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Class 7A Preview: Milton vs. Collins Hill
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Class 7A Championship
Time: Saturday, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Collins Hill Eagles
Record/Region finish: 14-0, Region 8 champion
Coach: Lenny Gregory
How they got there: d. Lambert 56-13, d. Pebblebrook 48-6, d. Lowndes 49-7, d. Grayson 31-0.
Top players: DB/WR Travis Hunter, QB Sam Horn, WR Cam Pedro, OL Jaylen George, TE Ethan Davis, DL Asani Redwood, DB Chris Harris, LB Dion Crawford, LB Roberto Bryant, RB Spenser Anderson, OL Cedric Richardson, OL Robby Watson, K Isaac Bonacci.
Worth noting: Hunter, a five-star prospect who has committed to Florida State, is a game changer on both sides of the ball. He missed six games and still has 66 catches for 975 yards and nine touchdowns, along with four interceptions. Horn, who has committed to Missouri, has thrown for 3,447 yards and 36 touchdowns and completed 70.6 percent of his throws, as well as run for 573 yards and six TDs. The Eagles’ defense gets overlooked because of the team’s powerful offense, but it has six shutouts and has allowed 26 points in four playoff games. Redwood (17 sacks, 57 hurries, 105 tackles) and Crawford (12.5 sacks) anchor a group that has 55 sacks. Bryant leads the team with 132 tackles.
No. 3 Milton Eagles
Record/Region finish: 13-1, Region 5 champions
Coach: Adam Clack
How they got there: d. Duluth 45-14, d. Marietta 38-21, d. Mill Creek 36-27, d. Walton 52-17.
Top players: QB Devin Farrell, RB Jordan McDonald, DL L.T. Overton, WR Debron Gatling, SS Rob Billings, LB Caleb Moran, FS/RB Bryce Thornton, OLB Owen Pauley, DL A.J. Crawford,
Worth noting: The Eagles are a beautifully balanced team. It starts with Farrell, a Virginia Tech commit, who has thrown for 2,088 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns. McDonald, who is headed to Central Florida, has rushed for 1,537 yards and 26 TDs and sophomore Gatling has 649 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Moran leads the defense with 93 tackles, Thornton has 87 tackles and four interceptions and Crawford has 13 sacks and 35 hurries. Overton, a 5-star tackle with dozens of DI offers, is healthy and has seven sacks.
Series: This is only the second meeting between the teams. Milton defeated Collins Hill 44-15 in the first round of the 2017 playoffs.