Class 5A blog: One thing each 5A semifinalist needed to improve upon

The three 5A state semifinalists have had the past week off to prepare for the semifinals that will be played next Thursday. This is a unique chance for three of the top staffs in the state to prepare themselves for an opportunity to play for a state title.

Thomas County Central, the top-ranked team in the class, should have spent the past week preparing for Roswell’s QB-power, run-heavy offense. Quarterback Trey Smith and running back Nick Peal have been nearly unstoppable for everyone they’ve faced. The Yellow Jackets will have to quickly differentiate run from pass, while also avoiding overcommitting to the run,otherwise they risk getting burned deep by Willis Campbell. TCC has been dominant all season, but no one has cracked the code to Roswell’s offense yet this year.

Roswell, meanwhile, will have to find a way to slow down the TCC offense. The Yellow Jackets have been one of the top offensive teams in state history, scoring over 53 points per game. TCC has weapons all over the field and the experience of a team that has gone 41-3 over the past four seasons and won the 2023 6A state title. Roswell will have to step up defensively, and the team’s 3-3 stack defense will need to stop the run if the Hornets want a chance to win.

Rome is in the most unusual position, having to wait until after Gainesville-Hughes is completed to finally know who it will play. The Wolves, however, need some time to look inward and fix themselves before worrying about anyone else. The team played possibly its sloppiest game of the season in the quarterfinals, missing multiple field goals and turning the ball over several times. Those mistakes are easily correctable, but this pseudo-bye week could not have come at a better time for the Wolves.

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