Class 2A blog: Who can compete with Carver-Columbus?

The defending 2A champion Carver-Columbus enters the playoffs as the heavy favorite to repeat as state champions. The Tigers have more than ten Division I prospects on the roster, by far the most of any team in the class, however, they do not seem unbeatable.

Sumter County is perhaps the biggest threat to the Tigers. The Panthers are the only 2A team to have played Carver within seven points. In the seventh game of the season, Sumter led late against Carver but ended up losing 8-7. However, it was a big improvement from Sumter’s 31-0 loss the year before. The team is led by 3-star Eastern Michigan commit Aaron Kearse, who is the most important player on the Sumter County roster. While he is expected to play safety at the next level, he is currently the team’s leading rusher with 542 yards and 12 touchdowns, to go along with 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

The other Carver school in the state, Carver-Atlanta, is another team that could upset the Tigers. The 10-0 Panthers have been one of the most dominant teams in the state this year and are undefeated for the first time since 2007, Coach Miles’ third year at the helm of the Panthers program. Carver is led by 4-star athlete Terious Favors, who has been Mr. Do-It-All for the team this season. On offense, he has caught 42 passes for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns; on the ground, he has 765 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, he has 24 tackles and five interceptions on the year.

Morgan County is a team that has flown under the radar in the class. The Bulldogs are 10-0 and won the Region 2 championship. The team has been dominant the past three seasons, but this year marked the first undefeated regular season since 1974. The Bulldogs are scoring over 48 points per game and are led by senior quarterback Davis Strickland. The West Georgia commit is in his third year as a starter and has thrown for over 1,900 yards and 27 touchdowns this season to go along with only one interception.

Rockmart is one of the most consistent teams in the class. The team is 9-1 and has won at least ten games in each of the past three years, along with nine straight region championships. They are led by freshman quarterback Tucker Parson, who has thrown for 2,159 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Blocking for him is 3-star junior offensive lineman Jaiden Thompson, who has been a dominant force on the line of scrimmage.

Class 2A First Round Schedule

#32 Butler at #1 Carver-Atlanta

#17 Ringgold at #16 Pierce County

#24 KIPP Atlanta at #9 Sumter County

#25 Cook at #8 North Murray

#28 Hart County at #5 Appling County

#21 Columbus at #12 Hapeville Charter

#20 Spencer at #13 Miller Grove

#29 Westside-Macon at #4 Morgan County

#30 Redan at #3 Carver-Columbus

#19 Stephens County at #14 Crisp County

#22 Franklin County at #11 Callaway

#27 Jackson at #6 Thomson

#26 East Jackson at #7 Columbia

#23 Sonoraville at #10 Burke County

#18 Laney at #15 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe

#31 South Atlanta at #2 Rockmart

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