3A…*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 a game by game prediction; 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.
3A has been incredibly dominant. In the rankings I put together each week, the Mooneyham Poll, it wasn’t until the last week of October we included a team with a LOSS. The pre-season top ten didn’t suffer a loss until week six. This class should come down to Washington County (Level 1), Calhoun, Peach Co, and Jefferson (Level 2) and finally Blessed Trinity and Central, Carroll (Level 3).

 

Bottom Right Quad:
Easily, and I mean easily, the most wide open quad in the tournament; and perhaps the most competitive in the entire state playoffs. Legitimately, five teams can win this region.
Westminster versus Laney is a meeting between two schools who have met many times with championships on the line, in other GHSA sports. On the gridiron, it’s a rematch of a contest in September where either team could have won. The Wildcats from Augusta turned the ball over three times and outgained Westminster by over a hundred yards. On the flip side, the Wildcats from Atlanta clearly forced two of the three turnovers and missed two field goals.

Westminster’s Zay Malcome has been fooling opponents for the last two years. At 5’5, the scat-back seems to be easy to stop; but he has been lost in the trees of offensive linemen all year and comes into the playoffs with over 1,100-yards and 14 scores. QB Rankin Worley has been clutch and protective of the football. We had their game versus Lovett in the season opener, on 680 The Fan’s Game of the Week here in Atlanta, and they hammered the defending champs physically.

Central, Carroll won their region title in the season finale with perhaps the most dramatic finish in the state all season. Central’s Kaleel Abdusalaan blocked a potential game-winning FG from Callaway, and Dajour Riddle ran it back with no time remaining. Incredibly, the Lions only complete an average of 2.5 passes a game, in only 5.4 attempts per game. However, they average 317-yards rushing per game and have four young men who have eclipsed the 300-yard plateau for the season.

Hart County has been one of my sleepers all year. Ok, a “light sleeper”, because they were expected to be good. I just happen to think a little more highly about the Bulldogs than others. Cameron Fouch is a potential star at quarterback. They sport one of the top defenses in the class, allowing 12.4 points per game, and no more than 21 in any contest.

Finally, Cook County will have to fight off questions about their region strength. They have won eight in a row, and they have only allowed 54 points in those games.

Sleeper: None; it’ll be one of these four.

Top Right Quad:
I believe, loaded. Cedar Grove and Elbert County: underrated. Peach County and Calhoun: state title contenders.

The Saints of Cedar Grove had Blessed Trinity on the ropes in the region championship game, but couldn’t quite finish them off. Powerful running back Labron Morris has pushed past the 200-yard mark in a game three times this year and their defense is more athletic than most.

Peach County will meet Calhoun in the Elite Eight; and it’s a state championship type game. In fact, I believe the winner meets Washington County in the state championship game.

Calhoun re-loads year after year. After year. After year. The Yellow Jackets are so incredibly balanced. They have the ability to adapt to their opponents weaknesses BETTER than anyone in the class. Kaelan Riley has led the balance as a duel threat leader. The junior has a couple of great weapons in running back Olico Dennis and tight end Landon Rice. As if that isn’t enough, their defense has held three opponents to minus rushing yards, while allowing 74 points all season.

Many people will fill out their brackets and without thought, will pencil Calhoun to the title game. Not so fast. Peach County has been my pick to reach the title game all year. Calhoun is better than I thought they would be, so that may not happen; but certainly the Trojans are stout. Defensively, the guys from Fort Valley have held opponents to single digits in seven of their ten ballgames. Offensively, quarterback Robert Allen (1434 yards/ 11 Td’s/ 2 Int) completes 71% of his passes, and senior running back Keyshawn Lowe (1,110 yards and 18 touchdowns) is the best player in the state that you don’t know.

Sleeper: Elbert County; but only to beat Lumpkin in round one. They will be ousted by Peach. Boy, do they miss Mecole Hardman.

Top Left Quad:
Ringgold versus Callaway is easily the best, most competitive matchup of the first round, in this quad. Unfortunately, they will serve as sacrificial lamb to Washington County in round two.

WaCo is the overwhelming favorite to win the state title. Last season, the Golden Hawks fell in the state championship game to Buford. This team should become the template of a team playing with the chip on their shoulder of “unfinished business.” We will cover them a lot over the next month, but I must mention the man who is potentially the player of the year in the state, AJ Gray. The future Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket could have combined for 4,000 yards of total offense here in 2014; if he wasn’t lifted from the second half of five blowouts.

Sleeper: Oconee County or West Hall. The winner should reach the Elite Eight.

Bottom Left Quad:
One of three teams will SURVIVE this region.

Jefferson has been absolutely, and kind of quietly, dominant. The offensively driven Dragons are outscoring opponents 416-91. The Shirreffs boys are becoming Jefferson royalty. Evan has become one of the best quarterbacks in 3A and has stepped out of the shadow of his older brother; who of course led the Dragons to the state title two years ago. They feature two really, really good backs in Sammy Williams and Colby Wood. TJ Skelton is a top ten receiver in the class.

Westside, of Macon, is the best team you don’t know. They defeated five of the six playoff teams they faced and lost only to region opponent Peach County. Running back Cedric Hollingshed and quarterback Marcell Williams are a tremendous duo with blazing speed and a playmaking penchant. Versus Jackson, Williams went for over 200-yards rushing and passing.

Finally, there is Blessed Trinity. Quarterback Connor Davis is built like a fullback; and he has been impressively accurate. The junior has completed 60% of his passes for 1,377 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Yes, Blessed Trinity is putting the pigskin in the air a little more than in the past. Still, the Titans have rushed for 2,100-yards as a team; and are led by junior Milton Shelton (1,100-yards and 15 touchdowns). Then, we move to Pat Jasinski. One of the hardest-hitting, smartest, toughest linebackers in the state; and oh by the way, he has become a go-to receiving tight end.

Sleeper: Adairsville. 2014 is the culmination of a three year climb. It’s not quite “all-or-nothing”, but they have been building to this moment. The Tigers scored 35-plus in eight of their ten contests, and lost to only Calhoun. They should take down Cedartown and have enough offense to trouble Blessed Trinity. It would be a minor miracle to take down BT and Westside/Jefferson.