Sunday Morning Quarterback: What We Learned
If that was 'kinda ugly' ...: Houston County fumbled on its first two possessions, had more 15-yard penalties than acceptable, lost 12 and 3 yards on pass plays and had a so-so game on the offensive line. And led 43-6 at halftime en route to a 53-6 win. Gee. Maybe the Bears will start clicking at some point, hmm?
Here comes Westside: Injuries became a problem for Westside during the regular season, as the Seminoles needed a win in the final week of the regular season to make the playoffs as a fourth-seeded team. But some key players, including quarterback Savion Knowlton, have returned, and the Seminoles claimed their first playoff victory since 2009 with a 21-12 win at Laney. Up next is a trip to Sonoraville, the third-place team from Region 6-AAA, a region that includes top-ranked Calhoun and eighth-ranked Adairsville.
Reversal of fortune: Last year was a quick out for GHSA Region 2-AAA, with all four playoff teams losing in the first round. The region flipped things around this year, going 4-0 against Region 3-AAA. Jackson and Peach County won easily, while Spencer claimed its first playoff victory since 1993, the last time it made the postseason. Westside, meanwhile, picked up the first playoff victory for any Bibb County public school since 2009, the year of the Seminoles' last playoff win.
It's 'go' time: Westfield doesn't get beat very often, and giving up 55 points and losing by 27? More stunners. Had the Hornets worried about a shot at Valwood, they might have lost to Brookwood. But Westfield more than took care of business with the 56-30 win in the GISA Class AAA quarterfinals. Now, the rematch in the semifinals. At the Hornets Nest.
Records can be deceiving: Just ask Mary Persons. The Bulldogs had a huge struggle with fourth-seed Wayne County, which had a respectable defense, having surrendered 15 points or fewer in three of its seven regular-season losses. It was the closest 1 vs. 4 game in Class AAAA.
Winning the turnover battle: While Dodge County's offense kept control of the pace of its 45-3 win over Jackson-Atlanta, its defense played a key role, as well, with four takeaways. Alec White recovered two fumbles, while Cameron Coleman and A.J. Lampkin each recorded interceptions.
More than expected: Figuring out which Veterans team would show up to Thomson was a question. Apparently a hungry one bent on an upset made the trip. The Warhawks went from down 20-7 to up 28-27 before the host Bulldogs regained slight control en route to the 49-35 win.
In rare air: In the four classifications, the fourth seed went 4-28. Westside was one of the four and only one in Class AAA, thanks to the 21-12 win at Laney. The two shockers came because of the scores: Drew beat Carver-Columbus 58-28 in Class AAAAA and Pace skunked Darlington 31-0 in Class AA.
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 9:11 PM with the headline "Sunday Morning Quarterback: What We Learned ."