GHSA Class AA championship: Dublin vs. Brooks County (info and predictions)
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Dublin (13-1) vs. Brooks County (10-4)
Series record: Tied 1 all
Maxwell Ratings prediction: Dublin by 6
Dublin Irish
Head coach: Roger Holmes, 19th season at Dublin, 160-59-1 (73-49 at Beech, Tenn.)
Location: Dublin
Enrollment (GHSA 2020): 511
2019
Beat No. 10/A ECI 21-0
Beat No. 8/10 Swainsboro 35-13
Beat No. 7 Brooks County 49-35
Beat East Laurens 77-13
Beat Bleckley County 41-21
Beat Dodge County 35-6
Beat Southwest 70-16
Beat Northeast 56-21
Beat Suwannee, Fla., 77-48
Lost to Washington County 23-27
Playoffs
Beat Early County 32-9
Beat Bremen 45-26
Beat No. 4/5 Hapeville Charter 35-12
Beat No. 6/9 Thomasville 55-45
Brooks County Trojans
Head coach: Maurice Freeman, 17th year overall at Brooks County, 156-51 (210-103, 27th year overall, also at Brunswick and Southwest)
Location: Quitman
Enrollment (GHSA 2020): 475
2019
Beat No. 8/7/A Mitchell County 63-40
Lost 8-14 to No. 1/A Clinch County 38-14
Lost 27-26 to No. 1/4/5A Bainbridge 27-26
Lost 49-35 to No. 4/1 Dublin 49-35
Beat Thomas County Central 38-22
Beat BEST Academy 54-8
Lost to Thomasville 31-20
Beat Early County 28-13
Beat Fitzgerald 28-24
Beat Berrien 42-6
Playoffs
Beat Washington County 42-14
Beat No. 1 /2 Rockmart 41-3
Beat No. 9/10 Metter 35-6
Beat No. 3 Callaway 39-35
Analysis
The road to the title goes through Region 1?
Apparently so, because Dublin has already played Brooks County in the regular season, then beat Early County in the first round and Thomasville in the semifinal.
Average score: 45-30.
The first meeting will help both teams, both on to a certain point. A full season of football has passed since then. Dublin has stayed pretty consistent, and Brooks County followed that three-game losing streak by getting on a roll, especially in the playoffs.
Brooks County’s 28-point win over Washington County – a week after the Golden Hawks stunned Dublin in the Shamrock Bowl – was a bit of an attention-getter and table-setter.
For one, the Trojans did that in bad weather, and threw only eight times, a season low. So don’t put too much into the weather issues, especially considering the game is on a turf field, not on worn-out, ripped-up high school grass.
Since then, the Trojans have completed 62.5 percent, 77.8 and 65.2 percent of its passes on 16, 18, and 23 attempts.
Callaway, though, did pick off two passes last week in Brooks County’s 39-35 win.
Dublin won’t mind more rain, since that won’t much affect the Irish’s game plan in any form or fashion.
They average 413.4 yards a game on the ground, 27.4 through the air.
Wet track or not, there’ll be plenty of action.
Brooks County’s Omari Arnold has 1,697 yards rushing and 21 TDs, Dublin’s JaQues Evans – one of the top two dozen players who will take the field this weekend – has 2,225 and 38, with Marcus Adams and Zion Kemp only two yards apart at 1,426 and 1,424 yards, and 13 and 19 touchdowns.
With a focus on Evans, don’t be a bit surprised to see big plays from Adams, Kemp or both along with perhaps – perhaps – a moderately quiet day rushing from Evans.
Maybe he catches a few big surprise passes along the way?
Both teams give up some points, and in a new venue on a huge stage, who knows?
The game offers a nice contrast of offensive schemes, more quality athletes than people expect, and two of the top coaches and staffs in the state. They’re just so dang steady, both teams.
The Sports Report’s pick
The weather does help Dublin, and losing to Washington County helped Dublin.
Composure is big on this stage, especially early.
Folks have been writing in Dublin for the title since the early weeks of the season, with one of the best wing-T offenses around.
The Irish have weapons and playmakers on both sides, an underrated collection of players up front on both sides, as well as the target.
But a target and a hunger can be good things.
Dublin 37, Brooks County 22.