Alpharetta defensive coordinator Carlberg

Todd Holcomb — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:07:45 +0000

Centennial has hired Alpharetta defensive coordinator Jeff Carlberg as its head coach.

Carlberg, who came to Georgia in 2008 after three seasons as head coach of Apollo High in Owensboro, Ky., has led defenses at Lassiter (2008-09) and Alpharetta (2010-11), schools that won their first-ever region championships with Carlberg on staff.

Carlberg also has coached at Louisville as a graduate assistant under Howard Schnellenberger and at Lexington Catholic in Kentucky under current North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire.

Centennial, a north Fulton school, has not won a playoff game since 2002. The school was 24-28 under Jeff Measor, who resigned after five seasons to complete a doctorate. Centennial was 5-6 last season.

HS basketball rankings: Shiloh, McEachern are No. 1 in AAAAA

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:46:22 +0000

Here are the AJC’s first state basketball rankings of the season. Let us know how you think the teams ought to be ranked, or which teams got slighted.

A few observations -

* Parity is widespread among Class AAAAA boys teams. Shiloh, Milton and Wheeler are the most commonly mentioned when it comes to talent on the roster, but all have been beaten, and several Top 10 teams have losses to unranked or lower-classification opponents. Norcross is ranked despite a 7-6 record.

* Three-time defending AAAA boys champion Miller Grove is No. 1 despite a handful of defeats, most recently on Saturday to nationally ranked Simeon of Chicago, 69-66. Simeon is ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps and others. Miller Grove has no losses to Georgia teams.

* Vidalia (15-1) and North Cobb Christian (15-0) have never won basketball state titles, but their boys teams are ranked No. 1 – Vidalia in AA and North Cobb Christian in A.

* All five of last year’s state girls hampions are ranked sixth or …

State-championship schools that have closed

GHSF Daily — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:00:43 +0000

Avondale, a school that won state titles in 1958, 1963 and 1976, closed this year. Here are schools that have won GHSA titles and are closed (with the years of their closings and their state titles). It includes Waynesboro, which won a title in 1957. Waynesboro and Sardis-Girard-Alexander merged in 1987 to form Burke County, which won its first state title this season.

2011

Avondale (1958, 1963, 1976)

2004

Americus (1962, 1965, 1975, 2000-01)

1996

Douglass, Montezuma (1981)

Hogansville (1952)

1994

Waycross (1960, 1961, 1977, 1981)

1992

Brown (1949)

East Rome (1978-79)

R.E. Lee (1988)

West Rome (1965, 1982-85)

1991

North Fulton (1966)

Northside, Atlanta (1957)

1990

Palmetto (1982-83)

1989

Rossville (1954-55, 1962)

1988

Murphy (1952)

1987

Lyons (1975)

Waynesboro (1957)

1986

West Point (1948, 1950, 1958)

1975

Davis (1964)

1970

Athens (1955, 1969)

Fort Valley (1948, 1961)

Lincolnton (1960, 1962-63)

1967

Jesup (1954, 1959)

1966

Blakely-Union (1964)

1959

Quitman …

Coaches who improved their teams the most in 2011

GHSF Daily — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:00:24 +0000

Awards for state coaches of the year typically go to the head coach whose team wins the state championship. There’s nothing wrong with that, as a coach can’t do better than win a state title. But not enough credit goes to those coaches who make teams better from one season to the next.

Bryan Way at Warner Robins didn’t win a state title, but Warner Robins led the state in “victories improved” from 2010 to 2011, going from 2-8 to 11-3. Then there was Mark Wilson at Bryan County. His team went to 6-4 from 0-10.

Below is a list of 10 coaches in each classification who improved their teams. To be objective, we devised a formula to do it. The formula = (number of 2011 victories – number of 2010 victories) + (improvement in winning PCT x 10) + (number of 2011 playoff rounds – number of 2010 playoff rounds).

If it sounds complicated, don’t worry. We did the math.

Just trust that these 50 coaches deserve a raise.

CLASS AAAAA

Team Coach

2010

Early gauge of the new regions: Class A

GHSF Daily — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:30 +0000

Here are three observations about the regions that will make up Class A in 2012:

*The regions listed below are based on what is currently proposed by the Georgia High School Association, which is scheduled to meet on Jan. 10 to ratify the regions. There is no way to project any changes the GHSA might make at its executive committee meeting or the impact a much-talked about secession by public schools would have on the region setup.

*The best region, according to the Maxwell Ratings, will be 5-A, which will consist of six football-playing private schools and be the smallest region in Class A. Eagle’s Landing Christian, 2011 runner-up Landmark Christian and Holy Innocents’ are all rated among the top 10 teams in the new Class A.

The chart below might give you a feel for strength of regions and the teams to beat next year.

Make sure you understand how it works:

*The W-L record is each school’s record over the past five years.

*The rating on the right is each team’s …

2011 leaders in rushing, passing and receiving yardage

GHSF Daily — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:12:57 +0000

Below are the leading rushers, passers and receivers in Georgia high school football for the 2011 season.

Rushing

2,375 – Tyren Jones, Walton

2,183 – Kevin Ellison, Habersham Central

2,180 – Marteze Waller, Putnam County

2,179 – Chaz Thornton, Stephens County

2,142 – Miles Jones, Allatoona

2,063 – Janier Ferguson, Pepperell

1,928 – Mike Davis, Stephenson

1,839 – Travis Custis, Lovejoy

1,805 – Chris Brown, Seminole County

1,802 – Brendan Douglas, Aquinas

1,790 – Quenshaun Watson, Clarke Central

1,770 – Tre Hamilton, Charlton County

1,738 – Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County

1,706 – Imani Cross, North Hall

1,704 – John Tatum, Eagle’s Landing Christian

1,684 – Marquez Holloway, Carver (Columbus)

1,658 – Voltaire Driver, Bremen

1,622 – Chris Beck, Seminole County

1,615 – Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove

1,564 – Tolerance Shepherd, Fitzgerald

1,561 – Tyshon Dye, Elbert County

1,559 – Lewis Watkins, Glascock County

1,552 – Jayden Compton, Gordon …

3,000-yard passers in Georgia history

GHSF Daily — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:30:08 +0000

Georgia players who have thrown for more than 3,000 yards in a season, according to GHSFHA.com:

4,560 – Hutson Mason (Lassiter), 2009

4,218 – Taylor Heinicke (Collins Hill), 2010

3,710 – Jeremy Privett (Charlton County), 2003

3,705 – Hutson Mason (Lassiter), 2008

3,638 – Taylor Lamb (Calhoun), 2011

3,612 – Jonquel Dawson (M.L. King), 2010

3,600 – Brian Ellis (Peach County), 2006

3,415 – Jonquel Dawson (M.L. King), 2011

3,358 – Tyler Brown (Colquitt County), 2010

3,351 – Wesley Hill (Crisp County), 2001

3,350 – Eddie Printz (Lassiter), 2011

3,343 – Johnathon McCrary (Cedar Grove), 2010

3,331 – Justin Walker (Lee County), 2010

3,279 – Robert Johnson (Americus), 2000

3,251 – Deshaun Watson (Gainesville), 2011

3,245 – Chad Bryant (Dooly County), 2003

3,187 – Fabian Walker (Americus), 1998

3,172 – Drew Little (Henry County), 2007

3,113 – Joshua Dobbs (Alpharetta), 2011

3,101 – Mashard McKnight (Ware County), 1999

3,091 – Dwight Dasher (Charlton County), 2005

3,090 – Al Pinkins …

Early gauge of the new regions: Class AA

GHSF Daily — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:20 +0000

Here are three observations about the regions that will make up Class AA in 2012:

*Defending state champion Calhoun has won 11 consecutive region titles and appears to be in a good position to extend that streak in 2012. The Yellow Jackets’ region contains no other team rated higher than No. 13 (Pepperell) by the Maxwell Ratings, and Calhoun is 9-0 against Pepperell since 1980.

*The state’s smallest region in any classification will be 6-AA, which will have just five teams. If Hapeville Charter chooses to play a non-region schedule, then Greater Atlanta Christian, Lovett, Westminster and Wesleyan will have automatic playoff berths, although all four teams are regular playoff participants regardless of the size of their regions.

*The strongest region, according to Maxwell, will be 1-AA, which will have perennial playoff teams Fitzgerald, Brooks County, Cook and Thomasville. All four teams are rated among the top nine in Class AA, and Early County is …

Rome’s Scott Jackson wins High School Football Pickoff contest

GHSF Daily — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:36:59 +0000

Scott Jackson of Rome is the winner of the 2011 Atlanta Journal-Constitution High School Football Pickoff contest.

Jackson finished the season with 155 points, one ahead of two contestants that tied for second place. There were 605 people entered this season.

Bart Phillips of Sharpsburg had the high score for the championship round, correctly picking four of the five champions and winning the tiebreaker for the closest guess of the score of the Calhoun-Buford game.

Thanks to all who participated this year.

All-region team for 3-A East

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:00:53 +0000

Player of the year: RB Will Austin, Savannah Christian, Sr.

Offensive player of the year: QB Johnathon Chamblee, Savannah Christian, Sr.

Defensive player of the year: DL DeAngelo Brown, Savannah Christian, Sr.

Athlete of the Year: QB Jake Clemens, Calvary Day, Jr.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Michael Peel, Claxton, Sr.

RB – Nick Scott, Bryan County, So.

RB – Jalen Myrick, Savannah Christian, Jr.

WR – Bron Glover, Claxton, Sr.

WR – Jordan Walker, Calvary Day, So.

TE – Milan Richard, Calvary Day, So.

OL – Josh Gay, Savannah Christian, Sr.

OL – Tevin McNeal, Claxton, Sr.

OL – Justin James, Calvary Day, Jr.

OL – Trey Ross, Metter, Sr.

OL – Josh Garland, Savannah Christian, Sr.

OL – J.J. Rowe, Bryan County, Jr.

ATH – Nardo Govan, Savannah Christian, Sr.

PK – Harley Lichtenberg, Savannah Country Day, Jr.

Defense

LB – Will Hoskins, Metter, Sr.

LB – Eric Davis, Savannah Christian, Sr.

LB – Zenas Moore, Claxton, Sr.

LB – Matt Soss, Calvary Day, Jr.

LB – Noe Recendez, Metter, Sr.

DL – …

All-region team for 1-AAA

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:00:45 +0000

Player of the year: Terrell Cason, Cairo

Co-offensive player of the year: Steven Bench, Cairo

Co-offensive player of the year: Charles Stafford, Monroe

Defensive player of the year: Christopher Green, Westover

Coach of the year: Tom Fallaw, Cairo

Offense

QB – Bryce Benton, Americus-Sumter

RB – Dalviness Green, Westover

RB – Devine Noel, Monroe

FB – Prince Davis, Cairo

TE – Arthur Robinson, Cairo

WR – Terrevious Hudson, Monroe

WR – Jantavious Carter, Crisp County

OL – Anthony Mosley, Cairo

OL – Dontavious Shuler, Cairo

OL – Hakeem Porter, Monroe

OL – Devin Swann, Westover

OL – Devin Gibson, Worth County

Defense

DL – Shykeith Johnson, Americus-Sumter

DL – Vantrell McMillan, Monroe

DL – Randy Wooten, Cairo

DL – Dantavious Jones, Worth County

LB – Paul Davis, Cairo

LB – Anthony Smith, Monroe

LB – Don Mills, Westover

DB – Lavontae Robinson, Worth County

DB – Martinez Reese, Americus-Sumter

DB – Timothy Gurley, Cairo

DB – Marshall Taylor, Crisp County

Special teams

P – Ryan Cook, …

All-region team for 1-AAAA

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:45:51 +0000

Offensive player of the year: RB Marte Polk, Northside (Warner Robins)

Defensive player of the year: Shamaii Wilburn, Bainbridge

Coach of the year: Brian Way, Warner Robins

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Jack Montgomery, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

RB – Marte Polk, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

RB – Brian Sutton, Warner Robins, Sr.

WR – Keshun Hill, Northside (Warner Robins), Jr.

WR – Josh Cabrera, Lee Co., Sr.

TE – Kyle Griffin, Warner Robins, Sr.

C – Drew Foley, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

G – Jim Dart, Warner Robins, Sr.

G – C.J. Haslem, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

T – Greg Farms, Warner Robins, Sr.

T – D.J. Williams, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

AP – Miguel Williams, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

PK – Dillon Mixon, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

Defense

DT – Shamaii Wilburn, Bainbridge, Sr.

DT – Josh Chester, Northside (Warner Robins), Sr.

DE – Anfernee Chatfield, Northside (Warner Robins), Jr.

DE – Daryl McGhee, Bainbridge, Jr.

LB – Trey Payne, Northside (Warner …

All-region team for 3-AAAAA

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:30:06 +0000

Player of the year: Aaron Hughes, Windsor Forest

Offensive player of the year: Brice Ramsey, Camden County

Defensive player of the year: Vincent Hollerman, Camden County

Special teams player of the year: J.J. Green, Camden County

Coach of the year: Jason Roundtree, Windsor Forest

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Shyheim Roberts, Johnson, Jr.

RB – Juwan Johnson, Groves, Sr.

RB – Terron Bradham , Jenkins, Sr.

RB – Kevonn McKenzie , Camden County, Sr.

OL – Tim Martensen, Camden County, Sr.

OL – Laverne Sumter, Beach, Sr.

OL – Patrick Fogerty, Benedictine, Sr.

OL – Chester Brown, Bradwell Institute, Sr.

OL – Thacker King, Benedictine, Sr.

OL – Mickey Call, Camden County, Jr.

TE – Kavon Freeman, Savannah, Sr.

WR – Tremayne Traywick, Windsor Forest, Sr.

WR – Deion Sanders, Johnson, Sr.

K – Brice Ramsey, Camden County, Jr.

Defense

DL – Malachi Singleton, Johnson, Sr.

DL – Willie Vurgess, Beach, Sr.

DL – Devlyn Cousin, Camden County, Sr.

DL – Josh Plummer, Camden County, Sr.

LB – Joseph …

Former Georgia high schoolers playing QB at FBS schools

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:15:50 +0000

There are 24 former Georgia high school players who are quarterbacks for FBS (formerly called Division I-A) schools, according to research by Steve Slay. Two are starters. They are Connor Shaw of South Carolina and Tim Jefferson Jr. of Air Force. Others have started at least one game. Those include Bryan Ellis of UAB and Trey Miller of Navy. Here are the 24:

Air Force

Tim Jefferson Jr. (Woodward Academy)

Baylor

Andrew Frerking (Wesleyan)

Buffalo

Tony Daniel (South Paulding)

East Carolina

Rio Johnson (Sandy Creek)

Eastern Michigan

Austin Karcher (Fellowship Christian)

Georgia

Greg Bingham (Columbus)

Hutson Mason (Lassiter)

Mikey Tamburo (North Gwinnett)

Parker Welch (Wayne County)

Georgia Tech

Deonte Fletcher (Heritage-Conyers)

Synjyn Days (Hillgrove)

Demond Smith (Monroe Area)

Darryl Dickey (Ola)

Kansas State

Justin Tuggle (Northview)

Kent State

Jordan Tarver (Stephenson)

LSU

Zach Mettenberger (Oconee County)

Middle Tenneseee

Tim Byerly (Chattahoochee)

Navy

Trey Miller …

Early gauge of the new regions: Class AAA

GHSF Daily — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:02 +0000

Here are three observations about the regions that will make up Class AAA in 2012:

*Buford, which has gone 72-3 over the past five seasons playing in a region that includes Greater Atlanta Christian, Lovett, Westminster and Blessed Trinity, is likely to be even more dominant in Region 7-AAA. The Wolves are the highest-rated team in the new Class AAA, according to the Maxwell Ratings, and no other team from the region is in the top 30.

*The best region, by far, will be 2-AAA, according to the computers. Peach County and Carver of Columbus, who have combined to go 119-17 over the past five seasons, are both ranked in the top three, and five of the seven teams in the region have averaged at least five victories per season over that span.

*Private schools St. Pius, Woodward Academy and Blessed Trinity will form a tough trio in 6-AAA, battling with Cedar Grove for the top spot. All four teams are rated among the 13 best in AAA; no other team from the region is higher than No. …

All-region team for 8-A

GHSF Daily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:00:42 +0000

Player of the year: Rob Farriba, Prince Avenue Christian

Offensive player of the year: Cody Streetman, Commerce

Defensive player of the year: Tyler Parrish, Prince Avenue Christian

Coach of the year: Mark Farriba, Prince Avenue Christian

Offense

RB – Nick Waters, George Walton Academy

RB – Taylor Allen, Athens Academy

RB – Bryce Huff, Prince Avenue Christian

RB – Hayden Lewis, Prince Avenue Christian

RB – Milton Harrison, Social Circle

QB – Hunter Rice, George Walton Academy

QB – Carl Maddox, Prince Avenue Christian

QB – Zack Resop, Athens Christian

WR – Garrett Wilson, Commerce

WR – Levi Cummings, Athens Christian

TE – Patrick Stewart, George Walton Academy

TE – Victor Salcido, Riverside Military

TE – Bobby Marshburn, Athens Academy

OL – Hunter Reynolds, Athens Christian

OL – Coleman Lowenthal, Riverside Military

OL – Ean Carbanash, Riverside Military

OL – Micah Eason, Commerce

OL – Carter Patton, Prince Avenue Christian

OL – Josh Grider, …

All-region team for 7-AAA

GHSF Daily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:45:03 +0000

7-AAA

Offensive player of the year: Miles Jones, Allatoona

Defensive player of the year: Vonn Bell, Ridgeland

Coach of the year: Scott Hendrix, Cedartown

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Zach Chubb, Cedartown

RB – Miles Jones, Allatoona

RB – Nick Chubb, Cedartown

RB/FB – Tre Bonds, Dalton

WR – Rhett Harper, Southeast Whitfield

WR – Cody Sherlin, Heritage

WR – Demarcus Simpson, LaFayette

TE – Will Erwin, Dalton

OL – Luke Sims, Heritage

OL – Ryan Emmer, Ringgold

OL – Elias Ortega, Dalton

OL – Luke Miller, Allatoona

OL – George Hiteshew, Allatoona

Defense

DL – Justin Adekoya, Heritage

DL – Bryson Brindle, Allatoona

DL – Robert Hardaway, Dalton

DL – Marquis Thomas, Cedartown

LB – Mike Miller, Allatoona

LB – Will Crane, Heritage

LB – Daniel Johnson, Ridgeland

LB – Zach Reed, Dalton

DB – Vonn Bell, Ridgeland

DB – Alex Ison, Allatoona

DB – Billy Johnson, Heritage

DB – Hayes Linn, Cartersville

Special teams

P – Colin Barber, Cartersville

PK – …

Georgians playing for Ivy League schools

GHSF Daily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:30:19 +0000

North Gwinnett QB Scott Hosch recently committed to play at Harvard next season. With nine, Harvard is the Ivy League school with the most former Georgia high school football players, according to research by Steve Slay. There are 30 former Georgia players on Ivy League rosters this season:

Brown

DB Eric Armagost, Starr’s Mill

LB Davis Feder, Walker

Columbia

TE Hamilton Garner, Duluth

DB Neil Schuster, Marist

OL Dylan Leonard, Ola

RB Marcorus Garrett, Pope

Cornell

LB Sawyer Pettit, Gilmer

QB Cole Parker, Lowndes

OL Josh Grider, Oconee County

S Brian Gee, St. Pius

DE Justin Harris, St. Pius

Dartmouth

K Riley Lyons, Blessed Trinity

TE Eric Wickham, Savannah Christian

RB Greg Patton, Woodward Academy

Harvard

RB Treavor Scales, Dunwoody

DB Jason Holdway, Etowah

QB Colton Chapple, GAC

DB Khadi Tshishku, Lakeside (Evans)

RB Zach Boden, Lovett

OL Parker Sebastian, Lovett

DE Zach Hodges, Tri-Cities

DB Norman Hayes, Tucker

DT Matt Lunati, Westminster

Pennsylvania

OL Matt Kiefer, …

More than 3,000 Georgians on college rosters this fall

GHSF Daily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:15:08 +0000

More than 3,000 former Georgia football players were on college rosters this fall, according to the annual research of Steve Slay, a Tucker High graduate and Florida resident whose hobby is to track such things.

They come from as far away as Hawaii, where former Redan running back Sterling Jackson is a junior.

Stephenson has the most college players with 50. The Jaguars have sent more than 20 players to college football each of the past two seasons.

Below are some lists that show how many current college players each of Georgia’s high schools can claim as alumni.

Slay researched all schools from junior colleges through the top levels of Division I. Only four rosters have not been found, he said. Those are community colleges Laney and West Valley in California, Lon Morris in Texas and Mississippi Delta.

With so many college rosters to track down and scroll, some errors are inevitable. Some school rosters have mistakes. Others might not list walk-ons or redshirted players. Some …

Early gauge of the new regions: Class AAAA

GHSF Daily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:36 +0000

Here are three observations about the regions that will make up Class AAAA in 2012:

*Sandy Creek and Carrollton, who met in the 2010 AAA championship game (a 14-7 Sandy Creek victory), will renew their rivalry as members of the new 5-AAAA. They will be joined by Troup, LaGrange and Shaw, giving the region five teams that made the playoffs in 2011.

*Class AAA champion Burke County and perennial power Statesboro should dominate in Region 3-AAAA. They are the only two of the 10 teams in the region with winning records over the past five seasons and the only two ranked in the top 32 teams in the new classification, according to the Maxwell Ratings.

*The top region, according Maxwell, will be 4-AAAA, which will have no teams rated among the top six but has five teams (Jonesboro, Stockbridge, Griffin, North Clayton and Upson-Lee) that made the playoffs this year and another (Dutchtown) that reached the quarterfinals in 2010. Regions 1, 2 and 5 aren’t too far behind.

The chart below …

Schools that attended meeting to form new association

GHSF Daily — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:30:53 +0000

Atkinson County

Baconton Charter

Calhoun County

Central (Talbotton)

Charlton County

Chattahoochee County

Claxton

Clinch County

Dooly County

Echols County

Glascock County

Gordon Lee

Hancock Central

Irwin County

Jenkins County

Johnson County

Lanier County

Miller County

Montgomery County

Randolph-Clay

Schley County

Seminole County

Social Circle

Stewart County

Taylor County

Terrell County

Tift County

Twiggs County

Warren County

Washington-Wilkes

Wheeler County

Wilcox County

Wilkinson County

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Grayson earns spot in top five of six polls

GHSF Daily — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:15:24 +0000

Grayson won its first state championship in football last week, and the nation was impressed. Six national polls have the Rams in the top five this week.

Grayson peaks at No. 3 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 and Rivals rankings. Grayson is ranked fourth by CNN/SI, ESPN and PrepNation. USA Today ranks the Rams fifth.

CalPreps

14. Grayson

CNN/SI

4. Grayson

ESPN Fab 50

4. Grayson

31. Tucker

49. Walton

MaxPreps

3. Grayson

PrepNation

4. Grayson

USA Today

5. Grayson

Rivals

3. Grayson

24. Tucker

32. Northside (Warner Robins)

41. Colquitt County

49. Walton

63. Calhoun

65. Buford

Scout

8. Grayson

41. Tucker

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Early gauge of the new regions: Class AAAAA

GHSF Daily — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:06 +0000

Class AAAA champion Tucker will lose longtime rival Marist from its schedule next season, but the Tigers will pick up M.L. King and Stephenson as the DeKalb powers drop from the highest classification into Tucker’s region in for 2012.

The addition of M.L. King and Stephenson will give Region 6-AAAAA three of the five teams that would have been rated at the top of Class AAAA this season, according to the Maxwell Ratings. Playoff teams Southwest DeKalb and Mays also will be there to challenge for playoff spots in 2012. Marist will play in Class AAAA next year.

Another region that should be improved is 8-AAAAA, which adds state semifinalist Gainesville to a region that includes Flowery Branch, Clarke Central and Heritage of Conyers.

The chart below might give you a feel for strength of regions and the teams to beat next year.

Make sure you understand how it works:

*The W-L record is each school’s record over the past five years.

*The rating on the right is each team’s power …

Schools averaging 10 or more victories over the past five seasons

GHSF Daily — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:54 +0000

Buford 72-3

Calhoun 65-7

Tucker 64-6

Camden County 62-7

Carver (Columbus) 62-8

Savannah Christian 62-7

Northside (Warner Robins) 61-6

Grayson 60-9

Wilcox County 60-8

Cairo 59-10

Sandy Creek 59-8

Emanuel County Institute 58-8

Peach County 57-9

Lincoln County 56-10

North Gwinnett 56-9

Carrollton 55-10

Fitzgerald 55-11

Gainesville 55-10

Lowndes 54-11

Clinch County 53-14

Flowery Branch 52-13

Griffin 51-12

Charlton County 50-9-1

Lovett 50-17

M.L. King 50-11

Newnan 50-15

St. Pius 50-11

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Early gauge of the new regions: Class AAAAAA

GHSF Daily — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:47 +0000

Georgia’s highest classification will take on a different look, not to mention a new name, in 2012.

The new Class AAAAAA will have 63 schools, including AAAA playoff teams Lambert, Lovejoy, Chattahoochee, Habersham Central, Johns Creek and Tri-Cities. Lovejoy was the Class AAAA runner-up this season.

Meanwhile, 11 current members of the highest class will play lower next season. They include M.L. King, Stephenson and eight Savannah-area schools that play in Region 3. The 11th is Northview.

The chart below might give you a feel for strength of regions and the teams to beat next year.

Make sure you understand how it works:

*The W-L record is each school’s record over the past five years.

*The rating on the right is each team’s power rating for the 2011 season, according to the computer-generated Maxwell Ratings.

*The ranking on the left is how each of the 63 schools ranks in Class AAAAAA, based on their 2011 results.

Rank

Pct.

Rating

Region …

Shutouts in the finals in the largest classification

GHSF Daily — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:10 +0000

2011: Grayson 24, Walton 0

1999: Lowndes 17, Brunswick 0

1990: Valdosta 31, SW DeKalb 0

1987: Morrow 21, Effingham County 0

1986: Valdosta 28, Clarke Central 0

1981: Warner Robins 21, Newnan 0

1976: Warner Robins 34, Griffin 0

1963: Avondale 40, Moultrie 0

1962: Valdosta 39, Murphy 0

1959: Albany 20, Marietta 0

1957: Northside Atlanta 20, Columbus 0

1954: Rossville 38, Savannah 0

1951: Richmond Academy 14, O’Keefe 0

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Championship games in review

GHSF Daily — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:30:54 +0000

Class AAAAA

Grayson 24, Walton 0

History: Grayson, which opened in 2000, won its first state championship in football and became the eighth team from Gwinnett County to win the highest classification since 1996. Cobb County was denied its first state champion since 1967.

Pivotal moments: Grayson dominated the first half and led 24-0, but each score was set up by a critical play. David Kamara forced a fumble on Walton’s first series. Nick Schuessler threw two long passes, one for a touchdown to Callen Hightower, the other a 42-yarder to Corey Schaeffer. Ryan Carter returned a punt 67 yards.

Worth noting: This was only the second shutout in the finals of the highest classification over the past 20 years, and the first since Lowndes beat Brunswick 17-0 in 1999. … Grayson gave up 58 yards rushing in the game and allowed 37.9 yards rushing per game for the season. … Walton’s Tyren Jones finished with 2,375 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns. He failed to score a touchdown for the …

Camden, Colquitt to play in expanded Corky Kell Classic

GHSF Daily — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:04 +0000

South Georgia powers Camden County and Colquitt County are coming to the Georgia Dome in 2012 to play in the annual Corky Kell Kickoff Classic, which will add a fifth game for the first time.

Camden County will play Peachtree Ridge, and Colquitt County will play North Gwinnett. The games will be played Saturday, Aug. 25.

For the past two seasons, the four Corky Kell games were between Cobb and Gwinnett county teams.

Camden will be making its first appearance since 2009, when it lost to Grayson but came back to win the Class AAAAA championship. Camden is 5-1 in Corky Kell games.

Colquitt played in the Kell Classic from 1996 to 1999, winning one of its four games.

Another new team to the Kell Classic will be Chattahoochee. The Cougars played in the game in 2004 and 2005, losing to Brookwood and Parkview.

Lassiter, which upset Brookwood in the 2011 game, will not return.

Corky Kell Classic schedule:

9 a.m. – Kell vs. Chattahoochee

11:45 a.m. – Grayson vs. McEachern

2:45 p.m. – …

Final rankings: It’s the only time when we agree on who’s No. 1

Todd Holcomb — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:48:38 +0000

Congrats to our five new state champions – Grayson, Tucker, Burke County, Calhoun, Savannah Christian.

Below are the final rankings. All year, we hear that the only rankings that count are the final ones. This week, we found out that the final rankings don’t mean anything either, except for No. 1.

But for those who like to argue this stuff (and that includes me), have at it.

Here are the principles that I believe best guide final rankings: - Don’t contradict a head-to-head result in the playoffs - Don’t go strictly by how many rounds a team won in the playoffs - Don’t let one one playoff result nullify everything a team has accomplished otherwise.

Class AAAAA 1. Grayson (15-0) 2. Walton (14-1) 3. Colquitt County (11-3) 4. Camden County (12-1) 5. Lassiter (10-4) 6. M.L. King (12-1) 7. West Forsyth (11-2) 8. Hillgrove (11-1) 9. McEachern (10-2) 10. North Gwinnett (10-2) Class AAAA 1. Tucker (15-0) 2. Northside-Warner Robins (13-1) 3. Lovejoy (14-1) 4. Warner Robins …

Class AAA final: Burke County 28, Peach County 14

Jay Stone — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:21:55 +0000

Comebacks weren’t a big part of Burke County’s resume through the first 14 games, but they needed a big one in the Class AAA championship game and they got it.

Trailing by two touchdowns late in the first half, the Bears got two touchdowns each from Corey Mayton and Donquell Green, rolling to their first state title with a 28-14 win Saturday in the Georgia Dome.

Burke County (14-1) was outgained 182-91 in the first half but trailed only 14-7 thanks to a pair of Peach County turnovers.

The second half was a completely different story.

“We challenged them at halftime,” said Burke County coach Eric Parker. “We weren’t very nice about it. We didn’t feel like we were playing as physical as we usually do.”

The Burke defense held Peach (13-2) to 18 total yards in the second half and the Trojans did not cross midfield after intermission, sacking Peach quarterback Kentel Kendrick four times.

“They just imposed their will on us,” said Peach coach Chad Campbell, …

Tucker 22, Lovejoy 7

Chip Saye — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:04:07 +0000

Top-ranked Tucker proved once again that it plays defense pretty well, too.

Tucker held Lovejoy to 207 total yards, got plenty of offense from Jordan Landry and the running game and rolled over the Wildcats 22-7 in the Class AAAA championship game on Friday at the Georgia Dome. The victory gave Tucker (15-0) its second AAAA title in four years and completed the Tigers’ first undefeated season in school history.

Lovejoy, which opened in 1990 and was making its first appearance in a state final, finished 14-1. Tucker’s 22 points were the most allowed by the Wildcats this season.

Lovejoy entered the game giving up a state-best 3.6 points per game, but it was Tucker that made the big plays on the state’s biggest stage. The Tigers intercepted two passes, scored a safety and did not allow a point until midway through the fourth quarter. Of Lovejoy’s 207 yards, 180 came after the Tigers had built a 22-0 lead.

Tucker had allowed just 11.6 points in its first 14 games, the …

Weekend Forum: Georgia high school football scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE!

AJC Sports — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:54:18 +0000

ABOUT THIS BLOG: 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, POST IT HERE and let’s talk about this week’s games.

NOTE: Inappropriate BLOG comments and personal attacks will NOT be tolerated. We love the lively discussions but threatening, harassing or irresponsible comments are unacceptable and could result in your being banned from the blog.

SCORE ATLANTA LIVE SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see this week’s results.

Here are the games you can find stories and photos from this weekend on ajc.com…

PHOTOS Class AA: Buford vs. Calhoun Class AAAA: Lovejoy vs. Tucker Class A: Landmark Christian vs. Savannah Christian Class AAA: Burke Co. vs. Peach Co. Class AAAAA: Grayson vs. Walton

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON GPB Class AAAAA: Grayson vs. Walton, Saturday, 8 p.m.

New QB, big-time receiver provide big plays for Peach

Jay Stone — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:04:17 +0000

Things could hardly have started worse in 2011 for the Peach County Trojans. Within a span of a handful of plays during the Trojans’ preseason jamboree scrimmage, the Trojans lost two starters, including quarterback Greg Williams, to injuries.

Four months later, they’re in the state championship game for the fifth time in nine years and they’re going for their fourth title in seven years.

It’s not news that the Trojans have come this far. How they’ve done it is what catches the eye.

When Williams went down, they turned to Kentel Kendrick, who had precious little experience under center.

“I just told the kids we’d have to win ugly,” said Peach County coach Chad Campbell. “Kentel had to grow up really quickly. We struggled early on. Kentel didn’t get a rep in the summer. Without him having a bunch of reps or throwing in a summer passing league, he’s really done a remarkable job this year.”

Kendrick has thrown for more than 2,000 yards, 16 touchdowns and …

AAA football: Peach County vs. Burke County facts

Jay Stone — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:27 +0000

Class AAA Title Game (4:30 p.m) Burke County (13-1) vs. Peach County (13-1) Overview: The Peach County Trojans have averaged 10 wins per year dating back to the 2000 season and they won AAA titles in 2005, 2006 and 2009. They are one of two teams to have won multiple AAA championships in that time period … The Burke County Bears are seeking their first state championship, having lost in the 1997 final to Thomas County Central. They’ve made five straight playoff appearances, but have won at least 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time. Burke County season: The Bears lost to Class AAAAA Lowndes in week 3 but have reeled off 11 straight wins since then, and they’ve only been challenged twice. They beat 3-AAA South foe Washington County 28-20 in agame where they only had 14 minutes of possession time. They’ve scored 638 points and have been held under 30 points just twice in 14 games. Peach County season: The Trojans started off 5-0 before falling on the road …

All-region team for 4-A

GHSF Daily — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:13 +0000

Player of the year: Jawan Hall, Central (Talbotton)

Offensive player of the year: DeMarquez Mallard, Marion County

Co-defensive players of the year: Gabriel Jones, Marion County, and Montravius Adams, Dooly County

Coach of the year: Mike Swaney, Marion County

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Duncan Fletcher, Brookstone

RB – Lotravious Mintor, Schley County

RB – Drew McCluskey, Brookstone

RB – J.R. Davis, Greenville

WR – Tavarois Bryant, Marion County

WR – Madison McCluskey, Brookstone

WR – Alex McClendon, Dooly County

TE – Tevin Acey, Greenville

OL – Dylan McClellan, Marion County

OL – Matthew Royal, Marion County

OL – Will Whilden, Brookstone

OL – Derrick Bodiford, Taylor County

OL – JaErick Lundy, Dooly County

K – A.J. Wells, Marion County

Defense

DL – DeQueszman Kelly, Marion County

DL – Nigel Milner, Marion County

DL – Joc Johnson, Marion County

DL – Lary Mathews, Taylor County

DL – Roman Neal, Greenville

LB – Dedric Gates, Greenville

LB – …

All-region team for 3-A West

GHSF Daily — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:30:37 +0000

Offensive player of the year: Wezley Ealey, Emanuel County Institute, Sr.

Defensive player of the year: Joe Lockley, Portal, Sr.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

OL – C.J. Burns, Montgomery County, So.

OL – Denzel Washington, Portal, Sr.

OL – Gunnar Brown, Emanuel County Institute, Jr.

OL – Brandon Bigham, Johnson County, So.

OL – Jagger Hogue, Wheeler County, Sr.

QB – Austin Oliver, Wheeler County, So.

RB – Glendarius Darrisaw, Johnson County, Jr.

RB – E.J. Parker, Wheeler County, Jr.

RB – Trai Gadson, Portal, Sr.

WR – James Baker, Treutlen, So.

WR – Lavonte Evans, Jenkins County, Sr.

TE – C.J. Johnson, Emanuel County Institute, Sr.

TE – Lance Bell, Montgomery County, Sr.

ST/ATH – Austin Jones, Johnson County, Jr.

Defense

DE – Greg Purcell, Emanuel County Institute, Jr.

DE – Robkevious Norris, Johnson County, Jr.

DL – Jonathon Taylor, Jenkins County, Sr.

DL – Jacob Smith, Treutlen, Sr.

DL – Darius Carter, Jenkins County, Sr.

LB – Kelvion Johnson, …

Championship game rematches

GHSF Daily — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:29 +0000

It has happened eight times that two state finalists have met in a rematch of the previous year’s final. The winner of the first game is 7-1 in rematches:

1952-53

Valdosta 30, LaGrange 0

Valdosta 48, LaGrange 7

1962-63

Lincolnton 26, West Point 19

Lincolnton 33, West Point 7

1965-66

Warren County 19, Monticello 14

Warren County 20, Monticello 0

1970-71

Mount de Sales 41, Adairsville 18

Mount de Sales 28, Adairsville 14

1982-83

Palmetto 14, Wrens 0

Palmetto 40, Wrens 18

2003-04

Buford 31, Charlton County 3

Charlton County 35, Buford 20

2008-10

Buford 45, Calhoun 21

Buford 13, Calhoun 10

Buford 31, Calhoun 24

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AA football: Buford vs. Calhoun facts

Prep Zone — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:27:18 +0000

Class AA title game (4:30 p.m.)

Calhoun (14-0) vs. Buford (14-0)

Overview: These two teams are no strangers to this situation. This is the fourth straight year they’ve met in the championship game, with Buford winning each previous occasion. Buford has won four consecutive titles and has won eight in its history: Class A in 1978 and 2011, and Class AA in 2002-03 and 2007-10. Calhoun won the Class A championship in 1952.

Calhoun season: The Yellow Jackets had their closest call in the season opener, a 24-14 win over Class AAA Dalton. Calhoun, ranked No. 2 all season, has been a point-scoring machine, twice scoring more than 60 and four times scoring more than 50. The Yellow Jackets average 44.9 points per game and have won their four playoff games by an average of 30.25 points. The first-team defense has allowed very few scores, but the team has only two shutouts for the season.

Buford season: The Wolves started the season as the No. 1 ranked team and have shown no signs of …

Tucker’s high-scoring offense faces ultimate test in Lovejoy defense

Chip Saye — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:10:12 +0000

Top-ranked Tucker rolls into the Class AAAA championship game behind an offense that is scoring 45 points per game, but to win their second title in four years, the Tigers (14-0) will have to solve the state’s best defense.

Fifth-ranked Lovejoy (14-0) enters Friday’s 8 p.m. game at the Georgia Dome allowing 3.6 points per game. The Wildcats have shut out eight opponents, including one stretch of four in a row, and have allowed more than 10 points just twice. Lovejoy has given up just 50 points all season; Tucker has scored that many or more in seven of its 14 games.

“They’ve done a great job,” Lovejoy coach Al Hughes said of his defense. “Our coaches have done a great job of putting together game plans for them, and they buy into it every week. They’ve done a great job of getting the kids into the right positions.”

The Wildcats’ defense has produced its share of points, too. Lovejoy has forced 28 fumbles, eight of which were returned for touchdowns. Jermaine …

AAAA football: Lovejoy vs. Tucker facts

Chip Saye — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:00:27 +0000

Class AAAA title game (8 p.m. Friday)

Lovejoy (14-0) vs. Tucker (14-0)

Overview: The Lovejoy Wildcats are making their first appearance in a state championship game. Lovejoy, which opened in 1990, had three previous 10-0 regular seasons but never had advanced past the second round of the playoffs … The Tucker Tigers are attempting to win their second state championship in coach Franklin Stephens’ five seasons. The Tigers, who beat Marist to win the 2008 AAAA title, reached the 10-victory mark for the 11th time in 14 years but have never had an undefeated season.

Lovejoy season: Lovejoy went 10-0 in the regular season and won the Region 4-AAAA championship for the second consecutive season. The Wildcats’ closest game was a 24-20 victory over third-place Tri-Cities on Oct. 1.

Tucker season: Tucker opened the season with narrow victories against Southwest DeKalb (18-7) and Marist (15-11) but did not have another game closer than 30 points until the third round of the …

Fourth (and final) round: Buford vs. Calhoun

Prep Zone — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:04:11 +0000

By Stan Awtrey

For the Journal-Constitution

For the fourth straight year, Calhoun and Buford have a date at the Georgia Dome to determine the Class AA football championship. And with reclassification shuffling the deck for next year, this will be the last such encounter.

Good, say both sides.

“Can we just play someone else for the state championship for a change?” asked Calhoun coach Hal Lamb, whose team has lost to Buford in the last three championship games.

“It’s tough for both of us,” said Buford coach Jess Simpson, whose school moves to AAA in 2012. “But to play in this game is an honor and it’s exciting. And here we are in December and both of us are both at the Dome.”

It has all the makings of another masterpiece. The two teams are both 14-0 and have clearly proven themselves to be the cream of Class AA. Buford began the season ranked No. 1 and Calhoun No. 2; neither has moved an inch.

After routing the Yellow Jackets 45-21 in the 2008 championship game, …

Welsh, Hodges to be inducted into GACA Hall of Fame

GHSF Daily — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:30:35 +0000

Luther Welsh and Mike Hodges, former Georgia coaches who led teams to three state championships each, have been selected for induction into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Welsh won state championships at Thomson in 1984, 1985 and 2002. He retired last season with a record of 333-181-6. His victory total ranks fourth all-time among Georgia coaches. Welsh died July 14 at age 79.

Hodges, a native of Warren County, won state titles at West Rome in 1982 and 1983 and Thomasville in 1988. All were undefeated.

Hodges is one of only three coaches to take four schools to the semifinals. Others who have done that are T. McFerrin and Charlie Winslette. Hodges had a 149-35-3 record in 15 seasons as a Georgia head coach.

Coincidentally, the two coaches had to go through each other to win one of their state titles. Welsh’s 1985 Thomson team beat Thomasville in the semifinals, and Hodges’ 1988 Thomasville team beat Thomson in the semifinals.

The inductions will take …

Coaches who have won titles at two Georgia schools

GHSF Daily — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:00:52 +0000

Mike Hodges, recently chosen for induction into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, is one of 13 coaches who have won state titles at two schools. Here are the 13:

*Charlie Brake (1955 Morgan County, 1971 Westminster)

*Gene Brodie (1975 Central Macon, 1983 Tift County)

*Howard Busby (1991 Kendrick, 2001 Statesboro)

*Wayman Creel (1957 Northside of Atlanta, 1970, 1972 Lakeside of Atlanta)

*Jeff Herron (1999 Oconee County, 2003, 2008-09 Camden County)

*Dwight Hochstetler (1980, 1984 Greenville, 1992 Bowdon)

*Mike Hodges (1982-83 West Rome, 1988 Thomasville)

*Jim Hughes (1973-74 Thomasville, 1994 Colquitt County)

*Ralph Jones (1982 Bainbridge, 1990 Cairo)

*Ray Lamb (1965-66 Warren County, 1981 Commerce)

*Milt Miller (1987 Worth County, 1999 Lowndes)

*Jerry Sharp (1977-78 East Rome, 1998 Darlington)

*Charlie Winslette (1985 West Rome, 1993 Greene-Taliaferro)

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Grayson, Buford ranked among top 10 nationally

GHSF Daily — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:00:45 +0000

Grayson has five top-10 national rankings and Buford has three heading into the state finals in Georgia. Neither is well positioned for a national title, as each has teams in front that have won their state titles. But it’s rare for Georgia to have a pair of top-10 teams. Here are this week’s national rankings:

CalPreps

45. Grayson

CNN/SI

8. Buford

10. Grayson

ESPN

4. Grayson

25. Walton

27. Buford

MaxPreps

6. Grayson

9. Buford

PrepNation

9. Grayson

Rivals

8. Buford

9. Grayson

22. Walton

26. Tucker

54. Northside (Warner Robins)

56. Colquitt County

59. Camden County

USA Today

6. Grayson

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POY Watch: Top two to face off in Class AAAAA final

GHSF Daily — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:49 +0000

Top two to face off in AAAAA final

The Class AAAAA championship will decide which school – Walton or Grayson – will claim its first state title. Could more be at stake? The game also matches the top two players in GHSF Daily’s Player of the Year Watch.

Walton running back Jones has never been held to less than 104 yards when given at least five carries. Grayson defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche leads a defense that has not allowed more than 101 yards rushing to any one team.

Here’s the latest top 10:

1. RB Tyren Jones, Walton: Jones, a junior, rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in a 30-24 Class AAAAA semifinal victory over Lassiter. On the season, Jones has rushed for 2,299 yards and 33 touchdowns on 303 carries (7.6 yards per carry) and has 14 catches for 197 yards and four touchdowns. He has 38 touchdowns overall. Walton is 14-0 and playing in its first state championship game.

2. DT/RB Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson: Nkemdiche had two sacks and a touchdown in …

All-region team for 6-A

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:29 +0000

Offensive player of the year: RB Maricio Askew, Bowdon, Sr.

Defensive player of the year: DB Cameron Gibson, Darlington, Sr.

Coach of the year: Ricky Tolleson, Bremen

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Brent Copeland, Bremen, Sr.

QB – Brad Butler, Darlington, Jr.

RB – Klay Durham, Gordon Lee, Sr.

RB – Voltaire Driver, Bremen, So.

RB – Evan Kasian, Walker, Jr.

WR – Nigel Matthews, Darlington, Sr.

WR – J.B. Stephens, Bowdon, Sr.

WR – Armani Moore, Mount Paran, Sr.

OL – Noah Mills, Bremen, Sr.

OL – Colin Mitchell, Walker, Jr.

OL – Gavin Lawrence, Darlington, Sr.

OL – Trevor Flannigan, Trion, Sr.

OL – Trey Rooks, Bowdon, Sr.

AP – Garrett Frazier, Mount Zion, Jr.

Defense

DL – Mike Ramsay, Walker, Jr.

DL – Randall Smith, Gordon Lee, Jr.

DL – Kendall Gaylor, Darlington, Sr.

DL – Scotty Valianni, Mount Paran, Jr.

DL – Joe Bexley, Bremen, Jr.

LB – John Pierce-McKay, Mount Paran, Sr.

LB – Chase Tolbert, Darlington, Sr.

LB – Bryce Bailey, Gordon Lee, …

All-Region team for 2-AAAA Div. A

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:42 +0000

Player of the year: Shadrach Thornton, Liberty County, Sr.

Defensive player of the year: LB James Dean, Glynn Academy, Sr.

Offensive player of the year: QB Greyson Lambert, Wayne County, Sr.

Special teams players of the year: Matthew Delaney, Glynn Academy, Jr., and Seth Starling, Ware County, Jr.

Offense

QB – Josh Bennett, Ware County, Sr.

RB – Jonathan Alford, Glynn Academy, Jr.

RB – Jarvis Small, Brunswick, Sr.

RB – T. J. Franklin, Richmond Hill, Sr.

RB – Bernard Robertson, Ware County, Sr.

WR – Krenwick Height, Wayne County, So.

WR – Solomon Jones, Brunswick, Sr.

WR – Alex Cruz, Richmond Hill, Sr.

WR – Chase Morris, Ware County, Sr.

TE – Brady McVay, Glynn Academy, Sr.

OL – Craig Calhoun, Brunswick, Sr.

OL – Marcus Saunders, Wayne County, Sr.

OL – Nicholas Johnson, Richmond Hill, Sr.

OL – Taylor Benchoff, Ware County, Sr.

OL – Quay Jones, Ware County, Sr.

OL – Dewey Hilliard, Ware County, Sr.

OL – Jacob Swinea, Glynn Academy, …

All-region team for 6-AAAAA

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:00:32 +0000

Player of the year: Evan Jacks, Northview Coach of the year: Jason Dukes, Alpharetta

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Evan Jacks, Northview, Sr.

RB – Terrence Upshaw, Northview, Jr.

RB – Treyvon Paulk, Milton, So.

RB – Blake Roberts, West Forsyth, Sr.

WR – Carlos Burse, Alpharetta, Sr.

WR – Christian Robinson, Centennial, So.

WR – Wade Francis, Centennial, Sr.

TE – Ty Anderson, West Forsyth, Jr.

OL – DeAndre Wise, Alpharetta, Sr.

OL – Vincent Calhoun, Centennial, Jr.

OL – Josh Harris, Milton, Jr.

OL – Alex Porter, Roswell, Sr.

OL – Zach Gainey, West Forsyth, Sr.

ATH – Jake Wieczorek, West Forsyth, Jr.

K – Connor Davis, Centennial, Sr.

RET – Lance Belue, West Forsyth, Sr.

Defense

DL – Naim Mustafaa, Alpharetta, Jr.

DL – Khari Waithe-Alexander, Alpharetta, Jr.

DL – Carl Lawson, Milton, Jr.

DL – Madison Hoke, North Forsyth, So.

LB – Michael Wagner, Alpharetta, Sr.

LB – Eric Fitzgerald, North Forsyth, Jr.

LB – Wes Rood, West Forsyth, Sr.

LB – …

Tentative rosters for North-South All-Star Game announced

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:00:35 +0000

The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association released tentative rosters for the Georgia North-South High School All-Star game, which will be played Dec. 30 in Columbus.

The North team will be led by 2,000-yard rushers Miles Jones of Allatoona and Kevin Ellison of Habersham Central. Ellison played quarterback for Habersham but is listed as a running back for the all-star game.

Some of the bigger names on the South roster are running back Kenyan Drake of Hillgrove and linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons of Lowndes. Both were Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 picks in preseason.

Neither roster is set. The South may add as many as six players.

The head coaches are Steve Sewell of Pickens for the North and Maurice Freeman of Brooks County for the South.

The North-South All-Star game, one of the oldest in the country, was started in 1938.

ROSTERS:

North

QB – Kanler Coker, Flowery Branch

QB – Holland Frost, Pope

RB – Kevin Ellison, Habersham Central

RB – Miles Jones, Allatoona

RB – Nick …

Most points scored in a season

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:00:04 +0000

682 – 2006 Dublin

681 – 2007 Buford

662 – 2011 Camden County

644 – 1997 Miller County

642 – 2008 Camden County

639 – 2009 Fitzgerald

638 – 2011 Burke County

636 – 2005 Calhoun

635 – 2010 Carrollton

630 – 1994 Washington County

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Madison County’s Owens resigns

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:00:36 +0000

Madison County head coach Randell Owens resigned at his team’s awards banquet this week. Owens was 36-46 in eight seasons. He led Madison County to playoff berths in 2005 and 2006. Those are Madison County’s only playoff appearances since 1983.

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Southeast Whitfield forfeits two victories

GHSF Daily — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:38 +0000

Dalton made big news this season when it had to forfeit four victories when it was discovered that a transfer from rival Southeast Whitfield didn’t properly live in his new school district.

Now, Southeast is forfeiting two games, The Dalton Daily Citizen reported Tuesday.

Victories against Lithia Springs and Murray County have been overturned because Southeast used a player who lives in the Southeast district but attends the Whitfield Career Academy, the newspaper said. Southeast reported the violations on its own.

The forfeits change Southeast’s record to 1-9. Lithia Springs and Murray County are each 2-8. Murray County also got a forfeit victory from Dalton. That means that 70-0 and 73-0 losses now become victories.

Dalton’s streak of 51 winning seasons was ended by the forfeits that came about from Southeast’s questioning of the legal residency of a Dalton player. Dalton’s official record is 4-7.

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To …

Flowery Branch promotes defensive coordinator

GHSF Daily — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:30:26 +0000

Flowery Branch promoted defensive coordinator Chris Griffin to head coach on Monday to replace Lee Shaw, who left last week for Rabun County.

Griffin has been at Flowery Branch with Shaw since the Hall County school opened in 2002. Griffin played football at Presbyterian and is a graduate of Stephens County High, which also is the alma mater of Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker and Starr’s Mill coach Chad Phillips.

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All-region team for 3-AAAA Div. A

GHSF Daily — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:00:15 +0000

Player of the year: RB/DB Devon Edwards, Alcovy, Sr.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Donovahn Jones, Dutchtown, Jr.

RB – Tre Sorrells, Alcovy, Sr.

RB – Derrick Craine, Union Grove, Jr.

RB – Andre Williams Jr., Jones County, Jr.

OL – Jackson Williamson, Jones County, Jr.

OL – Nigel Phillips, Griffin, Jr.

OL – Jordan Harris, Dutchtown, Jr.

OL – Dalton Beak, Union Grove, Sr.

OL – Chance Kelley, Jones County, Sr.

WR – Jamal Watkins, Dutchtown, Sr.

WR – Kenard Murry, Alcovy, Sr.

WR – Ricky Murphy, Woodland, Jr.

ATH – D.J. White, Union Grove, Sr.

P – Mark Bussey, Woodland, So.

Defense

DL – Darian Small, Dutchtown, Sr.

DL – Greg Newell, Union Grove, Sr.

DL – Curtiss Benton, Alcovy, So.

DL – Tyler Vaughn, Union Grove, Jr.

LB – Zach Butts, Union Grove, Sr.

LB – Eddie McGill, Woodland, Sr.

LB – Eddrick Johnson, Griffin, Sr.

LB – Raheem Carsewell, Jones County, Sr.

DB – Jonathan Self, Union Grove, Jr.

DB – Justin Tapia, Jones County, Sr.

DB – …

Buford’s Simpson finalist for national award

GHSF Daily — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:00:34 +0000

Buford coach Jess Simpson, whose team will attempt to become the first in state history to win five consecutive state championships when it meets Calhoun on Friday, has been named one of five finalists for the 2012 Russell Athletic National Coach of the Year award.

Other finalists, chosen by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, are Bob Beatty of Trinity High School (Louisville, Ky.); Damon Cogdell of Miramar High School (Miramar, Fla.); Bob Milloy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (Olney, Md.); and Greg Toal of Don Bosco Preparatory High School (Ramsey, N.J.).

The winner will be announced on Jan. 6 in San Antonio during the U.S. Army All-American Awards Dinner.

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Private schools that have won football state championships

GHSF Daily — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:38 +0000

The winner of the Class A final between Savannah Christian and Landmark Christian will become the 15th private school to win a football state championship in Georgia. Here are those that have won:

2008 Wesleyan (A)

2003 Marist (AAAA)

1998 Darlington (A)

1989 Marist (AAA)

1980 Woodward Academy (AAA)

1978 Westminster (AAA)

1973 Mount de Sales (A)

1971 Westminster (AA)

1971 Mount de Sales (C)

1970 Woodward Academy (AA)

1970 Lovett (B)

1970 Mount de Sales (C)

1969 Savannah Country Day (C)

1968 St. Pius (AA)

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State champions from DeKalb County

GHSF Daily — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:00:59 +0000

Tucker is seeking to become the 17th team from DeKalb County to win a state championship:

2008 Tucker

2003 Marist

1995 Southwest DeKalb

1993 Dunwoody

1991 Lakeside

1989 Marist

1979 Redan

1976 Avondale

1972 Southwest DeKalb

1972 Lakeside

1970 Lakeside

1968 St. Pius

1963 Avondale

1958 Avondale

1950 Decatur

1949 Decatur

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Championship trivia: Class AAAAA

GHSF Daily — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:00:25 +0000

Grayson and Walton are undefeated heading into Saturday’s championship game. How often have two undefeated, untied teams met in the championship game of the GHSA’s highest classification?

It has happened seven times. Here are those matchups:

2011Grayson (14-0) vs. Walton (14-0)

2001 Parkview (14-0) beat Northside, Warner Robins (13-0) 12-7

1986 Valdosta (14-0) beat Clarke Central (14-0) 28-0

1985 Clarke Central (14-0) beat Warner Robins (14-0) 21-14

1982 Valdosta (14-0) beat Peachtree (14-0) 10-7

1973 Thomasville (12-0) beat Wheeler (12-0) 40-35

1968 Valdosta (12-0) beat Forest Park (12-0) 37-12

1960 Valdosta (11-0) beat Avondale (12-0) 20-14

Walton is trying to become the first Cobb County team since Marietta in 1967 to win a state title. How many Cobb teams have played in a state championship game?

Cobb County has had eight teams play for the state championship. They are:

1957 Acworth lost to Waynesboro 33-7

1959 Marietta lost to Albany 20-0

1959 North Cobb lost to …

Semifinals in review, and what it means

GHSF Daily — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:43 +0000

Class AAAAA

*Grayson 35, Colquitt County 31: Nick Schuessler threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Lindquist with 28 seconds left at the end of an 87-yard drive that started with 7:17 left. Schuessler was 9-of-15 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and Grayson rushed for 292 yards. Colquitt’s Cole Segraves was 15-of-24 for 237 yards.

What it means: Grayson advanced to its first state championship game. Grayson and Walton will play in the first Class AAAAA final between undefeated teams since 2001, when Parkview beat Northside of Warner Robins.

*Walton 30, Lassiter 24: Tyren Jones rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and scored on a 65-run in the final minute of the third quarter for a 30-17 lead. Lassiter was driving for a potential winning touchdown but threw incomplete in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 9 in the final minute. Lassiter QB Eddie Printz was 34-of-57 passing for 395 yards, and Charlie Hegedus had nine catches for 146 yards.

What it means: Walton …

AAA blog: Burke juggernaut rolls into final

Jay Stone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:43:24 +0000

Your two state finalists in AAA are Burke County and Peach County. They’re both 12-1. A first-blush look at how they got here:

Burke County Short answer: Offensive dominance. The Bears have scored 50 points or more six times. One could easily guess that those were all against weak teams, but then Friday’s shellacking of Gainesville in the state semifinals stands as a very strong rebuttal. The trio of Donquell Green, Corey Mayton and Montres Kitchens combined for 400 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson piled up 442 total yards and accounted for four touchdowns, but it hardly registered because Burke scored on nine of its first 11 possessions. The Bears have defense – they’ve held eight of 14 opponents to a touchdown or less – but that side of the ball is simply overshadowed by the overwhelming numbers the Bears put up on offense. They’ve played 12 teams in class AAA, and just one – 3-AAA South foe Washington County – has held them to …

AAAA blog: Defense carries Tucker, Lovejoy into championship game

GHSF Daily — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:34:11 +0000

So much for that all-Warner Robins championship game that I predicted.

Instead, the Class AAAA final (8 p.m. Friday, Georgia Dome) will match Tucker against Lovejoy, after both teams used big defensive plays to advance past their Houston County opposition. Here’s a recap of how they survived the semifinals:

*Tucker 17, Northside-Warner Robins 16: Top-ranked Tucker trailed 16-10 with less than five minutes to play, and Northside was on the 2-yard line about to go in for what likely would have been the clinching touchdown. That’s when Justin Rivers came up with perhaps the defensive play of the postseason. Northside’s Marte Polk was hit by a Tucker defender, and the ball popped loose and went into the end zone, where Rivers grabbed it and ran more than 100 yards for the winning touchdown. Tucker’s defense stopped the Eagles two more times in the final minutes to preserve the victory. It was the fewest points in a game for Northside since it lost to Camden County 31-3 in …

AAAAA blog: Three reasons why Grayson, Walton are going to the Dome

Todd Holcomb — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:10:10 +0000

Three reasons Walton made it to the Dome …

- Tyren Jones – The junior tailback has rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and ran his season rushing total to 2,298, the best in AAAAA, and scored his 37th and 38th touchdowns in the 30-24 victory over Lassiter. His 65-yard TD run late in the third quarter proved to be the difference.

- A dominant offensive line – Brandon Kublanow and Harrison Davis lead a front five that generally controlled the line of scrimmage against Lassiter. Kublanow is one of the top-rated junior linemen in the state. Davis has committed to The Citadel.

- Putting pressure on the QB – Lassiter’s first five planned pass plays resulted in two sacks, a screen for lost yardage, a throwaway to escape a third sack and an interception that Zack Blaylock returned 38 yards to the Lassiter 37, setting up Walton’s second touchdown. Blaylock, who has 11 interceptions, suffered a dislocated shoulder on the play and did not return. Without Blaylock, Lassiter began …

AA blog: Dominant teams meet for title

Prep Zone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:43:35 +0000

In the words of PFC Gomer Pyle, “Surprise, surprise, surprise.”

Look who’s playing in the Class AA championship game: Buford and Calhoun. For the fourth straight year the two old rivals have battled their way through the playoffs and will meet for all the marbles on Friday at the Georgia Dome.

Many teams can look at their season and point to the ebb and flow. That’s not the case with either Buford or Calhoun. They have been the two best teams in Class AA all year. The whole season for both teams has been a prelude to the championship game.

Buford has won 27 straight games and is trying to become the first team in Georgia history to win five consecutive state football championships. Other than the three championship game losses to Buford, Calhoun has won 53 straight.

Buford began its season with a 42-0 win over Blessed Trinity and never had a hiccup in the regular season. The Wolves play in a very weak subregion and beat Greater Atlanta Christian, the No. 2 team in the …

Semifinals roundup

Prep Zone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:24:08 +0000

By Stephen Black and Alex Ewalt

Score Atlanta

Burke County traveled to Gainesville and burst the Red Elephants’ bubble with a 63-28 romp in a Class AAA semifinal Friday night. Fresh of an upset of defending champion Sandy Creek, Gainesville was not ready for the Bears’ rushing attack.

Donquell Green and Corey Mayton each scored three times for Burke County, which rushed for a whopping 527 yards on 55 carries. Green finished with 189 rushing yards while Mayton totaled 121. The Bears carried a commanding 41-21 lead into the half-time locker room.

In defeat, Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson was brilliant. The sophomore quarterback was 30-for-52 with 312 passing yards, while also accounting for two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.

With the win, Burke County advanced to the state finals for the second time in school history and the first since 1997. It was the Bears’ first road playoff win since 1997.

Peach County 16, Cairo 7: The Trojans scored on a 2-yard run by …

Semifinal scores, finals schedule

Prep Zone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:56:22 +0000

Class AAAAA

Friday’s semifinals

Grayson 35, Colquitt Co. 31

Walton 30, Lassiter 24

Championship

Grayson vs. Walton, 8 p.m. Saturday

Class AAAA

Friday’s semifinals

Lovejoy 21, Warner Robins 6

Tucker 17, Northside-Warner Robins 16

Championship

Lovejoy vs. Tucker, 8 p.m. Friday

Class AAA

Friday’s semifinals

Burke Co. 63, Gainesville 28

Peach Co. 16, Cairo 7

Championship

Burke Co. vs. Peach Co., 4 p.m. Saturday

Class AA

Friday’s semifinals

Calhoun 51, Appling Co. 14

Buford 28, Carver-Columbus 13

Championship

Calhoun vs. Buford, 4:30 p.m. Friday

Class A

Friday’s semifinals

Savannah Christian 27, Prince Ave. Christian 0

Landmark Christian 14, Eagle’s Landing Christian 7

Championship

Savannah Christian vs. Landmark Christian, 1 p.m. Saturday

Grayson 35, Colquitt County 31

Prep Zone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:53:03 +0000

By MICHAEL ALPERT

For the AJC

Marcus Lindquist picked a perfect time for his only reception Friday night.

Grayson’s senior wide receiver caught a 6-yard Nick Schuessler pass in the middle of the end zone with 28 seconds left to help the Rams turn back visiting Colquitt County 35-31 and advance to their first Class AAAAA championship game, at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome.

The decisive catch followed two pass interference calls that sustained Grayson’s last-gasp drive and erased Colquitt’s short-lived 31-28 lead on Oscar Luna’s 45-yard field goal with 7:17 remaining.

The victory avenged Colquitt’s 31-24 victory in the teams’ only other meeting a year ago, also in the semifinals at Grayson.

Grayson coach Mickey Conn balked at any lingering perceptions Grayson’s winningest team (14-0) in its 12-year history hasn’t been challenged.

“We’re finding ways to win games,” he said of his unbeaten squad. “It hasn’t been as easy as some people think it’s been. Our kids have shown a …

Lovejoy 21, Warner Robins 6

Chip Saye — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:49:05 +0000

Lovejoy’s trademark stingy defense kept the Wildcats in the game as the offense struggled to make as much as a first down in the first half of the Class AAAA semifinals at Twelve Oaks Stadium on Friday night.

Once the Wildcats got the offense going in the final two quarters, it was all over for Warner Robins.

Jermaine Hough had two interceptions that set up touchdowns and Travis Custis rushed for 131 yards and a score to lead Lovejoy to a 21-6 victory that puts the Wildcats in the championship game for the first time. Lovejoy, which has eight shutouts this season and allows less than four points a game, will meet top-ranked Tucker at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Georgia Dome.

“They’ve done it all year, and I didn’t expect anything less,” Lovejoy coach Al Hughes said of his defense. “I’m sure we still have doubters. That’s not going to change overnight. But that doesn’t matter. Our kids know all that we’ve been through, the work that we’ve put in and the kind …

Tucker 17, Northside-Warner Robins 16

Jay Stone — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:43:36 +0000

Warner Robins – The Tucker Tigers were staring into the abyss, just two yards from their championship dreams being dashed again.

Northside-Warner Robins had the ball on the Tigers’ 2-yard line, leading by six points with just under five minutes to play and appearing ready to put the game away.

But a Tucker defender hit Northside’s Marte Polk and the ball popped free and sailed into the end zone. Defensive end Justin Rivers picked it up and started running, rumbling more than 100 yards to the winning score in the Tigers’ miraculous 17-16 win in the Class AAAA semifinals Friday night at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said he was willing Rivers not to trip.

Said Rivers, “I was thinking the same thing. Don’t trip and get to the end zone.”

No. 1 Tucker (14-0) earned a shot at its second state championship in four years. The Tigers also avenged a 2007 semifinal loss to Northside, a game in which Tucker squandered a 28-3 lead.

“It’s …

Landmark Christian 14, Eagles Landing 7

jwhaws — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:36:17 +0000

By Jeff Haws

For the AJC

MCDONOUGH – Landmark Christian’s offense had dominated the second half, with two long drives but no points to show for it.

But in the final minute, it only took two plays to make the difference.

William Higbie’s interception set up quarterback Cantrell Frazier’s 24-yard touchdown run on the next play with 42 seconds left to give Landmark a 14-7 win at Eagles Landing Christian in the Class A semifinals.

The Eagles (12-2) will face Savannah Christian in the school’s first state finals appearance. As a No. 4 seed, Landmark has pulled four consecutive road upsets to get there.

As the clock ticked down and Eagles Landing had the ball, the game appeared destined for overtime, with neither team able to put points on the board after halftime.

But Eagles Landing quarterback Aaron Spratlin tried to rally the Chargers one last time, tossing it over the middle on third and 10 from his 27-yard line, when Higbie leapt from his inside linebacker position and …

Weekend Forum: Georgia high school football scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE!

AJC Sports — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:16:59 +0000

SCORE ATLANTA LIVE SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see this week’s results.

Here are the games you can find stories and photos from this weekend on ajc.com…

PHOTOS Lassiter at Walton Colquitt County at Grayson Warner Robins at Lovejoy

CLASS-BY-CLASS ROUNDUPS OF THIS WEEK’S ACTION: Summaries, scores & more

Class AAAAA | Class AAAA | Class AAA | Class AA | Class A

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ON WSB-TV

WSB-TV/Channel 2 and PlayON! Sports in cooperation with the Georgia High School Association …

All-state quarterbacks in Class AAAAA since 1990

GHSF Daily — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:30:07 +0000

Teams that win state titles in Class AAAAA typically are known for their running games and defenses, not their quarterbacks. The most recent state championship quarterback to be named first-team all-state by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was Dustin Taliaferro of Roswell in 2006. Before that, it was Quincy Carter of Southwest DeKalb. Here are the first-team all-state quarterbacks in the highest class since 1990.

2010 – Taylor Heinicke, Collins Hill

2009 – Hutson Mason, Lassiter

2008 – Mikey Tamburo, North Gwinnett

2007 – Mikey Tamburo, North Gwinnett

2006 – Dustin Taliaferro, Roswell

2005 – Thomas Darrah, Newnan

2004 – Brandon Jones, Marietta, and Jeff Witt, Parkview

2003 – Kisan Flakes, Lovejoy, and Tyler Horne, Newnan

2002 – Reggie Ball, Stephenson

2001 – Chansi Stuckey, Northside

2000 – D.J. Shockley, North Clayton

1999 – David Greene, South Gwinnett

1998 – A.J. Suggs, McEachern

1997 – Worth Bowers, Tift County

1996 – Daniel Cobb, Harrison

1995 – Quincy Carter, SW …

Warner Robins, Northside making city proud

GHSF Daily — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:00:11 +0000

Though they won’t admit it, many fans of Warner Robins and Northside are going to be pulling for each other this week. They’re bitter rivals, but community pride would be at an all-time high (well, other than that Little League World Series championship) if these Houston County schools won their Class AAAA semifinals tonight and played each other next week for the state championship.

The last time teams from the same city met in a Georgia football championship game was 1993, when Thomas County Central defeated Thomasville.

Below are the 10 cities we feel have done their communities the proudest this football season. Please note that we are using mailing addresses. Some schools are more in the city than others.

1. Warner Robins: Northside (13-0) is ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA. Warner Robins (11-2) is the state’s most improved team after a 2-8 finish in 2010. The only downer is that Houston County, the third school that uses a Warner Robins post office, went 2-8.

2. Bogart: North …

Hillgrove’s Drake named Gatorade Player of the Year

GHSF Daily — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:00:52 +0000

Hillgrove running back Kenyan Drake is the Gatorade Player of the Year for Georgia, it was announced Thursday.

Drake, who has committed to Alabama, rushed for 1,610 yards rushing on 173 carries (10.2 yards per carry) this season. He also had 315 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Drake scored 25 touchdowns overall, two on kick returns.

Hillgrove (11-1) won a region title (4-AAAAA) and finished 10-0 in the regular season for the first time.

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AA blogs: Backs featured for semifinalists

Prep Zone — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:38:19 +0000

Each of the Class AA semifinalists is equipped with at least one star in the backfield. For some it’s a running back and for others it’s a quarterback. Some even have more than one. It all makes for what should be an interesting and exciting semifinal round.

Carver: The best tailback standing may be Marquez Holloway, who has rushed for 1,646 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. The senior averages 8.4 yards per carry and trashed Fitzgerald’s defense for 248 yards in the quarterfinals. Holloway scored on an 87-yard fourth-quarter run against Buford in the first game. Holloway is the successor to current University of Georgia starter Isaiah Crowell, who ran crazy when Carver beat Buford two seasons ago.

Appling County: Donnell McMillan is the featured back for the Pirates. He’s a very durable performer who is also capable of breaking a long run. He pounded out some tough yards in last week’s four-overtime victory against Lamar County, where he ran 19 times for 114 …

Predictions: Heading for an all-Warner Robins final in AAAA

Chip Saye — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:28:10 +0000

It’s not easy picking against the top-ranked team in the state, even after watching No. 1s Camden County (AAAAA) and Sandy Creek (AAA) go down last week.

It’s especially difficult when that team is Tucker, which has been one of the most consistent teams and safest picks in the state over the past decade. Tucker has a record of 135-18 since the start of the 2000 season. That’s a winning percentage of .882. Too bad for me that all the games aren’t that predictable.

The Tigers’ opponent this week in the Class AAAA semifinals – No. 2 Northside-Warner Robins – is no slouch, either. The Eagles have an even better mark than Tucker from 2000-2011, winning 90.6 percent of their games (144-15). So I’ll go with the odds and take Northside to win at home in what should be a great semifinal.

A Northside victory probably sets up a rematch in the championship game against cross-town rival Warner Robins, which should be able to score just enough to beat Lovejoy, which is …

AAAA blog: Warner Robins gets its shot at solving Lovejoy’s defense

Chip Saye — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:13:53 +0000

Here’s a look at the three of the big questions heading into the Class AAAA semifinals on Friday:

1. Can Warner Robins protect the ball and score enough to beat Lovejoy? The numbers posted by Lovejoy’s defense this season are staggering. The Wildcats have eight shutouts and allow just 3.5 points per game. They have blocked 20 kicks (17 punts, two PATs and one field goal), forced 39 turnovers and returned eight of 27 fumble recoveries for touchdowns. But Warner Robins has proven it can score against teams that aren’t used to giving up points. The Demons got 24 against Northside-Warner Robins, which has held every other opponent to 16 points or less, and only two Georgia teams (Valdosta and Camden County) have scored more points against Colquitt County than the 16 put up by Warner Robins. The Demons might not need to score much anyway; they give up just 12 points per game themselves.

2. Is Tucker-Northside the real state championship game? The numbers would say so. Tucker, …

Most frequent semifinalists since 2000

GHSF Daily — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:30:25 +0000

Most semifinal appearances since 2000 by classification:

Class AAAAA

6 – Camden County

4 – Parkview

3 – Brookwood

3 – Colquitt County

3 – Grayson

3 – Lowndes

3 – Newnan

3 – Walton

Class AAAA

6 – Statesboro

5 – Tucker

4 – Marist

4 – Northside (Warner Robins)

3 – Griffin

3 – Thomas County Central

Class AAA

6 – Peach County

5 – LaGrange

4 – Washington County

3 – Cairo

3 – Carver (Columbus)

3 – Gainesville

Class AA

8 – Buford

5 – Calhoun

5 – Charlton County

4 – Lovett

3 – Americus

3 – Cook

3 – Dublin

3 – Early County

Class A

8 – Clinch County

6 – Lincoln County

3 – Bowdon

3 – Hawkinsville

3 – Savannah Christian

Note: This is the number of times a school has made the semifinals in a particular class, not the total number of semifinal appearances. Some schools have made semifinals in more than one classification.

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M.L. King’s Dawson named Region 2-AAAAA player of the year

GHSF Daily — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:30:26 +0000

M.L. King quarterback Dawson named player of the year

M.L. King quarterback Jonquel Dawson is the player of the year in Region 2-AAAAA. Dawson was 203-for-341 passing for 3,380 yards and 39 touchdowns for a team that finished 12-1.

Player of the year: QB Jonquel Dawson, M.L. King., Sr.

Coach of the year: Michael Carson, M.L. King

Co-offensive players of the year: RB Mike Davis, Stephenson, Sr. and WR Blake Gibbs, M.L. King, Sr.

Co-defensive players of the year: DE Kenderius Whitehead, M.L. King, Sr. and ILB Raphael Kirby, Stephenson, Sr.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Jonquel Dawson, M.L. King, Sr.

RB – Mike Davis, Stephenson, Sr.

RB – Javonte Williams, Newton, Sr.

TE – Josh Parris, Stephenson, Sr.

WR – Cody Darracott, Newnan, Sr.

WR – Joshua Stanford, M.L. King, Sr.

WR – Khalil Stinson, Westlake, Sr.

WR – Blake Tibbs, M.L. King, Sr.

OL – Nygee Daniels, Stephenson, Sr.

OL – Chase Dial, Newton, Sr.

OL – Daniel Durden, Newton, Jr.

OL – Joshua Outlaw, M.L. King, Jr.

OL – Steve McKenzie, …

Playoff preview: Semifinals

GHSF Daily — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:00:31 +0000

Class AAAAA

Colquitt County at Grayson

When, where: 7 p.m. Friday, Grayson Community Stadium, Grayson

Records, rankings: Colquitt County is 11-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-AAAAA and ranked No. 10; Grayson is 13-0, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAAAA and ranked No. 2.

Last meeting: Colquitt County won 31-24 in the 2010 Class AAAAA semifinals.

Three things to know: 1. Grayson is the only Class AAAAA school that has made the quarterfinals each of the past five seasons. Colquitt County is the only AAAAA school that has made the semifinals each of the past three seasons. Grayson has never won a state title. Colquitt County won its only state title in 1994. 2. Grayson’s offensive leaders are RB Devin Gillespie (770 yards rushing), QB Nick Schuessler (1,347 yards passing), WR Callen Hightower (539 yards receiving) and RB Robert Nkemdiche (15 touchdowns), but the Rams hang their hat on defense. Grayson is allowing 31.7 yards rushing per game. No opponent has rushed for more than 89 yards …

AAA football blog: Semifinal predictions

Jay Stone — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:56:47 +0000

A look at the Class AAA quarterfinals:

Cairo (11-2) at Peach County (12-1): Peach and Cairo have played two common opponents so far, putting up similar scores against Perry. Cairo needed overtime to beat Worth County, whom Peach routed in the playoffs. Each team has played five games decided by a touchdown or less. Cairo is 3-2 in those games, while Peach is 4-1. Peach County WR Robinson has 47 catches for 892 yards and nine touchdowns, and QB Kentel Kendrick has completed 72 percent of his passes for 1,905 yards and 16 TDs, perhaps posing a test for the Cairo defense unlike anything it has faced to this point. The ‘Makers have four shutouts and have held seven opponents to less than 10 points, and they’ve been the better of the two defenses over the past five weeks. But can they make someone other than Robinson beat them? Prediction: Peach County 24, Cairo 20

Burke County (12-1) at Gainesville (12-1): Gainesville, which knocked off defending champion Sandy Creek last …

Cobb County teams that have reached the semifinals

GHSF Daily — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:30:03 +0000

Lassiter and Walton are the 19th and 20th Cobb County teams to make the GHSA semifinals:

1948 Marietta

1949 Marietta

1957 Acworth

1957 Marietta

1959 Marietta

1959 North Cobb

1966 Marietta

1967 Marietta

1973 Wheeler

1974 Wheeler

1976 Wheeler

1991 Marietta

1991 McEachern

1994 Marietta

1998 McEachern

2000 Harrison

2004 Walton

2007 Walton

2011 Lassiter

2011 Walton

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POY Watch: Gainesville’s Watson making late charge

GHSF Daily — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:30:39 +0000

Gainesville quarterback Deshaun Watson, a sophomore who scored or passed for all five touchdowns in a 35-21 victory over Sandy Creek in the Class AAA quarterfinals last week, is the fastest mover in GHSF Daily’s Player of the Year Watch. Watson can surpass 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing this week in the semifinals.

Three players whose teams have been eliminated remain in the lower half of the top 10, but there are a few outside the list who can finish strong and make a case for themselves. Those include Lovejoy’s Travis Custis, who has rushed for 1,675 yards and scored 30 touchdowns, and Carver’s Marquez Holloway, who ran for more than 200 yards in the quarterfinals and has rushed for 1,646 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Here’s the latest top 10:

1. RB Tyren Jones, Walton: Jones, a junior, rushed for 141 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries and returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown in a 21-13 Class AAAAA quarterfinal victory over Dacula. On the season, Jones has …

Lassiter, Landmark beat the odds by reaching semifinals

GHSF Daily — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:35 +0000

Lassiter and Landmark Christian beat the odds and made the semifinals as No. 4 seeds. Both have won three consecutive road games to reach the GHSA semifinals for the first time.

That’s the second straight season that as many as two No. 4 seeds have made the semis, but only the third time it has happened since 1996, when the GHSA first allowed third- and fourth-place teams in the state playoffs.

The No. 4 seeds are 3-7 all-time in the semis. The No. 3 seeds are 6-19.

Here is a look at all 37 teams that have made the semifinals as No. 3 or No. 4 seeds. The seeds for each team are noted at the left, and the result of their semifinal game is on the right.

2011

4 – Lassiter (AAAAA)

4 – Landmark Christian (A)

2010

3 – Colquitt County (AAAAA) won

3 – Grayson (AAAAA) lost

4 – Lovett (AA) lost

4 – Savannah Christian (A) won

2009

3 – Colquitt County (AAAAA) lost

3 – Rockdale County (AAAA) lost

4 – Flowery Branch (AAA) lost

2008

3 – Flowery Branch (AAA) won

3 – Fitzgerald (AA) …

Schools in south Fulton County that have made the semifinals

GHSF Daily — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:53 +0000

1952 College Park

1953 College Park

1970 Woodward Academy

1975 Lakeshore

1976 Woodward Academy

1977 Woodward Academy

1978 Feldwood

1979 Feldwood

1980 College Park

1980 Woodward Academy

1981 Palmetto

1982 Palmetto

1983 Palmetto

1984 Lakeshore

1984 Palmetto

1985 Lakeshore

1985 Palmetto

1987 Palmetto

1988 Palmetto

2000 Creekside

2011 Landmark Christian

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Semifinal coaches all career winners

GHSF Daily — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:00:59 +0000

It’s hard to know which head coaches are going to be successful.

All 20 head coaches in this year’s semifinals have winning records, but four have suffered through winless seasons.

Three of those came in 1997, when Buford’s Jess Simpson, Burke County’s Eric Parker and Landmark Christian’s Kenny Dallas failed to win a game in their first seasons as head coaches.

Bruce Miller of Gainesville was 0-10 at Cass in 1991 and had only one winning season in his first 10. Calhoun’s Hal Lamb was 7-23 in his first three seasons. Lovejoy’s Al Hughes was 15-35 in his first five.

Since then, Miller and Parker are among a small group of head coaches who have led two schools to the state semifinals. Lamb has strung together 11 consecutive 10-win seasons, and Simpson has won four state titles.

Dallas’ team is the first from south Fulton County to make the semifinals since 2000. Hughes’ team is the first from Clayton County to make the semifinals since 1999.

Here’s a brief look at the 20 head …

Schedule for semifinals, championships

GHSF Daily — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:16:09 +0000

Class AAAAA

Semifinals (Friday)

Colquitt County (11-2) at Grayson (13-0)

Lassiter (10-3) at Walton (13-0)

Championship

Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Georgia Dome

Class AAAA

Semifinals (Friday)

Warner Robins (11-2) at Lovejoy (13-0)

Tucker (13-0) at Northside-Warner Robins (13-0)

Championship

Dec. 9, 8 p.m., Georgia Dome

Class AAA

Semifinals (Friday)

Burke County (12-1) at Gainesville (12-1)

Cairo (11-2) at Peach County (12-1)

Championship

Dec. 10, 4 p.m., Georgia Dome

Class AA

Semifinals (Friday)

Appling County (12-1) at Calhoun (13-0)

Buford (13-0) at Carver-Columbus (12-1)

Championship

Dec. 9, 4:30 p.m., Georgia Dome

Class A

Semifinals (Friday)

Prince Avenue Christian (13-0) at Savannah Christian (13-0)

Landmark Christian (11-2) at Eagle’s Landing Christian (12-1)

Championship

Dec. 10, 1 p.m., Georgia Dome

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Clayton County teams that have reached the semifinals

GHSF Daily — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:58 +0000

1949 Jonesboro

1951 Forest Park

1957 Forest Park

1958 Forest Park

1962 North Clayton

1963 North Clayton

1968 Forest Park

1971 Forest Park

1987 Morrow

1995 Forest Park

1998 Riverdale

1999 Mount Zion

2011 Lovejoy

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State playoff quarterfinals in review

GHSF Daily — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:17 +0000

Class AAAAA

*Colquitt County 32, Camden County 31: Cole Segraves threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Hill on fourth-and-goal with 33 seconds left, then completed a two-point conversion to Ty Smith for the victory. Colquitt drove 80 yards for the winning touchdown after Camden had taken a 31-24 lead with 2:34 left. Camden County’s Brice Ramsey missed a 56-yard field goal on the final play of the game. Segraves completed 17 of 24 passes for 248 yards.

What it means – Colquitt County won its eighth road playoff game in three seasons and became the only Class AAAAA school to reach the semifinals for the third consecutive season. Colquitt is the only semifinal school with a state championship in its history (1994).

*Grayson 33, West Forsyth 7: Grayson led 26-7 at halftime and held on, limiting West Forsyth to 101 yards of total offense and getting eight sacks. Robert Nkemdiche scored four touchdowns. Nick Schuessler was 6-of-12 passing for 99 yards, including a touchdown pass …

AAAA blog: Familiar faces Tucker, Northside lead the pack again

Chip Saye — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:40:31 +0000

Here’s an early look at the semifinalists in Class AAAA:

*The familiar faces (Northside-Warner Robins, Tucker): Second-ranked Northside is in the semifinals for the fifth time in seven seasons after its victory over Tri-Cities, which was outgained 407-99 in its 36-8 loss. Tucker will be there for the fourth time in coach Franklin Stephens’ five seasons after its 42-34 victory over Flowery Branch, which led 14-0 in the first quarter and was even with the Tigers 14-14 at halftime. Northside and Tucker will face each other next weekend in the second meeting between the schools. The last time they played each other, injured quarterback Marques Ivory rallied Northside from a 28-7 deficit to beat the Tigers 31-28 in the 2007 AAAA semifinals on the way to the Eagles’ second consecutive state championship.

*The new guy (Lovejoy): Region 4-AAAA champion Lovejoy did it with defense throughout the regular season, and the Wildcats have kept up the pressure during the playoffs. …

AA Blog: Appling endures for 4OT victory

Prep Zone — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:48:35 +0000

Appling County faces the longest odds when it comes to winning the Class AA championship. It will have to survive a trip to No. 2-ranked Calhoun for the semifinals and then defeat either No. 4 Carver or No. 1 Buford in the championship game.

But none of that really matters today, as the Pirates can take a deep breath and enjoy a little time in front of the television. They played perhaps their guttiest game of the year just to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1999. Appling endured four overtime periods before coach J.T. Pollock’s club was finally able to put away Region 4 champion Lamar County 35-33. It was the second consecutive road victory for Appling County (12-1), the only unranked team remaining in the AA playoffs.

The Appling County-Lamar County game will go down as a classic, as more than 3,000 fans packed Trojan Field in Barnesville, many of them driving in from Baxley for the quarterfinal game.

The teams fought to a 7-7 draw after four quarters. …

Third-round scores, semifinal schedule

Prep Zone — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:53:39 +0000

Class AAAAA

Friday’s quarterfinals

Colquitt Co. 32, Camden Co. 31

Grayson 33, West Forsyth 7

Lassiter 24, M.L. King 14

Walton 21, Dacula 13

Next weekend’s semifinals

Colquitt Co. (11-2) vs. Grayson (13-0)*

Lassiter (10-3) at Walton (13-0)

Championship

8 p.m. Dec. 10 (Georgia Dome)

Class AAAA

Friday’s quarterfinals

Warner Robins 20, East Paulding 10

Lovejoy 14, Ware Co. 0

Tucker 42, Flowery Branch 34

Northside-Warner Robins 36, Tri-Cities 8

Next weekend’s semifinals

Warner Robins (11-2) at Lovejoy (13-0)

Tucker (13-0) vs. Northside-Warner Robins (13-0)*

Championship

8 p.m. Dec. 9 (Georgia Dome)

Class AAA

Friday’s quarterfinals

Burke Co. 32, Allatoona 28

Gainesville 35,Sandy Creek 21

Peach Co. 19, Carrollton 15

Cairo 21, St. Pius 0

Next weekend’s semifinals

Burke Co. (12-1) vs. Gainesville (12-1)*

Peach Co. (12-1) vs. Cairo (11-2)*

Championship

4 p.m. Dec. 10 (Georgia Dome)

Class AA

Friday’s quarterfinals

Calhoun 42, Dublin 7

Appling Co. 35, Lamar Co. 33 …