It is playoff time in Middle GA prep football. Here is a look at first round matchups
When the football season began in Middle Georgia in mid-August, each team came into the season with playoffs aspirations and title hopes.
Friday night, the next step in making those hopes a reality beings, with more 250 schools across eight classifications competing over the next five weeks to reach title games scheduled from Dec. 9-11 at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
Here is a look at some of the key matchups, players and schedule for the opening round of the GHSA playoffs.
Three matchups to watch
Jones County vs Griffin
The Greyhounds got off to a rocky start at the beginning of the season, dropping two of their first three games.
But Jones County has righted the ship and has won seven straight games, including the region title last week over Dutchtown in a defensive struggle. The region title earned the Greyhounds the No. 1 seed and a home game to open the playoffs against Griffin.
The Bears are 4-5 in former Rutland head coach Rusty Easom’s first season at the helm. This is Griffin’s 20th straight playoff appearance.
These two teams met in the second round of the playoffs last season. Jones County got the better of the matchup, winning 34-13. The Greyhounds should once again be favored to grab the win, but this isn’t an easy first-round matchup.
FPD vs Aquinas
FPD comes into the playoffs winners of six straight games. The Vikings will face off in the first round against Aquinas, a team that beat FPD 27-2 on Sept. 10.
FPD has rebounded since while Aquinas lost four of its final six games including a pair of blowout losses to Tattnall and Mount de Sales, teams that FPD scored dominant wins over.
It is tough to beat the same team twice in the same season and the Vikings seem to be a different team than when the two met in September. This should be another defensive struggle but this time FPD will be favored to pull out the win.
Northeast vs Cook County
Cook County comes into the playoffs with a 5-5 record and it would be easy to assume Northeast should be able to waltz into the second round of the playoffs. But this is one of the toughest matchups for a No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Cook County is much better than its record would indicate. This is a team that has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in Georgia at 2A. While they may not have won those games, this has turned this team into a battle-tested team looking to go on the road and pull the upset.
Northeast is limping into the playoffs going 2-2 over its final four games including a 28-20 loss to Lamar County. The Raiders will need to be ready from the opening snap to avoid a disappointing loss in the opening round of the playoffs.
5 players to watch
John Alan Richter, Jones County QB: This team will go as far as its quarterback and its defense can take them. Richter has transformed into one of the best quarterbacks in Middle Georgia.
He has playoff experience after helping lead Jones County to the semifinals a season ago. If the Greyhounds are going to make another run at the semifinals and potentially a title, it will be because of Richter’s ability to get the ball into his playmakers’ hands like sophomore star, Zion Ragins.
Travion Solomon, Northeast QB: Solomon is one of the most dynamic players in Georgia. In big moments this season when Northeast needed it most the senior signal-caller has come through time and time again.
The Raiders got into the playoffs as a No. 2 seed in part because of Solomon’s heroics against Washington County earlier in the season.
Northeast got stuck with a tough draw against Cook County; this team will need a big performance from Solomon to survive and advance.
Duke Watson, Mary Persons RB: Watson needs just 44 yards to stamp his name into the record books at Mary Persons.
He comes into the game with 1,619 yards on the season and will have a chance to break the all-time single-season record set by Alvin Toles in 1980.
The Bulldogs will need far more than 44 yards though if they hope to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Watson will need to put together a big day in order for that to happen. Mary Persons likely need 150 yards and two scores from Watson on Friday night.
Coleman Cauley, FPD LB: The Vikings are likely in for another defensive struggle against Aquinas in the first round. Cauley is the most important piece on the defense for FPD. He has 167 tackles coming into the playoffs, averaging more than 16 per game.
Cauley has racked up 10 tackles for a loss this season and has created four turnovers. In the first meeting between these two teams, Cauley had 25 tackles. He may need to produce on a similar level to get FPD into the second round.
Malcolm Brown, Warner Robins RB: The Demons come into the playoffs as No. 2 seed after winning four straight region titles.
The No. 2 seed means Warner Robins could have a tougher path to the title game including a potential rematch of last year’s state title game in round two against Cartersville.
But Warner Robins can’t afford to look ahead to a matchup with Cartersville and must first get by Jonesboro.
Brown has been the steadiest performer this season for the Demons. Expect a heavy dose of him in the first-round matchup. He could get upwards of 25 carries.
Friday:
5A
- Warner Robins vs Jonesboro
- Jones County vs Griffin
- Veterans at Woodward Academy
4A
- Perry vs Hardaway
- Baldwin vs LaGrange
- West Laurens at Carver Columbus
3A
- Peach County vs Morgan County
- Mary Persons at Burke County
- Jackson at Thomson
2A
- Bleckley County vs Early County
- Northeast vs Cook County
- Dodge County at Fitzgerald
- Washington County at Thomasville
Saturday:
6A
- Northside vs Lakeside, Evans
- Houston County at Evans
1A Public
- Dublin vs Turner County
- GMC vs Manchester
- ACE at Schley County
- Crawford County at Macon County
1A Private
- FPD vs Aquinas
- Tattnall vs Savannah Christian
- Stratford at Savannah Country Day
- Mount de Sales at Calvary Day