First-round GHSA/GISA playoff scouting reports
Class 6A
Northside (R 1, 3, 5-5) at Tucker (R4, 2, 7-3)
The last time these teams played was in Atlanta in the second round in 2016, a 28-7 Tucker win. But the Eagles are on a roll, if not a mission. Northside has scored 10 more points and given up 17 fewer points than Tucker, and against a substantially tougher schedule.
Class 5A
Locust Grove (R4, 4, 5-5) at Warner Robins (R1, 1, 8-2)
Warner Robins beat Locust Grove 50-40 in the second game of the year. Since then, the Demons improved on defense to the point of three shutouts in the last four games, while scoring 38 points or more in six games since then, too. Locust Grove has played three ranked teams since then, and lost by 21, 36, and 24.
Veterans (R2, 3, 8-2) at Stockbridge (R4, 2, 9-1)
The task is tough for Veterans to win its second game in playoff history, on the road against a top-10 team that hasn’t lost a first-round game since 2010 (49-0 to Peach County in 3A). And the Tigers haven’t lost to an unranked team since late September back in ’14. The pace of the game doesn’t hurt Veterans, but the Tigers are just so used to this stage, it’ll take a near-perfect game and some breaks for the Warhawks to pull off the upset.
Jones County (R4, 3, 8-2) at Bainbridge (R1, 2, 5-5)
Bainbridge is pretty respectable on defense, leading Region 1 with 16.5 points allowed and 22 touchdowns. But the Bearcats lost 38-0 to Warner Robins, which is fairly similar to Jones County. The Greyhound are a little better on defense and special teams, so the Bearcats will likely need a little more than a home-field advantage.
Class 4A
Richmond Academy (R3, 2, 7-3) at Mary Persons (R2, 1, 10-0)
The Musketeers don’t have much momentum, having lost three of their last four. Mary Persons? The Bulldogs have nothing but momentum, having set a program record for points, in just 10 games, and beating teams by an average of 35.2 points. That’s almost six touchdowns worth of beatings, the sign that the Bulldogs aren’t taking anybody lightly.
Thomson (R3, 3, 4-6) at Upson-Lee (R2, 2, 7-3)
U-L head coach Justin Elder said the Knights are as healthy, so to speak, as they’ve been in weeks, particularly Thad Webb and Daymon Thomas. The Knights are playing well, and will need a little extra focus in doing what they haven’t done in 25 years: had a home playoff game.
Howard (R2, 3, 6-4) at Burke County (R3, 2, 7-3)
One team is making its second playoff appearance. The other team 8-3 in its last 11 first-round games. But the Bears are off a loss to Baldwin – for the title – and a so-so win over 4-6 Thomson. Howard may be a little more battle-tested.
Perry (R2, 4, 6-4) at Baldwin (R3, 1, 5-5)
The two played for six straight years, up to 2015, Baldwin leading 4-2. The Braves haven’t had a home playoff game since 2011 (a 12-9 loss to Monroe) while the Panthers haven’t had a playoff game anywhere since 2012, and haven’t won n the postseason since 2007 (beating LaGrange and Worth County). There’s some hunger here, so playing under control and fundamentally are the biggest keys.
Class 3A
Ringgold (R4, 4/at-large, 5-5) at Peach County (R4, 1, 8-2)
And for getting the at-large bid, Ringgold, your reward is a visit to Peach County, probably one of the top 40 teams in the state, regardless of class. The Trojans have been pretty good despite injuries, which tend to hurt less around the postseason.
Cook (R1, 3, 3-7) At Westside (R4, 2 7-3)
Getting out of the first round has been an issue for Westside, which is 2-5 in its last seven playoff openers. Odds are with the Seminoles, who host a team that broke a seven-game losing streak last week against one-win Worth County. There’ll be some stat-padding, most likely, for Westside’s starters for two or three quarters.
Class AA
Toombs County (R2, 3, 5-5) at Dublin (R3, 1, 9-1)
Going into the Shamrock Bowl to face a rolling Dublin team off an impressive win over ranked Washington County on a three-game losing streak isn’t very good. The Bulldogs have given up 45, 35, and 21 the last three games, while the Irish have won the last three by 48, 32, and 18, two against playoff teams. Greg Jones, Conteveyas Mitchell, and Jermaine Cooley have teamed for 2,207 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jeff Davis (R2, 4, 7-3) at Dodge County (R2, 2, 9-1)
First-year Jeff Davis head coach Lance Helton was an assistant at Dublin for several years, a bonus for the Yellow Jackets. There are few secrets with the Indians, who have thrown 41 passes this year and average 6.2 yards a carry with R.J. Carr, Erin Pitts, and Mikhail Carr, among others. Elijah Williams and Jamal Mahan lead a Dodge County defense that has about cut in half this year from last year points allowed at home (17.5 to 8.8).
Washington County (R3, 3, 8-2) at Vidalia (R2, 2, 9-1)
The Indians have more rushing weapons, with five players have rushed for at least four touchdowns, although Chris Gay is the one to stop with 937 yards and 13 TDs. The Golden Hawks go with Dyquan Bloodsaw and Preston Daniels, Bloodsaw at 1,526 yards. Daniels and Vidalia’s Nyshun Bell are a pair of two-way throwbacks.
Northeast (R3, 4, 4-6) at Swainsboro (R2, 1, 8-2)
Northeast head coach Jeremy Wiggins thinks his Raiders can physically compete with the Tigers, who lose to 3-AA foes Dublin by seven and Washington County by two. Swainsboro is on a six-game winning streak, but aren’t on a hot streak, following a win over No. 7/8 Vidalia with so-so victories over Jeff Davis and Toombs County. On the other hand, the Tigers had three shutouts and had a four-game stretch where they gave up eight points.
Monticello (R8, 4, 5-5) at Heard County (R5, 1, 8-2)
Monticello QB Jaymerious Fleetwood has 1,129 yards passing and 455 running, and has accounted for 19 touchdowns. The Jamel Gude-led defense faces an offense that has cracked the 40-point mark four times in the last seven games. The Hurricanes are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and seek their first win since 1992 when Mary Persons assistant Pat Burdette led them to the quarterfinals.
Class A Public
No. 19 Hancock Central (6-4) at No. 14 Dooly County (6-4)
Neither team is a poster child for consistency. But the Bobcats appear to be back on track with QB Bo Lawson, who has passed for 1,655 yards and rushed for 1,104 accounting for 33 touchdowns. Malik Burns is tough on defense.
No. 21 Macon County (5-5) at No. 12 Chattahoochee County (7-3)
Chattahoochee County was third in 1-A, and its losses are only to playoff teams. Macon County has been inconsistent all year, but has only one loss to a non-playoff team. The Bulldogs, though, are 2-4 against playoff teams.
No. 22 Taylor County (5-5) at No. 11 Charlton County (7-3)
The run-oriented Vikings were tough to figure on a given Friday night, while the Indians were more consistent. Charlton County is one opponent, a drive of about four hours is another opponent. And Charlton County head coach Rich McWhorter is a nifty 287-78 since taking over in 1990.
Class A Private
No. 24 Holy Innocents’ (5-5) at No. 9 Mount de Sales (9-1)
The Golden Bears are in the playoffs for the second time since 2013, and had advanced seven straight years before a 2-8 season in 2014. So they’re basically playoff youngsters. This is Mount de Sales’ first home playoff game since 2010 when the Cavs beat Bulloch Academy in a GISA first-round game. Dane Frier and the Cavs defense face a team that’s warming up on offense, putting up 56 and 54 points the last two games, albeit against very weak teams.
No. 20 Tattnall (6-4) at No. 13 Wesleyan (6-4)
This is the first meeting between the Trojans and Wolves. A common opponent is Trinity Christian, which beat Tattnall 45-27 in game 3 and lost 17-10 to Wesleyan last week. How even are they? Tattnall’s scoring margin is 3.9 points, Wesleyan’s 3.6.
No. 22 Stratford (5-5) at No. 11 Aquinas (8-2)
Aquinas was humbled and no doubt awakened by last week’s home loss, ending a six-game winning streak at home. To ponder: The Irish haven’t lost two straight, period, since 2016. When, well, the lost to Stratford 27-7 at home in the regular-season finale and then 35-10 at home to FPD in the first around.
GISA
Class AAA
Westfield (R4, 2, 4-6) at Southland (R3, 2, 8-2)
Westfield has a losing record, but has scored 29 more points than it has surrendered. The Hornets have lost games by three, one, four and 14 points this year, so 4-6 is deceiving. Garan Daw has run for 705 yards and passed for 212. These two teams have played every year since 2002, and 35 times overall, Westfield leading 23-12.
Trinity Christian (R2, 3, 6-4) at Loganville (R1, 2, 4-7)
TCS is on a two-game winning streak. Good omen: The streaky Crusaders lost two, won three, lost two, and won two. The Lions stagger in off a 51-0 loss to Heritage.
John Milledge (R4, 1, 10-0) bye (next: Bulloch/Brookwood winner)
Class AA
Westwood (R3, 3, 2-8) at Brentwood (R4, 2, 7-4)
The run-oriented War Eagles have won six of their last seven games, and have the experience of reaching the semifinals last year.
St. Andrews (R2, 3, 2-5-1) at Piedmont (R1, 2, 3-6-1)
St. Andrews is on a two-game winning streak, and Piedmont has lost six of its last seven.
Gatewood (R1, 1, bye (next: vs. SW Ga./Briarwood winner)
