Week 9 Friday Night Preview: Collisions set for Region 1

Thomas County Central Football

Lee County at Thomas County Central

2012 Result: Thomas County Central 41-35

 

Thomas County Central is 6-1, but its loss came to Class AAAAAA Valdosta in a 28-24 week 2 contest. The Yellow Jackets are still unscathed in region play and could take the front seat with a win over undefeated Lee County. The Trojans have not played a difficult schedule to match Thomas County Central’s slate, but they have won all six games of their games by double-digits. Each offense averages more than 35.0 points per game and Lee County statistically has the best defense in Class AAAAA with an 8.0 points allowed average. Thomas County Central quarterback Adam Choice will put that defense to the test.

 

 

Tift County at Valdosta

2012 Result: Valdosta 42-7

 

Valdosta comes off a physical 3-0 loss to Lowndes last Friday in the Winnersville Classic, dropping the Wildcats to 0-2 in region play this season after a 14-10 loss the Camden County the week prior. In order for Valdosta to make its move into playoff contention, the improvements will have to come on the offensive side of the football. Tift County’s defense is much improved from last season’s 32.0 points per game allowed and enters this matchup with a 1-2 region record and a defense that has surrendered 19.0 points per game. Tift County challenged Colquitt County in its 17-14 loss this season and upset Coffee in a 32-29 battle.

 

 

Lowndes at Coffee

2012 Result: Lowndes 42-7

 

Coffee is desperately trying to get in the win column after offsetting its promising 4-0 start with three-consecutive one-possession losses (all in region play). In a region that can struggle to score points because of the wealth of defense, Coffee’s 19.0 points per game allowed ranks second-to-last in the region. Lowndes is coming off its 3-0 win over Valdosta last week and has been able to get back on track after a 37-7 loss to Colquitt County to open region play. This defense has shutout four opponents in its seven games so far and will hold that advantage over Coffee.

 

 

McEachern at North Cobb

2012 Result: McEachern 49-27

 

McEachern has not lost a region game since 2011 and participates in one of the best offensive regions in the state. This will be a battle of quarterbacks as the Indians’ dual-threat veteran Ty Clemons squares off with North Cobb’s Tyler Queen. McEachern wideout TJ Rahming has hauled in a Cobb County-leading nine touchdowns this season and the versatile Clemons has rushed for nine scores making this a difficult offense to stop. McEachern also houses one of the fastest running backs in the state with junior Taj Griffin who is averaging nearly 11 yards per carry and has scored seven touchdowns. North Cobb will let Queen command the offense, as the junior plays out his third season as the Warriors’ starter. Queen has thrown 14 touchdowns this season and just two interceptions and topped undefeated Hillgrove 27-17 last week.

 

Cook at Jefferson County

2012 Result: Cook 20-6

 

Class AAA Jefferson County is one of the most improved teams in the state this season at 6-1. The Warriors’ young offense has struggled at times, but the defense has helped them pull out the close games like their 7-0 win over Wesleyan earlier this year. Class AA Cook has not matched last season’s success so far and sits at 3-3 heading into this non-region matchup. The Hornets dropped two-straight losses to Thomasville and Fitzgerald, but rebounded nicely with last week’s 19-0 win over Pelham.

 

 

Vidalia at Bryan County

2012 Result: Vidalia 42-7

 

Both teams enter this week 5-1 and with losses to Region 2-AA-leading Benedictine. This game will likely determine who finished the season as the No. 2 seed out of the region. Last year when these two teams matched up, Bryan County was 1-5 and the turnaround this season has been impressive. Bryan County and Vidalia are averaging 33.0 points per game this season, but look for the Vidalia defense to challenge the Redskins attack.

 

 

Rabun County at Washington-Wilkes

2012 Result: Washington-Wilkes 41-12

 

Washington-Wilkes is playing its best football of the season right now and at 7-0 posted a 56-16 rout over Greene County last Friday. Rabun County earned its first loss of the season in a 26-20 defeat to Jefferson, but could still win the region with a win over Washington-Wilkes and a little help the rest of the way. Rabun County leads the region in scoring and defense with a 47.0 points per game average and an 8.0 points allowed average. Washington Wilkes averages 42.0 points per game and this matchup could favor the offenses.

 

 

Pace Academy at Landmark Christian

2012 Result: Landmark Christian 38-14

 

Pace Academy is led by 3-star quarterback Kevin Johnson who has thrown 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. Kameron Uter is his favorite target, and the senior has hauled in 10 touchdowns this season. Undefeated Landmark Christian looks to be the top challenger to defending Class A-Private state champion ELCA for the Region 5-A crown, but its defense will have to keep Uter and the athletic Johnson in check this Friday before it can look ahead. Landmark Christian’s big wins this season include a 14-7 win over Mt. Paran and a 27-6 win over Athens Christian.

 

 

Milton at Lassiter

2012 Result: Lassiter 47-30

 

Milton comes off its first loss of the season after falling 24-15 to undefeated Etowah. The loss of Tennessee-commit Treyvon Paulk from the backfield with his knee injury is something the Eagles are still looking to fix. Junior Micco Brisker is one of the most powerful runners in the state and his role in the offense will likely continue to blossom this season. Lassiter is led by quarterback Will Anderson and the explosive wideout Quincy Perdue. The Trojans come off a bye week, but in the week prior Perdue torched the Walton defense for big plays in Lassiter’s 28-21 road victory.

 

 

North Forsyth at West Forsyth

2012 Result: West Forsyth 38-3

 

North Forsyth’s 4-0 start has taken a disappointing turn after a heartbreaking 14-13 home loss to Lambert and a 45-6 loss to Alpharetta last week. In order to get back into the playoff hunt, senior quarterback Harris Roberts will have to keep pace with West Forsyth’s explosive offense. Juniors Trevor O’Brien and Hampton McConnell lead the Wolverines’ backfield and have combined for 15 of West Forsyth’s 22 rushing touchdowns this season. West Forsyth is scoring 33.0 points per game, but its 29.0 points per game allowed on defense gives the Raiders hope after failing to find the endzone last season.

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

*