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Defending Class 7A champion Grayson faces No. 1-ranked Collins Hill in its semifinal match.
Credit: Grayson High School Facebook Page
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Capsule Previews: Friday's GHSA Football Semifinal Games
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Here’s a look at each of the four semifinalists in each of the state’s eight classifications. The winners advance to the championship game next week at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium.
Class AAAAAAA
#10 Grayson at #1 Collins Hill
Grayson Rams (10-3) -- How they got there: d. East Coweta 48-14, d. Denmark 35-21, d. Roswell 24-14. Best players: LB Jalen Smith, RB Joe Taylor Jr., OL Griffin Scroggs.
Collins Hill Eagles (13-0) -- How they got there: d. Lambert 56-13, d. Pebblebrook 48-6, d. Lowndes 49-7. Best players: DB/WR Travis Hunter, QB Sam Horn, DL Asani Redwood. Series: Grayson leads the series 6-2 and defeated Collins Hill twice in 2020, including 28-14 in the state championship game.
NR Walton at #3 Milton
Walton Raiders (9-3) -- How they got there: d. Colquitt County 41-17, d. Archer 34-7, d. Brookwood 52-35. Best players: RB Sutton Smith, QB Jake Hecklinski, DB Marcus Allen. Milton Eagles (12-1) - How they got there: d. Duluth 45-14, d. Marietta 38-21, d. Mill Creek 36-27. Best players: QB Devin Farrell, RB Jordan McDonald, DL L.T. Overton. Series: Walton leads series 14-5. Walton won the last meeting 42-7 in 2015.
Class AAAAAA
#7 Carrollton at #1 Buford
Carrollton Trojans (12-1) -- How they got there: d. Creekview 47-28, d. Alcovy 43-21, d. Westlake 37-32. Best players: QB M.J. Morris, WR Terrell Carmichael, DB Amare Hall.
Buford Wolves (12-1) -- How they got there: d. Kell 38-14, d. Lovejoy 44-7, Lee County 27-0. Best players: RB Victor Venn, S Jake Pope, DB K.J. Bolden. Series: Buford leads series 2-0, both in the state quarterfinals, including 24-21 in 2019.
NR Dacula at #3 Hughes
Dacula Falcons (9-4) -- How they got there: d. Pope 36-12, d. Brunswick 29-21, d. Johns Creek 35-0. Best players: RB/LB Kyle Efford, QB Austin Adcock, DB Nicholous Nelson.
Hughes Panthers (12-1) - How they got there: d. Glynn Academy 42-14, d. Shiloh 28-8, d. Northside Warner Robins 48-7. Best players: QB Prentiss Noland, RB Antonio Martin, OL Bo Hughley. Series: First meeting.
Class AAAAA
NR Blessed Trinity at #4 Calhoun
Blessed Trinity Titans (9-4) -- How they got there: d. Southwest DeKalb 41-20, d. Woodward Academy 28-13, d. Villa Rica 49-7. Best players: RB Justice Haynes, QB J.C. French, LB Maverick Torrico.
Calhoun Yellow Jackets (11-2) - How they got there: d. Decatur 35-21, d. Ware County 49-42, d. Clarke Central 31-7. Best players: WR Cole Speer, QB Christian Lewis, RB Caden Williams. Series: Blessed Trinity leads series 2-1. Calhoun won the regular season meeting 32-27 on Oct. 8.
#3 Warner Robins at #6 Creekside
Warner Robins Demons (12-1) -- How they got there: d. Jonesboro 64-20, d. Cartersville 24-17, d. Jones County 49-21. Best players: QB Christon Lane, WR Daveon Walker, DL Vic Burley.
Creekside Seminoles (11-2) -- How they got there: d. Coffee 28-18, d. St. Pius 41-34, d. Whitewater 20-13. Best players: QB Nyqua Lett, WR Derrick White, LB Javeon Miller. Series: Warner Robins won the only previous meeting 34-21 in 2004.
Class AAAA
#5 Cedartown at #2 Carver Columbus
Cedartown Bulldogs (11-1) -- How they got there: d. Hampton 55-14, d. Cairo 48-14, d. Perry 39-25. Best players: RB Harlem Diamond, LB Demarieo Sims, DL RB/LB Cedric Washington.
Carver Tigers (12-1) -- How they got there: d. West Laurens 22-7, d. Hapeville Charter 52-12, d. Dougherty 16-14. Best players: RB Jaiden Credle, QB Devin Riles, DL Cameron Crowell. Series: First meeting.
#7 North Oconee at #3 Benedictine
North Oconee Titans (10-3) -- How they got there: d. Miller Grove 56-21, d. Spalding 37-0, d. Bainbridge 29-24. Best players: DB Khalil Barnes, OL Boaz Stanley, RB Dom Elder.
Benedictine Cadets (11-2) – How they got there: d. Thomas County Central 59-0, d. Luella 63-7, d. Marist 24-21. Best players: QB Holden Geriner, RB/WR Justin Thomas, LB Holden Sapp. Series: Benedictine leads the series 2-0 and beat North Oconee 48-17 during the regular season.
Class AAA
#8 Appling County at #6 Cedar Grove (Godfrey Stadium)
Appling County Pirates (12-1) -- How they got there: d. Johnson Savannah 42-8, d. Cherokee Bluff 34-20, d. Thomson 21-7. Best players: RB/DB Dennis Mims, DL Darris Smith, QB Patrick Crosby.
Cedar Grove Saints (10-3) -- How they got there: d. White County 79-0, d. Southeast Bulloch 48-10, d. Crisp County 28-6. Best players: RB Rashod Dubinion, LB Quinterio Lawson, DL Adonijah Green. Series: First meeting.
NR Carver Atlanta at #4 Pierce County
Carver Panthers (10-2) -- How they got there: d. North Hall 56-17, d. Liberty County 53-6, d. Burke County 46-14. Best players: RB Quintavious Lockett, QB Bryce Bowens, RB Jarveous Brown.
Pierce County Bears (11-2) -- How they got there: d. Windsor Forest 42-0, d. Dawson County 49-0, d. Peach County 35-30. Best players: QB D.J. Bell, DB Donelius Johnson, LB Alan Boatright. Series: Pierce County won the only previous meeting 51-18 in the 2020 quarterfinals.
Class AA
#4 Fitzgerald at #8 Swainsboro
Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes (11-2) -- How they got there: d. Dodge County 15-6, d. Fannin County 28-14, d. Putnam County 21-7. Best players: ATH Christian Solomon, RB/SS DeNorris Goodwin, LB E.J. Lightsey.
Swainsboro Tigers (11-2) -- How they got there: d. Laney 48-6, d. Columbia 41-14, d. Northeast 12-9 OT. Best players: RB Ty Adams, Demello Jones, Jerrod Steward. Series: Fitzgerald leads the series 4-1. Fitzgerald won the last meeting 27-12 in the second round of the 2018 playoffs.
#7 Callaway at #2 Thomasville
Callaway Cavaliers (10-2) -- How they got there: d. Pepperell 29-22, d. Bleckley County 35-14, d. South Atlanta 39-22. Best players: RB Amarion Truitt, QB Deshun Coleman, WR Carlos Billingslea.
Thomasville Bulldogs (12-1) -- How they got there: d. Washington County 42-7, d. Heard County 42-16, d. Rabun County 49-24. Best players: QB Shannen White, RB Malik Harper, LB Ty Anderson. Series: Callaway won the only meeting between the two schools 34-21 in the 2020 quarterfinals.
Class A Private
#1 Trinity Christian at #5 Eagle’s Landing Christian
Trinity Christian Lions (12-0) -- How they got there: first-round bye, d. Athens Christian 48-14, d. Darlington 56-7. Best players: QB David Dallas, RB Dominick Cosper, WR Joshua Dallas.
Eagle’s Landing Christian Chargers (7-6) - How they got there: d. Heritage (Newnan) by forfeit, d. Athens Academy 56-7, d. Holy Innocents’ 35-28. Best players: QB Charlie Gilliam, RB Brandon Hood, WR R.J. Johnson. Series: ELCA leads the series 4-1, but Trinity Christian won 34-3 during the regular season.
#3 Prince Avenue at #4 Fellowship Christian
Prince Avenue Wolverines -- How they got there: d. King’s Ridge Christian by forfeit, d. Brookstone 52-0, d. First Presbyterian 41-22. Best players: QB Aaron Philo, WR Bailey Stockton, WR Elijah Dewitt.
Fellowship Christian Paladins (12-1) -- How they got there: d. George Walton 42-7, d. St. Anne-Pacelli 30-7, d. Calvary Day 24-14. Best players: QB Caleb McMickle, OLB Nick Persiano, WR Josh Milholin. Series: Fellowship Christian leads the series 3-2. Fellowship won the last meeting 28-21 in 2016.
Class A Public
#9 Wilcox County at #1 Irwin County
Wilcox County Patriots (10-3) -- How they got there: d. Charlton County 36-26, d. Trion 23-22, d. Manchester 20-14. Best players: RB Day Day Lawson, QB Abe Stowe, OL/DL Kassidy Dean,
Irwin County Indians (11-2) -- How they got there: d. Johnson County 35-7, d. Lincoln County 51-27, d. Macon County 28-15. Best players: QB Casey Soliday, RB Damarkus Lundy, RB Matthew Payne. Series: Irwin County won 14-0 in the second round of the playoffs in 2020.
#2 Brooks County at #4 Metter
Brooks County Trojans (10-2) -- How they got there: d. Montgomery County 49-13, d. Washington-Wilkes 61-28, d. Warren County 51-30. Best players: RB Omari Arnold, QB Jamal Sanders, DB Saveon Cason.
Metter Tigers (13-0) -- How they got there: d. Seminole County 42-14, d. Schley County 33-6, d. Turner County 60-21. Best players: RB Danny Cheley, LB Kaliq Jordan, RB Josh Kelly. Series: Brooks County won the only previous meeting 35-6 in the 2019 quarte
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