Nominations needed for The Leaderboard
GHSF Daily will publish its statewide yardage leaderboard on Friday. Please report eligible rushers (minimum 950 yards), passers (1,500 yards) and receivers (650 yards) by replying to this email or clicking here.
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Class 6A
Camden County at North Cobb
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When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Emory Sewell Stadium, Kennesaw
Records, rankings: Camden County is 7-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 1-6A and unranked; North Cobb is 10-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-6A and No. 7.
Last meeting: North Cobb won 44-6 in the first round of the 2021 Class 7A playoffs.
Things to know: North Cobb is 10-0 for the first time since 2007 and hopes to avoid the fate of that season, when beaten in the first round, or that of 2023, when subjected to a first-round home loss to Collins Hill. Camden County hopes to repeat last season, when the Wildcats won as an underdog at seventh-ranked Newton in the first round. North Cobb is a physical run-first team with a dual-threat quarterback. Nick Grimstead has passed for 1,490 yards and 17 touchdowns with only one interception and rushed for 580 yards. Zach Belyeu has rushed for 961 yards on a team that averages 256.0 rushing yards per game. North Cobb’s 43.3 points per game ranks second in Class 6A. Camden County, under first-year coach Travis Roland, is different stylistically than teams under previous coach Jeff Herron, the 300-game winner whose wing-T teams sought to control the ball on the ground. This year’s Camden team has an average score of 42.3 to 29.9. Parks Riendeau has passed for 1,732 yards in an offense that’s almost evenly balanced. Elyiss Williams, a 6-foot-7 tight end committed to Georgia, has 52 receptions for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Winner plays: Mill Creek/Douglas County winner
Mill Creek at Douglas County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Douglasville
Records, rankings: Mill Creek is 7-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-6A and No. 10; Douglas County is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 2-6A and No. 4.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: This is the only meeting between top-10 teams in the highest class, and neither really deserved such a reality. They’ve lost only to top-five teams. Douglas County’s two are No. 1 Carrollton 49-28 and No. 2 Buford 31-14. Mill Creek’s three are No. 2 Buford 32-7, No. 3 North Gwinnett 37-34 and No. 5 Collins Hill 13-12. The two teams are built similarly. Mill Creek is led by Shane Throgmartin (1,691 yards passing, committed to Penn) and Daniel Smith (1,145 yards rushing) and defenders Luke Metz (team-leading 45 solo tackles, committed to Alabama) and Devin Ancrum (14 tackles for losses, committed to North Carolina). Douglas County counters with D.J. Bourdeaux (2,083 passing, ACC/SEC offers) and Zamarcus Lindley (1,073 rushing yards) and defenders Mike Hastie (leading tackler, region defensive player of the year, committed to West Virginia) and Jordan Carter (11 tackles for losses, committed to Texas A&M). Douglas County also possesses the talented WR corps of Aaron Gregory (690 receiving yards, committed to Texas A&M), Devin Carter (535 yards, top-50 national junior prospect) and James Johnson (420 yards, committed to Southern Cal).
Winner plays: Camden County/North Cobb winner
Class 5A
Houston County at Clarke Central
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Billy Henderson Stadium/Death Valley, Athens
Records, rankings: Houston County is 6-4, the No. 4 seed from Region 2-5A and unranked: Clarke Central is 8-2, the No. 1 seed from 8-5A and unranked.
Last meeting: Houston County won 20-14 in 2001.
Things to know: Antwann Hill and Hezekiah Millender, two of the state’s top five senior quarterback prospects, face off in this one. Houston County’s Hill is the better known. The AJC Super 11 pick is committed to Memphis. He has thrown for 10,152 yards in his career, putting him in the top 10 all-time in Georgia. He has thrown for 114 touchdowns. Isaiah Mitchell has 68 receptions for 1,212 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. M.J. Mathis has 54 receptions for 825 yards and 10 touchdowns. Clarke Central’s Millender moved to Athens in the offseason from Arizona and committed to Boise State in August. He has passed for 1,798 yards and 26 touchdowns with one interception this season. He’s well-complemented by Corey Watkins, a preseason all-state running back who has rushed for 1,192 yards. Houston County has lost to four top-10 opponents and defeated defending Class 4A champion Perry. Clarke Central’s losses have been against Jefferson and North Oconee, both region champions from lower classes. The Gladiators have beaten No. 4 Oconee County of Class 3A.
Winner plays: New Manchester/Lakeside-Evans winner
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Class 4A
East Forsyth at Jones County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Greyhound Field, Gray
Records, rankings: East Forsyth is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-4A and unranked; Jones County is 9-1, the No. 2 seed from 2-4A and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: East Forsyth is one of only two playoff teams that have never won a playoff game but are favored by the computer Maxwell Ratings to win this week. The other is Ola, the winner of Jones County’s region. Ola and Jones County each moved up one place in seeding in the aftermath of the Stockbridge forfeits or else East Forsyth and Ola would be playing each other. Instead, East Forsyth will face a pass-happy team led by Devin Edmonds (2,519 yards and 29 touchdowns passing) and Jaivon Solomon (1,191 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving). Both are in the top five in Class 4A in their categories. Jones County has lost to Ola 7-3 and to Stockbridge 28-21, the latter overturned by forfeit. The Greyhounds are making their 11th consecutive playoff appearance and reached semifinals in 2019 and 2020. East Forsyth is a 4-year-old school coming off its best regular-season finish under promoted first-year coach Dustin Canon, who helped start the program in his native Forsyth County. The Broncos are a balanced team offensively. Team leaders are Brock Szakacs (1,560 passing yards), D.J. Haskell (615 rushing yards), Chase Rhoads (482 receiving yards) and Michael Acevedo (59 solo tackles, 17 tackles for losses).
Winner plays: Warner Robins/Marist winner
Warner Robins at Marist
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Warner Robins is 7-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 1-4A and No. 9; Marist is 10-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-4A and No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: Marist’s 10-0 record and No. 1 ranking didn’t get the break it deserved in the draw. Warner Robins is a top-10 team with victories over two other top-10 teams, including defending Class 4A champion Perry two weeks ago. Warner Robins has done no worse than reach the state quarterfinals each of the past seven seasons. Warner Robins’ best all-around player is DB/WR Rasean Dinkins, who recently flipped his commitment to Georgia from Georgia Tech. Against Perry, he scored three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) and intercepted two passes. Isaiah Gibson, an edge rusher, is another Georgia-committed Warner Robins player. The Demons’ offense is built around Skyler Williams, who is 103-of-182 passing for 1,431 yards while rushing for 926 yards. Marist has been ranked No. 1 since the start of September, when region play began, but has not been tested since. The War Eagles have won every game by five touchdowns or better. Marist is rushing for 254.3 yards per game, a number deflated by multiple running clocks, as Marist has employed 22 ball carriers this season. QB Jack Euart, a three-year starter, leads with 615 rushing yards. Marist has completed only 41 passes, but nine have gone for touchdowns. RB/LB Noah Gerrick is second on the team in rushing yards (309) and solo tackles (30). He has committed to Wofford as a baseball player. Marist allows 42.6 yards rushing (1.7 per carry) and 90.7 passing per game.
Winner plays: East Forsyth/Jones County winner
Cambridge at Cedartown
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Doc Ayers Field/Cedartown Memorial Stadium, Cedartown
Records, rankings: Cambridge is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-4A and unranked; Cedartown is 9-1, the No. 2 seed from 7-4A and No. 6.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: Cambridge might be the best dark horse lurking in any draw. The unranked Bears have beaten four bigger schools, including Class 6A Denmark, and one top-10 smaller one, Calhoun. They lost to Class 4A’s No. 3 team, Blessed Trinity, 27-24 on the road two weeks ago. The other loss came to Kell, costing the Bears the No. 2 seed from the region and forcing them on the road for this game. Weston Taylor, the Region 6-4A player of the year, has thrown for 2,620 yards and 27 touchdowns, 10 to Craig Dandridge and eight to Hudson Cocchiari. Both junior wide receivers have more than 850 receiving yards. Cedartown has lost only to No. 2 Cartersville and won its other games handily, none closer than 21 points. The Bulldogs average 252.2 rushing yards and 91.5 passing yards per game. Their best players are RB/DB Tae Harris (committed to Clemson) and CB/WR Demarcus Gardner (Kentucky). Harris leads the team in rushing with 787 yards (13.7 per carry) and has 63 tackles. Gardner has 1,095 all-purpose yards and four interceptions. They’ve scored 29 touchdowns.
Winner plays: M.L. King/Central-Carrollton winner
Starr's Mill at Mays
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Starr’s Mill is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 3-4A and unranked; Mays is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 4-4A and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: Starr’s Mill was gliding toward its seventh region title in nine seasons and a 10-0 finish when upset by Jonesboro 29-24 two weeks ago. Jonesboro scored the winning touchdown with 22 seconds left. That led to a three-way tie that made the Panthers a No. 3 seed playing at Mays. Starr’s Mill was a Clas 4A semifinal team in 2023, winning twice on the road before the Panthers were eliminated at eventual champion Perry 28-24. Starr’s Mill averages 241.5 rushing yards and 141.8 passing yards while limiting opponents to 122.6 yards rushing and 128.2 passing. Logan Inagawa has thrown for 1,418 yards and 16 touchdowns, seven to big-play receiver Lincoln DeLaere, who has 34 receptions for 767 yards. Mays, under first-year coach Reggie Austin, has lost only to Hughes and Creekside. The Raiders have beaten Douglass and Stephenson, smaller top-10 teams. Mays’ most exciting player is Clayton Coppock. He has 518 yards passing, 318 rushing, 539 receiving and 214 returning. He has scored 14 touchdowns, two on punt returns. Mays made the second round last season and the quarterfinals the season before.
Winner plays: Westminster/Cartersville winner
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Class 3A
Cairo at Douglass
When, where: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Cairo is 6-4, the No. 22 seed and ranked No. 10; Douglass is 7-3, the No. 11 seed and No. 9.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: This is one of three first-round games between top-10 teams, and it matches Class 3A’s No. 2 scoring defense against Class 3A’s leading rusher, Cairo’s Bryian Duncan. The sophomore running back finished with 1,795 rushing yards in the regular season despite missing the final regular-season game against Westover, a loss that put Cairo in third place in the region. The lower-back injury lingers, and Cairo hopes Duncan will be ready to go. Cairo averages just 27.9 passing yards per game, so it needs a healthy Duncan. This is Cairo’s 22nd consecutive season in the playoffs. Cairo opened the season with losses to Thomas County Central and Thomasville and finished with region losses to Peach County and Westover. Douglass allows 10.3 points per game. Only Calvary Day, a private school in the 3A-A private playoffs, has a better defensive scoring average in the classification. The only team that has gained more than 300 yards against Douglass is Class 6A’s Westlake with 303. Other opponents include LaGrange (148) and Stephenson (235), a pair of strong 3A teams. Jontae Gilbert, a safety committed to Georgia, is the Astros’ best-known player. John Wilson has passed for 998 yards and rushed for 473. Antoine Watkins has rushed for 749 yards. Douglass has improved its victory total for four straight season (from 0-5 to 1-9 to 3-8 to 6-5 to 7-3) and now hopes to win its first playoff game since 2019.
Winner plays: Spalding/Calhoun winner
Class A Division I
Rabun County at Fitzgerald
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jaycee Stadium, Fitzgerald
Records, rankings: Rabun County is 6-4, the No. 21 seed and unranked; Fitzgerald is 7-3, the No. 12 seed and ranked No. 9.
Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 28-17 in the 2018 Class 2A quarterfinals.
Things to know: Rabun County has won 10 straight first-round playoff games, tied for the eight-longest active GHSA streak of its kind. Fitzgerald has won six straight and 16 of its past 17. These teams have met twice, in 2016 and 2018 quarterfinal games, with Fitzgerald winning each. Both teams are run-oriented, which is unusual for Rabun County but not Fitzgerald. A single-wing team, Fitzgerald averages 240.2 rushing yards and 86.2 passing yards while allowing just 233.1 total yards per game. Victor Copeland, who plays quarterback, wing back and wide receiver, has rushed for 867 yards and 16 touchdowns, passed for 475 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Rabun County, the alma mater of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, has changed its ways for the time being, relying more on the run this season. The Wildcats average 252.2 rushing yards and 76.9 passing yards. Reid Giles, a junior, has run for 1,257 yards and 16 touchdowns and leads the team with 326 receiving yards.
Winner plays: Bleckley County/Social Circle winner
Class A Division II
Irwin County at Greene County
When, where: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Tiger Stadium, Greensboro
Records, rankings: Irwin County is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 2-A Division I and No. 3; Greene County is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 8-A Division II and No. 8.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: Irwin County’s No. 3 seed matches its No. 3 state ranking, which makes for a rough draw for both teams. Irwin beat Brooks County, the No. 1 seed, but Brooks finished first on points differential in a three-way tied that included fifth-ranked Clinch County. Once that was decided, Irwin lost out to Clinch on a head-to-head tiebreaker, forcing the Indians to travel to Greensboro for this one. Irwin County’s marquee player is Shane Marshall, who has rushed for 1,375 yards and 22 touchdowns. Marshall is committed to Minnesota and is Irwin’s second-highest-rated recruit this century behind Justin “Bean” Anderson, a former Georgia player who is now Irwin’s offensive line coach. Irwin has scored 429 points, the second-highest regular-season total in school history. Greene County’s losses have come to once-beaten Morgan County of Class 2A and undefeated Lincoln County. The Tigers are a two-to-one rushing team as far as yards. Travez Gibson has rushed for 978 yards, and Amari Durham has run for 749. Greene’s best players are Steve Miller, a wide receiver/safety committed to Southern Cal who has 743 all-purpose yards, and Kevin Wynn, a defensive tackle committed to Florida State who has 24 tackles for losses.
Winner plays: Glascock County/Early County winner
| | | Dawson County's Maxwell retiring |
Dawson County’s Sid Maxwell is retiring after 30 years as a Georgia head football coach, he announced Wednesday morning.
Maxwell had winning records at three GHSA schools – Dawson County (69-45), Lambert (31-16) and Sequoyah (97-67) – and finished with a 197-128 record in the state.
Maxwell led Dawson County to its only region titles in school history (2015, 2022) and Sequoyah to its only region championship (2003).
Dawson County had won only one playoff game in its history when it hired Maxwell in 2015. The Tigers reached the Class 3A quarterfinals in his first season and won at least one round each season from 2017 through 2021.
Maxwell started Lambert’s program in 2009 and led the Longhorns to three playoff appearances in five seasons.
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On TV
Friday
*Valdosta at Walton, 7:30 p.m., GPB
*Camden County at North Cobb, 8 p.m., Peachtree Sports Network
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On the Web
NFHS Network
Watch Georgia High School Football all season long on the NFHS Network. You can stream games from around the state every week live and on-demand. Catch the action from your smartphone, tablet, computer, or connected TV devices like Apple TV, FireTV, Roku, and Google TV. Subscribe today to keep up with your favorites teams. Find your game and subscribe today.
| Predict the Winners in 2024 playoffs |
GHSF Daily’s first Playoff Bracket Challenge, sponsored by the GFCA’s Coaches vs. Overdoses program, is under way. There are eight contests, one for each classification. Contestants may enter all eight, or as many as they like. Winners in each class will receive a US Awards custom stadium blanket (see example below) measuring 50” x 60’’ with the NFL, NCAA or high school team logo of their choice. A leaderboard will be maintained on our website through the championship games so contestants can see how they’re doing. Contestants must make predictions for the entire bracket. Correct predictions in later rounds are worth more than those in earlier rounds.
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Points allowed
Here are the top 10 teams in fewest points allowed per game, by classification:
Class 6A
9.1 - Grayson
10.7 - Buford
10.8 - Hillgrove
12.7 - Lowndes
13.3 - North Gwinnett
13.7 - Collins Hill
15.0 - Carrollton
15.3 - Campbell
15.8 - Norcross
16.1 - Harrison
Class 5A
9.1 - Hughes
11.0 - Milton
13.2 - Rome
13.4 - Woodward Academy
13.9 - Sprayberry
14.4 - East Paulding
14.5 - New Manchester
14.8 - Decatur
14.9 - Thomas County Central
14.9 - Coffee
14.9 - Jackson County
Class 4A
5.5 - Marist
8.0 - Ola
9.5 - North Oconee
9.7 - Cedartown
10.3 - Cartersville
11.8 - Harris County
12.7 - Blessed Trinity
13.9 - Creekside
14.3 - St. Pius
14.4 - Eastside
Class 3A
8.1 - Calvary Day
10.3 - Douglass
12.0 - Harlem
12.1 - Long County
13.0 - Westside (Augusta)
15.3 - Oconee County
15.8 - LaGrange
16.1 - Calhoun
16.2 - Jenkins
16.2 - Westover
Class 2A
6.4 - Carver (Columbus)
6.8 - Pierce County
10.8 - Carver (Atlanta)
10.8 - Sumter County
11.9 - Hebron Christian
15.1 - North Cobb Christian
15.3 - Rockmart
16.1 - Appling County
16.1 - Miller Grove
16.3 - Burke County
Class A Division I
8.1 - Savannah Christian
10.9 - Fannin County
11.5 - Lamar County
12.2 - Toombs County
12.4 - Mount Bethel Christian
13.5 - Jasper County
13.6 - Northeast
14.1 - Dublin
14.9 - Fitzgerald
15.3 - Thomasville
Class A Division II
8.3 - Metter
8.5 - Johnson County
8.8 - Manchester
9.4 - Lincoln County
11.1 - Miller County
11.3 - Wilcox County
11.4 - McIntosh County Academy
11.6 - Taylor County
13.3 - Jenkins County
14.0 - Emanuel County Institute
GIAA
5.6 - Bethlehem Christian
6.5 - Bulloch Academy
7.8 - Flint River Academy
10.6 - SW Georgia Academy
11.8 - Westfield
12.4 - First Presbyterian
13.0 - Edmund Burke Academy
13.3 - Lakeview Academy
14.7 - Rock Springs Christian
15.9 - Briarwood Academy
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Houston County’s Antwann Hill has thrown for 10,152 yards in his career, good for 10th in GHSA history and second in school history. What player holds the Houston County record with 12,745 career yards? (Answer Friday)
Answer to Wednesday’s question: Camden County was the south Georgia team that beat 21-point favorite Newton in the first round last season. Collins Hill was the Gwinnett County team with a 5-5 record, but only two seasons removed from a state title, that beat 19-point favorite North Cobb in the 2023 first round.
| Jostens is the largest class ring manufacturer in the world. Order your class rings by clicking here. | Here are this week’s playoff games with projected margins of victory, courtesy of the Maxwell Ratings. The projected winner is on the left. The projected margin of victory is on the right. The Maxwell computer ratings take into account each team’s historical and current season performance. The projected margins also consider actual scoring patterns and may not match the projected margins when using the ratings alone. |
GHSA
Class 6A
(Friday)
Brookwood vs. West Forsyth -6
Buford vs. East Coweta -38
Carrollton vs. Dacula -48
Collins Hill vs. Westlake -14
Colquitt Co. vs. Wheeler -35
Douglas Co. vs. Mill Creek -10
Grayson vs. Pebblebrook -41
Harrison vs. Archer -15
Hillgrove vs. South Gwinnett -1
Lowndes vs. North Paulding -28
Norcross at Lambert -5
North Atlanta vs. Peachtree Ridge -4
North Cobb vs. Camden Co. -12
North Gwinnett vs. Denmark -38
Valdosta at Walton -1
(Saturday)
Newton vs. McEachern -9
Class 5A
(Friday)
Brunswick vs. Villa Rica -22
Coffee at Jackson Co. -26
Decatur vs. Dutchtown -11
East Paulding vs. Effingham Co. -7
Gainesville at Sequoyah -13
Houston Co. at Clarke Central -5
Hughes vs. Dunwoody -42
Lakeside, Evans vs. New Manchester -13
Lee Co. vs. Habersham Central -54
Milton vs. Woodstock -42
Newnan vs. Tri-Cities -21
Rome vs. Glynn Academy -26
Roswell vs. River Ridge -21
Sprayberry vs. Lanier -8
Thomas Co. Cent. vs. Winder-Barrow -43
Woodward Academy vs. Lovejoy -32
Class 4A
(Friday)
Benedictine at Southwest DeKalb -17
Blessed Trinity vs. Cass -32
Cartersville vs. Westminster -24
Cedartown vs. Cambridge -6
Central, Carrollton vs. M.L. King -41
Creekside vs. Harris Co. -27
East Forsyth at Jones Co. -7
Eastside vs. Hampton -41
Jonesboro vs. Jackson, Atlanta -21
Kell vs. Hiram -10
Marist vs. Warner Robins -16
North Oconee vs. Eagle's Landing -45
Ola vs. Flowery Branch -15
Perry vs. St. Pius -15
Starr's Mill at Mays -2
Ware Co. vs. Tucker -15
Class 3A
(Friday)
Baldwin vs. West Laurens -3
Calhoun vs. Spalding -13
Cherokee Bluff vs. Monroe Area -17
Harlem vs. Cedar Grove -11
Jefferson vs. Monroe -38
Jenkins vs. Northwest Whitfield -15
LaGrange at Lumpkin Co. -10
North Hall vs. Gilmer -15
Oconee Co. at Westside, Augusta -21
Peach Co. vs. Chestatee -35
Sandy Creek vs. Adairsville -27
SE Bulloch at Heritage, Ringgold -5
Stephenson vs. Whitewater -6
Upson-Lee vs. Long Co. -17
Westover vs. Luella -21
(Saturday)
Douglass vs. Cairo -11
Class 2A
(Friday)
Appling Co. vs. Crisp Co. -21
Burke Co. vs. Cook -21
Callaway vs. Miller Grove -35
Carver, Columbus vs. Therrell -28
Columbia vs. Butler -36
Hapeville Charter vs. Lakeview-FO -37
Hart Co. at Ringgold -13
Morgan Co. vs. East Jackson -19
Pierce Co. vs. Jackson -34
Rockmart vs. Redan -35
Stephens Co. vs. North Murray -27
Sumter Co. vs. Union Co. -19
Thomson vs. Pike Co. -27
Westside, Macon vs. Spencer -7
(Saturday)
Carver, Atlanta vs. Shaw -34
Laney at South Atlanta -3
Class A Division I
(Friday)
ACE Charter at Jasper Co. -3
Fannin Co. vs. Vidalia -28
Jeff Davis vs. Washington Co. -10
Lamar Co. vs. Dade Co. -19
Northeast vs. Swainsboro -16
Fitzgerald vs. Rabun Co. -13
Dodge Co. vs. Chattooga -19
Worth Co. vs. Coosa -41
Heard Co. vs. McNair -28
Elbert Co. at Gordon Lee -8
Commerce vs. Bremen -11
Toombs Co. vs. Southwest -43
Thomasville vs. Bacon Co. -38
Temple vs. Putnam Co. -12
Dublin vs. Gordon Central -43
Social Circle vs. Bleckley Co. -6
Class A Division II
(Saturday)
Bowdon vs. Taylor Co. -37
Brooks Co. vs. Washington-Wilkes -33
Clinch Co. vs. Warren Co. -9
Early Co. vs. Glascock Co. -42
Irwin Co. at Greene Co. -8
Jenkins Co. vs. Wheeler Co. -20
Johnson Co. vs. Pelham -3
Lincoln Co. vs. Charlton Co. -25
Macon Co. vs. Greenville -18
Manchester vs. Marion Co. -41
McIntosh Co. Academy at Wilcox Co. -2
Metter vs. Hawkinsville -21
Miller Co. at Wilkinson Co. -15
Mitchell Co. vs. Hancock Central -20
Telfair Co. vs. Emanuel Co. Institute 0
Trion at Schley Co. -16
Class 3A-A private
(Friday)
Aquinas vs. Holy Innocents’ -2
Darlington at King's Ridge Christian -7
GAC at Mount Paran Christian -9
Landmark Christ. vs. Providence Chr. -11
Lovett vs. Trinity Christian -22
Sav. Country Day vs. Mount Vernon -7
Wesleyan vs. Mount Pisgah Christian -42
GIAA
(Friday)
Brentwood vs. Southland Academy -12
Bulloch Academy vs. Brookstone -5
First Presbyterian vs. Bethlehem Christ. -4
Southwest Georgia vs. Gatewood -28
Tiftarea Academy vs. Valwood -4
Westfield vs. Deerfield-Windsor -4
GAPPS
(Friday)
Cherokee Christ. vs. Creekside Christ. -11
Lanier Christian vs. Skipstone Acad. -38
| We have your apparel needs. The Original Shimmel Shirt. Go to balldownballout.com. | Wednesday's List of schools that have made the playoffs 10 straight seasons omitted four teams because of a query error that didn't count teams with first-round byes this season. Those teams are Savannah Christian (19 consecutive seasons), Prince Avenue Christian (15), Calvary Day (15) and Athens Academy (10). The corrected list can be found on our website. | |
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Today’s interviewee is Ken Brady, the play-by-play announcer for Stephens County football for 27 seasons and a co-host and producer of WNEG Radio’s “Crunch Time,” a Thursday night show during the high school football season that has aired since 2000 with the same three hosts – Brady, Mack Poss and Ted Taylor. Brady will be calling Friday night’s home game against North Murray in the Class 2A playoffs.
Ken Brady, Stephens County play-by-play announcer
1. How did you get involved in doing play by play for the Indians? “I grew up listening to Lynn Pitts, legendary high school sports announcer in Northeast Georgia in the ’60s through the early ’80s, and he could really paint the picture in the mind of listeners of what he was seeing on the field. In high school, I was the guy who would write the story on the games for the school newspaper and occasionally the local town paper. But my love was radio, and as a senior in high school, I was hired at WNEG Radio here in Toccoa. I continued to work there part-time as I went to college, but since it was a daytime-only AM station, we were not able to do high school sports at night. I came on full-time at WNEG in 1981, and in 1984, WNEG started a full-power TV station. They would go out on Friday nights and videotape a local game and play it back on Tuesday nights. On a Friday night in 1987, Mack Poss, who was doing color with play-by-play announcer Charles Head, could not do the game because his wife was close to delivering his baby daughter. So they came over to the radio side of the building and asked me if I could step in at the last minute. I guess I did a pretty good job because I was the substitute for Mack and Charles for several seasons. In 1992, I was asked to take the play-by-play position on a regular basis. After a couple of years, the TV station decided to stop doing high school football, but WNEG Radio and TV station owner, Roy Gaines, graciously gave me permission to do play by play on Friday nights for a small station in neighboring Franklin County since we were still daytime-only AM. After three years, WNEG got night-time clearance and started broadcasting all of Stephens County's games. So I've been the football play-by-play announcer for the Indians since 1998.”
2. What keeps you in it after 33 years? What do you enjoy most about it? “I have been very blessed to broadcast high school sports and witness the Friday night excitement – the competition of the young men on the field, the cheerleaders on the sideline raising the spirit of the fans and the marching band both on the field and in the stands playing the music that makes for a great atmosphere that can really bring a community together for an enjoyable night of entertainment. When listeners tell me they feel like they are at the game with me, then I have done my job. It is especially gratifying when a parent, grandparent or other relative of a player thanks us for broadcasting the games when they can't be there themselves.”
3. What style of announcer are you? “Being born and raised in Toccoa/Stephens County and living here all my life, except when I was at college, you could say I am a homer for sure. But I want to make sure through my excitement of calling a big play that you can clearly understand what is happening. Whether it is a Stephens County player or a player for the opponent, me and my broadcast partner, Buzz Tatham – we are also in our 25th season together – want to make sure we give them credit for good play. But also when a high school player makes a personal foul or other mistake, we will not call that player's name out. It is not our place to embarrass any player or team. We try to emphasize the positive.”
4. What is Crunch Time? And what do you enjoy about that? “'Crunch Time' is an hour program we do from a local restaurant each Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. One of my co-hosts is Mack Poss, who as I mentioned earlier did color on the old TV-32 game of the week. He is a former assistant football coach, varsity girls and boys basketball coach at Stephens County and was co-host of the TV-32 ‘Friday Night Under the Lights’ high school football scoreboard and video recap of the games, and was for many years the color analyst for the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball broadcasts. Ted Taylor is my other co-host. He was host of the ‘High School Football Scoreboard Show’ on the old WLET-FM in Toccoa and later on WCON-FM in Cornelia – a total of for 34 years. He also still does home Stephens County basketball and baseball games for us on the radio. We'll talk about the Stephens County game, but we also preview the other games in the area. We also have a special guest each week, such as ‘Mr. College Football’ Tony Barnhart, five-time Olympian basketball player Teresa Edwards, former Georgia Tech and NFL [and Stephens County] great Pat Swilling and Pro Football Hall of Famer, the late Billy Shaw. ‘Crunch Time’ is just three guys that love to talk sports. Mack seems to know everyone in the northern part of the state and has great stories to tell, Ted has great knowledge of all sports since he has been broadcasting them over 50 years, and I run the equipment and bring each show segment on the air and try to keep us on time so we can get all the commercials played. But beyond us three co-hosting the show together for this our 25th season, we are all good friends and enjoy being with each other. That is the true pleasure I get out of doing ‘Crunch Time,’ and we hope the listeners that tune in can hear that.”
GPB Sports is the television home to the GHSA football state championships, as well as the weekly regular-season games on Football Fridays in Georgia and football playoffs. Coverage is also carried live online at GPB.org. GPB - Bringing You The Best.
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Please send all-region teams to GHSF Daily at ghsfdaily@bellsouth.net. We will publish any team that we receive. GHSF Daily encourages those selecting and providing all-region teams to include each player's year in school. All-region players who are recognized as underclassmen have a better chance of being recruited and getting recognition on preseason all-area or all-state teams in 2025.
To see all of the teams that we have received, visit the 2024 All-Region Teams page on our website.
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Region 5-3A
Offensive player of the year: QB John Wilson, Douglass
Defensive player of the year: DB Jontae Gilbert, Douglass
Newcomer of the year: Casey Barner, Douglass
Coach of the year: Marcus Jelks, Stephenson
First-team offense
QB - Justin Murphy, North Clayton
RB - Jayden Johnson, Stephenson
RB - Zsewaun Smith, Cedar Grove
WR - Quintavious Boykin, Douglass
WR - Cleve Sutherland, Cedar Grove
WR - Micheal Baugh, North Clayton
WR - Will Chaney, Stephenson
WR - Lawrence Tolbert, Riverdale
TE - Jaylen Wiggins, Douglass
OL - Marcus Andrews, Stephenson
OL - Xavier Canales, Douglass
OL - Gabe Jones, Luella
OL - Marion Rucker, Douglass
OL - Kelsey Adams, North Clayton
K - Bryant Jose, Douglass
First-team defense
DL - Keinan Williams, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
DL - Emari Green, Stephenson
DL - John Amofah Jr., Douglass
DL - Sergio Mason, Stephenson
LB - Romando Craddock, Stephenson
LB - Andreco Griggs, Douglass
LB - Cayden Burnett, North Clayton
CB - Mckaden Smith, Cedar Grove
CB - Jaquon Ridley, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
FS - Markel Aguirre, Luella
FS - Rashad Lambert, Riverdale
P - Erick Barrios, Stone Mountain
Second-team offense
QB - Marte Barton, Stephenson
RB - Antoine Watkins, Douglass
RB - R.l. Ward, Luella
WR - Dakari Carter, Douglass
WR - Eric Washington, North Clayton
WR - Jaylen Thomas, Cedar Grove
WR - Justin Norrington, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
WR - Andrew Davis, Stone Mountain
TE - Desan Hendrix, Cedar Grove
OL - Jerrod Sumerlin, Douglass
OL - Dextter Mincey, Cedar Grove
OL - Brandon Perkins, Stephenson
OL - Matthew Rowland, Stephenson
OL - Corice Spears, Cedar Grove
K - Isabelle Martinez, Luella
Second-team defense
DT - Joel Saxton, Douglass
DT - Euragon Grey, Douglass
DE - Amon Martin, Cedar Grove
DE - Andre Battle, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
LB - Darryl Martin, Cedar Grove
LB - Caleb Sims, Luella
LB - Mikhail Walker, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
C - Jashay Mackey, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
C - Antoine Reese, Luella
FS - Javon Bowser, Luella
FS - Ronnie Terry, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
P - Eric White, Riverdale
Honorable mention: Cedar Grove - QB Josiah Moore, LB Phillip Wilson, DB Dmarcus Clements, DL Juelez Wilborne. Douglass - LB Marquavious Grimes, WR Adonis McCrary, OL/TE Diontae White, OL Josh Tucker, RB Janarious Barnes, DB Keontae Langford, LB Khalil Curtis, WR Damrion Parrott, DE Martez Sadler, DB Dominique Lewis, DB Malique Johnson, LB Caleb Roberson. Mount Zion (Jonesboro) - LB Javonte Barnes, LB Kamarie Adkins, DT Jaylen Hair, QB Dsmund Thomas, DB Jordan Fabian, OL Inmon Bankhead. North Clayton - RB Dre'von Glass, DL Isaiah Johnson, WR/DB Jacarl Hearne, OL Jamari Montfort, K Aboubacar Diallo. Riverdale - OL Onree Boykin, DB Jaboree Bowe, RB Derreon Heard, DB Zay'vielle Younger-Jones. Stephenson - LB Tyler Little, LB Jaylon Alden, RB Anthony Booker, DE K.J. Green Jr. Stone Mountain - LB Alonza James.
Region 6-A Division II
Player of the year: Brayden Ellison, Taylor County
Offensive player of the year: Kelby Tymes, Marion County
Defensive player of the year: Zayden Walker, Schley County
Athlete of the year: Kendall Sims, Schley County
Coach of the year: Kurt Williams, Macon County
First-team offense
QB - Blake Weldon, Schley County
RB - Norvell Maddox, Chattahoochee County
RB - Jakeyveon Parker, Macon County
RB - Jayden Richardson, Marion County
FB - Perce Belvin, Crawford County
WR - Jordan Hudson, Schley County
WR - Jaquan Ellington, Chattahoochee County
WR - Jeremiah Solomon, Macon County
WR - AJ Wilder, Taylor County
TE - Sankeevious Holloman, Marion County
OL - Gus Harris, Schley County
OL - Demontae Ellison, Taylor County
OL - Haywood Baynor, Marion County
OL - Willie Baisden, Macon County
OL - Jason Humphrey, Marion County
PK - David Rodriguez, Crawford County
LS - Walker Johnson, Marion County
First-team defense
DL - Deddrick Thorton, Schley County
DL - Cassanova Chappelle, Chattahoochee County
DL - NicQuayvion Simmons, Chattahoochee County
DL - Jamarcus Lumpkin, Macon County
DL - Cornelius Gay, Marion County
Edge - Ricardo Byse, Macon County
LB - Brody Smith, Schley County
LB - Isaiah Hobbs, Chattahoochee County
LB - Chandarin Lumpkin, Taylor County
LB - Zayvion Barkley, Marion County
DB - Javen Tullis, Chattahoochee County
DB - Josh Fulks, Macon County
DB - CJ Anderson, Crawford County
DB - Jeremiah Johnson, Schley County
P - Cameron Hamsley, Schley County
Second-team offense
QB - Isaac Meadows, Crawford County
RB - Dayvion Crawford, Marion County
RB - Brannon Bussey, Central (Talbotton)
FB - Demarion Parks, Taylor County
WR - Connor Rhyne, Schley County
WR - Champ Price, Crawford County
TE - Jordan Mahome, Central (Talbotton)
OL - Hank Arrington, Schley County
OL - Chris Faircloth, Chattahoochee County
OL - Jose Lopez, Taylor County
OL - KT Colbert, Crawford County
OL - Deshaun Dozier, Central (Talbotton)
PK - Jovany Herrera, Marion County
LS - Mason Hunter, Taylor County
Second-team defense
DL - Trace Hill, Taylor County
DL - DJ Preston, Crawford County
DL - Xavier Sapp, Marion County
DL - Ny’Errius Houston, Marion County
DL - Carmez Mitchell, Central (Talbotton)
Edge - Jonathan Leggett, Schley County
LB - Jaxon Mauldin, Crawford County
LB - DeQuavion Thomas, Taylor County
DB - Eric Rice, Macon County
DB - Jah’Marrion Whitehead, Macon County
P - Mike Respert, Macon County
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Visit our website throughout the season for updated standings in all seven classifications | |
Note: All scores are courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other media outlets. If a score is not accurate, it was reported incorrectly.
All games are on Fridays unless noted. All game schedules are subject to change.
Stadium key: B - Banneker High School; C - Callaway; ED - Ed Defore; HA - Henderson-Atlanta; HS - Hallford; L - Lakewood; M - Mills; SM - Savannah Memorial
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Marietta High School seeking to hire new varsity football head coach
Marietta High School is hiring a new head varsity football coach. Marietta High School is one of the oldest public high schools in Georgia, celebrating 133 years of history and tradition, including 109 years of football. Our football program has enjoyed great success, including our most recent state championship in 2019. Marietta City Schools provides our athletic program with a rare level of support, elite facilities and a priority on recruiting the best leaders and role models for our student-athletes. Interested candidates should email athletic director Craig McKinney at cmckinney@marietta-city.k12.ga.us to request an application packet.
Dalton High School seeking applications for head football coach
Dalton High School is hiring a new head football coach. Please send your resume and cover letter to Dr. Steven Craft (steven.craft@dalton.k12.ga.us) and Ryan Richards (ryan.richards@dalton.k12.ga.us). The job will be posted until Dec. 20 or until it is filled. Each applicant will be required to apply for the position on the Dalton Public Schools website. Click here to apply.
Let The Steak House Restaurant serve your team’s next pre-game meal
The Steak House Restaurant in Hawkinsville specializes in high school football team pre-game meals. We have a private dining area for traveling parties of 140 guests. We serve high school football teams every week from all over the state traveling through central Georgia. We offer special rates for football teams. Let us cater your next pre-game meal. We are located at 341 Bypass, 9 Buchan Dr., Hawkinsville. Please contact Lewis Fowler at 487-892-3383 or via email by clicking here for reservations or to get more information.
2024 TD Club of Gwinnett College Football Recruiting Fair - Coaches Only
The 2024 TD Club of Gwinnett College Football Recruiting Fair will be held at Gas South Arena (6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097) on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 (8:30-12:30 p.m.). FCS, D-II, D-III, NAIA, junior colleges and prep schools from across the country will be there looking for football prospects from the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Spots for high school coaches are limited and go fast, so please reserve a spot by registering today. Click here to register. Contact Jason Carrera via email by clicking here.
2024 Metro Atlanta College Football Recruiting Fair - Coaches Only
The 2024 Fall Metro Atlanta College Football Recruiting Fair will be held at Georgia State University (University Club at Center Parc Stadium) on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.). FCS, D-II, D-III, NAIA, junior colleges and prep schools from across the country will be there looking for football prospects from the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. High school coaches, please reserve a spot by registering today. Click here to register.
Score Atlanta looking for talent for daily high school sports show
The Georgia High School Sports Daily show is broadcast every weekday from noon to 1 p.m. on the Peachtree Sports Network as well as various digital platforms. Score Atlanta is looking to add talent to the show and will consider students that are currently working in broadcast classes in college. If you are interested, please call Ashley Carey at 404-399-9136 or email her at by clicking here.
Signage teams being put together for games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Score Atlanta handles different types of activation for Atlanta United and Atlanta Falcons games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and is looking to add to its team, which places signage both inside MBS and in the parking lots. The hourly rate is $17. If you are interested, please call Graham David at 513-600-6557 or email him by clicking here.
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GHSF Daily classified ads
Reach 24,000 readers per day in GHSF Daily’s classified ads. Rates are $50 per week. Ads must be a maximum of 75 words and include a headline and contact information. Click here to contact us.
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About Us
Georgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.
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