6A…*Disclaimer: I will be on the play-by-play call for some of the playoff coverage; therefore I will stop just shy of laying out MY predictions; that leads to a conflict of interest and breaks an unwritten broadcaster code. Just the same, here are some of the storylines we should expect to see unfold in the 2014 GHSA football playoffs…
Use the pictures as a point of reference and let’s begin in the bottom right corner of the bracket.
First of all, there is no question, in my humble opinion; the right side of this year’s bracket is FAR tougher than the left. 12 of the 16 teams have been ranked at some point. McEachern, Grayson, Hughes, and Dacula are all TRUE region champion caliber teams that did not draw #1 seeds.

Bottom Right Quad:
Colquitt County is the favorite to take home the state title. They sport a powerful run game, a timely, and surprisingly athletic passing game, and a suffocating defense. We will talk more about them in next week’s preview.
Peachtree Ridge and Dacula is an incredible first round matchup. Dacula, one of three Region 8 co-champions, drew the #2 seed via a won coin flip, and then lost tie-breaker. Solid defense and a trio of running backs spur their charge. CJ Mayes is the backfield leader. Their defense will have its work cut out for them as they face Chance Thrasher, a duel threat QB whose has thrown for more than 2,200 yards this season.
Milton, led by Quarte Sapp, may sport the second-best defense in the quad. Or perhaps it’s Langston Hughes with D’Andre Walker, Montavious Atkinson and Jefferey Allison; all of which SHOULD be 1st team all-state. Now that I think about it, let’s rank it: Colquitt, Hughes, and then Milton. We could split hairs, but what is without debate is the reality that both Hughes and Milton will have to score more consistently to beat either of their high-octane, offensively superior, first round opponents.
North Cobb is pounding the football down people’s throat and have a senior leader in future Auburn Tiger Tyler Queen. Bryce Perryman has exploded on the scene in the last month with a couple of 200-yard ballgames.
Northview loves to throw it around as DJ Pearson has nearly reached the 2,000-yard mark passing. His favorite target is Matt Biondich, who might end up as a professional lacrosse player.
Milton is favored and should be; to me NC vs Hughes is a toss-up ballgame. In the end, this quad feels like Colquitt meets Milton or Langston Hughes in the Elite Eight.
Sleeper: anyone other than Colquitt County.
Top Right Quad:
McEachern versus East Coweta will be a 45-40 final. In fact, we could say that about numerous games in this quad. Every team here has the capability of putting up gaudy offensive numbers.
McEachern has so many major prospects that I wonder why they are not better. I know that sounds wild, but they have had to score too many points to win certain games. When punched in the mouth, McEachern has not always answered the bell.
Tucker has outscored opponents 431-60 since losing their first two. Soft region? Sure. The thing is, they have slaughtered that soft region slate; not squeaked by. Delvin Weems could take over the playoffs.
Mill Creek has perhaps the best TEAM rushing game in the tournament. QB Daniel David, RB Jonathon Hawkins, and OL Kaleb Kim and Josh Fannin make up that dominant run game. No one else has a combination like this.
Cherokee might sport the best QB to WR duo in the tournament (regardless of classification) as Spencer Ashley and Andrew Harris have been incredible to watch. Spencer was top three in the state in passing yards going into last week and Harris was number one in receiving yards. They WILL be able to score on a top flight defense.
I’ve got news for you, Alpharetta is underrated. They have won nine straight since opening the season with a last quarter, 17-10 loss to Milton. You know about their offensive proclivity, but they actually have a really good defense too. Did you know the Raiders have given up only 88-points all year? And their region is pretty good.
In the end, the difference could be the noticeable edge for Grayson on the defensive side of the football. Expect to see Grayson or Tucker into the Final Four. Sleeper: Mill Creek

Top Left Quad:
This quad has it all. Championship pedigree in North Gwinnett and Valdosta. Aerial dominance from Central Gwinnett, NG, North Paulding. Ground and pound from South Forsyth and Etowah. A crushing defense in Westlake; and a Newton team that played only eight regular season games. Some say it is the weakest of the quads; I would agree, but only by default.
If you are planning on attending the South Forsyth-Etowah game, arrive on time. It’ll be over in two hours flat. I am guessing these two teams will run the football a combined 70 times, so the clock will run.
North Paulding averages 35 PPG. Westlake is top 10 defensively, regardless of classification. Can the Pack’s OL give Kyle Banks, the state’s leading passer, time to throw?
The best Westlake team since…well you know. They bring in a championship caliber defense and high level athletes on offense. Depth is an issue but the stars will play every snap anyway. Dakota Rocker has been a revelation at quarterback. Playing fundamentally sound and protecting the football is their key to victory. They are athletic enough to beat Valdosta, defensive enough to beat North Gwinnett; it is all about the fundamentals.
The potential of Valdosta versus North Gwinnett in the Sweet 16 is just that, sweet. Expect the winner to reach the Final Four. Sleeper: Westlake.

Bottom Left Quad:
This quad would be considered the weakest if not for Jekyll-Hyde Norcross, Lee County forced into a #3 seed, and what I believe to be an underrated Hillgrove squad. I truly believe FIVE teams can win this quad.
Archer is back. They are not what they were in 2013, true. They do have experience and are hungry to achieve what they could not last year. Their most important players are still around from last year (which is why we all had them top 3 to begin the season) and they played a BRUTAL schedule. They are battle tested.
Having said that, I would not be surprised in the slightest if the defending champs took them out in the opener. For the Blue Devils, the question is: Can they score 20-points versus Archer? If they reach 21, they win.
Lovejoy versus Lee County?! Thank you football gods, thank you. This is the most underrated matchup that is incredibly intriguing and even. Lee is better than you think, and so is Lovejoy. I know the Wildcats have not been dominant, but that doesn’t matter. They have the skill defensive players to match Lee Co. Speaking of battle tested: You do realize Lee Co lost to only Colquitt and Valdosta this year? Right?
Hillgrove can do it. Sure, they lost to Harrison. That game was an aberration. Plus, Harrison’s offense could hang with anybody, and I do mean ANYBODY, in the state. Their other losses were to Lovejoy and North Gwinnett. All three losses were by a combined 11 points.
When the dust settles, Hillgrove versus Archer sounds like the Elite Eight bill. Sleeper: I know what you are going to say, but it has to be Norcross.