I have long-argued that the quarter-final round of the GHSA state playoffs is the best weekend of high school football in the state of Georgia.  Now it’s hard to say it trumps the seven state championship games in the Georgia Dome but quite often because of the way the brackets are set in this state, quarter-final match-ups might end-up being more competitive than some of the finals.

Our game on GPB Friday night is one of those games.  11-1 Archer at 12-0 Mill Creek.  Either one of these teams could win the state championship.  One of them will have their season come to an end.  That’s why this round is the round of dreams continued and hearts broken.

This game has so many great story lines but on a personal level this game is so special.  Andy Dyer is the head coach at Archer.  He started the program seven years ago after leaving Mill Creek where he worked for Head Coach Shannon Jarvis.  They remain great friends and will be regardless of Friday night’s result.  The Hawks offensive coordinator Josh Lovelace was Coach Dyer’s college roommate and they are still neighbors.

Archer has more big-time college football talent than some college football teams.  Led by the number-one rated wide receiver in the nation in Kyle Davis and then the number-two rated junior safety in the country in Isaiah Pryor.  They have two other players in safety Dylan Singleton and offensive tackle E.J. Price ranked top ten nationally at their respective positions.

Mill Creek has great talent too…but not the kind with four and five recruiting stars attached to their names.  But the season the Hawks have put together…especially defensively…boggles the mind.  Mill Creek is giving-up only 18 rushing yards per game.  They’ve sack the quarterback 62 times?!?!?  (Not a misprint).  The Hawks have shut-out five opponents and are allowing just seven points per game.

This is already the greatest season in Mill Creek’s 12-year history.  The Hawks first unbeaten regular-season and first outright region championship.  Since a 51-41 loss vs. North Gwinnett last season, things have “clicked” for Mill Creek.  The Hawks have won 17 of their last 18 games with their only loss coming to Grayson in the first round of the 2014 state playoffs.

That’s the only team that’s beaten Archer this year.  The Tigers 26-24 loss to the Rams in week three of the season was costly in that it meant Archer would end-up being a number-two seed in the state playoffs.  Because of that, the Tigers had to go on the road to beat McEachern last week and are on the road again this week at Mill Creek.  Beat the Hawks and Archer will likely be on the road again next week at Colquitt County in the state semi-finals.  That would be a rematch of last year’s state final which the Tigers lost 28-24.

Thanksgiving week is a great week of football.  Let’s face it, it’s one of the reasons so many men love this holiday.  Football and the unabashed privilege to stuff your face with as much food as you can eat without condemnation.  In fact it’s encouraged.  So stuff your face with this Archer at Mill Creek quarter-final playoff game Friday 7:00 p.m. on GPB.  You might not see a better game high school, college or pro the entire weekend.

For all you recruitniks...here’s a look at your must-see TV…

 

Archer Tigers Recruiting Profiles

#11 Kyle Davis

6-3, 220, Senior

247 Five-Star and #1 WR

25 Offers – Finalist: UGA, AU, UT

#13 Isaiah Pryor

6-2, 190, Junior

247 Five-Star and #2 SAF (2017)

Committed to Ohio State

#77 E.J. Price

6-6, 320, Senior

247 Four-Star and #8 OT

34 Offers Including UGA, AU

Originally committed Georgia

#1 Jamyest Williams

5-9, 165, Junior

247 Four-Star and #5 ATH (2017)

40 Offers including UGA, Michigan St

#3 Dylan Singleton

5-11, 180, Senior

247 Four-Star and #9 SAF

Committed to Duke

#5 Donta Evans

6-1, 210, Senior

247 Three-Star and #21 ILB

Committed to Ole Miss

#95 Kobe Smith

6-4, 305, Senior

247 Three-Star DT

Committed to Kentucky

#37 Quinn Miller

6-1, 220, Junior ILB

Offered by Cincinnati

#2 Ranked Wrestler Nationally

#12 Taiyon Palmer

5-10, 160, Sophomore

Projected Athlete (2018)

Offered by Indiana

 

Mill Creek Hawks

#65 Robbie Bell

6-5, 270, Senior

247 Three-Star OG

Committed to Louisville

#87 Tyler Vernon

6-4, 230, Senior

247 Two-Star WDE

Committed to Army

#35 Sidney Otiwu

6-0, 210, Senior

Projected Outside LB

14 Offers including Iowa St, Georgia Southern

#29 Peyton Moore

6-3, 230, Senior

Projected Weakside DE

5 Offers including Navy, Georgia State

#73 Tyler Fannin

6-3, 290, Junior

Projected Center

4 Offers including Kansas St, Marshall