Photo by John Bazemore

The Class A power rankings were released on Tuesday and the 16 playoff teams in each split classification were seeded from No. 1-16. The teams will have until Wednesday at noon to send in their appeals to the GHSA. The first round of the Class A-Private and A-Public playoffs begins on Friday, Nov. 21.

 

 

R5 T4 Chattahoochee County at R6 T1 GAC

Heard County is making its 10th consecutive postseason appearance and looks to continue with their offensive prowess from the regular season. The Braves will go into the contest having averaged 26.7 points per game. However, they will face off a Wesleyan team that features a vaunted defense that plays well on the road. The Wolves were undefeated on enemy territory this year and held opponents to just 7.6 points per game in those matchups. This is the first time the two teams will play each other on the gridiron.

 

R4 T4 Monticello at R3 T1 Screven County

Monticello will be making their first playoff appearance since 1999 and they will have their hands full against Screven County's Malik Prescott and the Gamecocks' rushing attack. Prescott leads Screven County with 15 rushing touchdowns and is one of six different offensive players to have accumulated over 200 rushing yards on the season. The Hurricanes were winless on the road in regular season, finishing 0-5, but are coming off a huge victory against Northeast, Macon where they dropped a season-high 53 points.

 

R2 T3 Bacon County at R1 T2 Brooks County

No. 6-ranked Brooks County has made the playoffs every year in head coach Maurice Freeman's tenure and they look to build form their state semifinal appearance last season. Bacon County has the potential to churn out points on any given night. The Raiders had four games where they scored 40 or more points during the regular season, but they will face a capable Trojans defense that allowed just 18 points per contest, a number that would have been lower if not for a 57-point outburst in a loss to Fitzgerald.

 

R8 T4 Washington-Wilkes at R7 T1 Darlington

It seems as if a low-scoring affair will be in order. No. 8 ranked Darlington carries a defense led by linebacker Robert Muschamp that allowed only 12 points per game in the regular season. Washington-Wilkes carries a vaunted defense as well, giving up just 15 point per contest. After opening the season with a loss, the No. 1-seeded Tigers rolled to nine straight wins going into the playoffs, with four of them seeing the opposition being held to under ten points.

 

R5 T3 Bremen at R6 T2 Lovett

No. 3 Lovett features a balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback Willie Candler, who completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,261 yards on the season. For Bremen, they will rely on the legs of Daulton Pope. The senior ran for 1,690 yards during the regular season while scoring 16 touchdowns.Bremen must account for defensive end Jack Gearon and a Lions defense that allowed only 15.4 points per game. Lovett has lost at home just twice in the previous two seasons.

 

R3 T4 Dublin at R4 T1 Macon County

Macon County has recorded a shutout in three of the last four regular season games, and they look for similar results against a Fightin' Irish that averaged 28.9 points per contest. Dublin features a run-heavy offense with three backs that rushed for more than 400 yards on the season, including a team-leading 880 yards by junior Johnny Willis. However, the Bulldog offense is not one to slouch on either, as they come in averaging 35.9 points per game.

 

R1 T3 Thomasville at R2 T2 Benedictine

Thomasville's defense will face their largest test of the season. The Bulldogs are bound to take on a Benedictine offense that comes in averaging 46.7 points per game while scoring 60-plus points in their last three contests. Cadet quarterback Stevie Powers has passed for 2,234 yards and boasts a touchdown-interception ratio of 19-5. Thomasville will look to rely on senior leadership from Jay Bowdry and Stevan Thornton for the Bulldog defense to have a fighting chance at Benedictine.

 

R7 T4 Chattooga at R8 T1 Rabun County

Chattooga comes in having not won a state playoff game since 1980 and that streak may continue. The Indians offense has averaged just 18.4 points per game with their main offensive production coming from twins Isaac and Isaiah Foster. The sophomores have combined for over 1900 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. The Rabun County offense averaged 430 total yards per contest and have relied heavily on all-purpose back Charlie Woerner who has compiled 1,551 total yards on the season.

 

R3 T3 Swainsboro at R4 T2 Lamar County

The No. 9-ranked Trojans carry a strong running attack that averages 6.1 yards per carry with the tandem of junior Juan Tucker and senior Nathan Eure leading the way. The pair combined for 1,184 yards and 15 touchdowns during the regular season. Swainsboro is coming off a season that saw them finish 5-5 while having trouble against quality opponents finishing 0-4 against top ten-ranked teams (Vidalia, ECI, Valdosta, and Screven Count). The experience gained with the tough regular season lineup may play big against Lamar County.

 

R8 T3 Greene County at R7 T2 Coosa

Both teams are making the playoffs for the first time under the helm of their current head coaches. Greene County  looks to earn its first postseason win since 2006 and the defense will play a key factor. All five of its regular season victories saw opponents being held to 12 points or less. Coosa finished 5-1 in Region 7-AA while their defense gave up just 4.6 points per game in region play, including three shutouts.

 

R1 T4 Berrien at R2 T1 Vidalia

The Rebels have not had a winning season since 1995 but secured its third playoff appearance in that span after squeaking in with 2-4 record in Region 4-AA. Berrien's defense allowed 37.2 points per game during the regular season, including five occasions where they allowed more than 40 points. Top-seeded Vidalia dominated opponents, going undefeated, while outscoring opponents by 32 points per game. The Vidalia defense gave up just 91 points during the regular season and, at one point, recorded four straight shutouts.

 

R4 T3 Bleckley County at R3 T2 Jefferson County

Jefferson County is making the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season with Coach JB Arnold in charge. The Warrior offense finished the regular season on a high note, scoring 56 points in each of their last two games. Senior linebacker Daylan Williams leads a Jefferson County defense that gave up only 15.4 points per contest. Bleckley County rattled off three straight region victories to steal the number three seed but history is plotted against them. This will be the fifth all-time matchup between the teams and Jefferson County has swept the series 4-0.

 

R6 T4 Pace Academy at R5 T1 Bowdon

Bowdon is coming off of their 15th region title  in program history after finishing the regular season 8-2, including a perfect 5-0 in Region 5-AA. Running back Darnell Holland spearheads the offensive attack that averaged 38.7 points per game during the regular season. The senior stood out, rushing for 1,613 yards and 24 touchdowns. Pace Academy finished 5-5 in Chris Slade's second season as head coach and struggled mightily against quality teams. The Knights were 1-5 against opponents with a winning record.

 

R7 T3 Model at R8 T2 Union County

Union County comes in boasting a 9-1 overall record with the lone loss coming from Region 8 champions Rabun County. The Panthers are led by the arm of junior quarterback Joe Mancuso, who finished the regular season with 2,672 passing yards and 33 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Model finished with an 8-2 record and boasts a defense that allowed just 9.2 points per game. During the season, the Blue Devils held opponents to 10 points or less in six contests.

 

R2 T4 Bryan County at R1 T1 Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald finished 9-1 in the regular season and carries and pre-dominantly running offense that averaged 339 yards per game on the ground. Senior quarterback Gerald Morgan is sparks the Purple Hurricanes' offense with his versatility. Morgan has passed for 966 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 1516 yards and 22 scores in regular season play. Bryan County features a similar style of offense but their defense leaves something to be desired as it allowed 29.3 points per game.

 

 

*Stats and team history found at GHSFHA.org

Host Milton took a 35-28 lead at the half and ran away with a 73-61 victory after a 28-point fourth quarter. Milton was led by a cast of scorers, including sophomore Alex O'Connell and 6-foot-8 junior Chris Lewis.  

 

Lewis is the son of former UGA linebacker and 3-time Pro Bowler Mo Lewis and he dunked and shot his way to a team-high 19 points to go with six blocks and four assists. O'Connell comes from a deep basketball background. His older brother Shawn is a freshman on the Georgia Southern basketball team. His father Dave O'Connell played basketball at Duke, while his uncles Mike O'Connell and Tim played at Notre Dame and Xavier, respectively. O'Connell netted 10 of his 15 points in the final quarter and ended the game with a steal and emphatic two-handed dunk as the clock ran out. 

 

Buford was able to hang in the game with a barrage of three-pointers and cut Milton's lead to 61-54 with a deep ball from Tre Hansbrough. Milton answered Hansbrough's basket with a Lewis jumper and three made free throws by Charlie Nowell that would put Milton back up 66-56 with a minute to play. Hansbrough was Buford's top scorer with a game-high 27 points while teammate Taylor Mills reached double-figures with 10 points.

           

Jordan Burrow (12), Keishon Kershaw (eight), Nowell (nine), Nigel White (eight) and Conrad Cummings (two) were Milton's deep cast of scorers. 

 

Milton opens region play as it hosts Walton on Nov. 18 while Buford opens its season competition in the Jared Cook Classic a week from Saturday. 

 

*State-wide basketball coverage begins next week. Please report scores and stats by calling 404-256-1572 or find us via twitter at @scoreatlanta .

Kids & Pros

TO: All GHSA-affiliated High School Football Head Coaches

You and one guest are cordially invited to attend the

2014 Salute to Georgia High School Football Reception

Presented by Ford

 

**Lower Level in between section 115-116

R.S.V.P. by Monday, December 1 to (404) 367-2243 or

David Quiroga at dquiroga@falcons.nfl.com

With the start time of 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th for the first State Championship game, this reception invite allows you and a guest to enjoy a meal, mingle with fellow coaches as well as the 2014 Classification Coaches of the Year, Warrick Dunn Captain in the Community of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement winner. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to win a number of prizes for your outstanding commitment to the sport of football.

As in previous years, the Atlanta Falcons would like to extend the opportunity to the first 50 coaches that R.S.V.P. for the reception to receive two tickets to the Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers game on Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. If interested, please make sure to mention when you R.S.V.P. and David Quiroga will follow-up with a confirmation of attendance and tickets.

Should you decide to stay in Atlanta, we recommend the following hotels within six blocks of the Georgia Dome: Omni at CNN Center (404) 659-0000, Embassy Suites (404) 223-2300, Residence Inn by Marriott (404) 522-0950, and Quality Hotel (404) 524-7991.

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Maxwell Round 1 Playoff Projections

 

Maxwell Week 13 Projections

 

POY Watch: Smith steps up for Macon County offense

 

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Composite state rankings through Week 12