Barry’s South Georgia Football Poll
Second Round of Playoffs

 

Large Schools

Two ranked teams in the Large School Top Ten succumbed to the loss column in the first round of the GHSA Playoffs. Tift County (6-5) fell 35-7 to North Cobb and Effingham County (7-4) lost 24-7 to Stephenson. Also exiting from the playoffs was Richmond Hill (6-4), just outside the Top Ten, with 48-28 loss to Lovejoy.

Of the 14 teams eligible for the Large School Top Ten seven are left, two in AAAAAAA and five in AAAAAA. Region 1-AAAAAA “The Region of Doom” outscored Region 3-AAAAAA 218 to 38 this past Friday night with all four teams advancing to the second round.

Lowndes topped Hillgrove 92-61, not a misprint. The two teams set the State Record for total points in a game. Viking signal caller Michael Barrett is the Large School Player of the Week. In the win over Hawks Barrett completed 13 of 21 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 173 yards and three scores.

Medium Schools

Every school in the Top ten came away victorious this past week. Also moving on to the second round are Bainbridge, Carver-Columbus and West Laurens. Three teams remain in Class AAAAA, three in AAAA and seven in AAA.

Markaviest “BigCat” Bryant of Crisp County is the Medium School Top Ten Player of the Week. In the 42-0 shutout win over Islands he recorded ten tackles, five TFL’s, three QBH’s and two sacks.

Small Schools

All six ranked teams in Class A had first round byes. Also moving on in Class A were Miller County, Mitchell County, Savannah Christian, Taylor County and Turner County. Ten of the final 16 teams left in Public School-A hail from South Georgia while only two are left in Private School-A.

Thomasville (5-5) fell 17-7 to Dodge County (6-5) and fall out of the Top Ten. Taking their place at #10 is Brooks County (8-3) 20-13 winners of Southwest Macon (6-5). This leaves five teams in Class AA left in the field of 32.

Two-way stand out Lakia Henry of Vidalia is the Small School Top Ten Player of the Week. The senior ran for 252 yards and two scores in the Indians 20-13 win over Laney.

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Large School’s Top 10 (AAAAAAA/AAAAAA)

1. Valdosta Wildcats (1-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Alan Rodemaker
Record: (10-1/4-0)
Last Game: JR Ingram caught three first quarter touchdown passes and Jayce Rodgers returned a punt for a score in the Wildcats 69-14 win over Lakeside Evans.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Northgate (9-2)

2. Colquitt County Packers (1-AAAAAAA)
Head Coach: Rush Propst
Record: (7-4/3-0)
Last Game: Jay Saunders was 12 of 18 for 252 yards and three scores in the Packers 48-7 win over North Paulding.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Brookwood (8-3)

3. Glynn Academy Red Terrors (2-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Rocky Hidalgo
Record: (10-1/4-0)
Last Game: The Terrors outgained Jonesboro 443 to 52 yards in their 45-3 victory.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Allatoona (6-5)

4. Northside-Warner Robins Eagles (1-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Kevin Kinsler
Record: (9-2/2-2)
Last Game: Tobias Oliver accounted for 306 yards and the Eagles “D” held Grovetown to just four total yards in their 52-0 win.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Langston Hughes (8-3)

5. Lowndes Vikings (1-AAAAAAA)
Head Coach: Randy McPherson
Record: (9-2/2-1)
Last Game: Michael Barrett accounted for 429 yards and six touchdowns in the Vikings 92-61 win over Hillgrove.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Norcross (11-0)

6. Lee County Trojans (1-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Dean Fabrizio
Record: (9-2/2-2)
Last Game: The Trojan defense held Evans to 83 total yards in their 41-0 first round victory.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Mays (10-1)

7. Coffee Trojans (1-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Robby Pruitt
Record: (6-5/1-3)
Last Game: Demeterius “Meaty” Davis had scoring runs of three, 75 and 25 yards in the Trojans 56-24 win over Heritage-Conyers.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Alexander (10-1)

8. Tift County Blue Devils (1-AAAAAAA)
Head Coach: Ashley Anders
Record: (6-5/1-2)
Last Game: The Blue Devils squandered several first half scoring opportunities in their 35-7 loss to North Cobb.
Next Game: Season Complete

9. Houston County Bears (1-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Von Lassiter
Record: (7-3/1-3)
Last Game: Season Complete
Next Game: Season Complete

10. Effingham County Rebels (2-AAAAAA)
Head Coach: Buddy Holder
Record: (7-4/3-1)
Last Game: The Rebels were outgained 349 to 175 yards in their 24-7 first round loss to Stephenson.
Next Game: Season Complete

Just Outside: Brunswick (5-5), Richmond Hill (6-4)

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Medium School’s Top 10 (AAAAA/AAAA/AAA)

1. Cairo Syrupmakers (1-AAAA)
Head Coach: Steven Devoursney
Record: (10-1/7-0)
Last Game: Cole Phillips nailed four field goals, with a long of 55-yards, in the ‘Makers 43-2 win over Baldwin.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Sandy Creek (8-3)

2. Peach County Trojans (4-AAA)
Head Coach: Chad Campbell
Record: (10-1/6-0)
Last Game: Antonio Gilbert was 23 of 31 for 282 yards and twos cores in the Trojans 42-13 win over Tattnall County.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. North Murray (8-3)

3. Crisp County Cougars (1-AAA)
Head Coach: Shelton Felton
Record: (11-0/4-0)
Last Game: Markaviest “BigCat” Bryant racked up ten tackles, five TFL’s, three QBH’s and two sacks in the Cougars 42-0 win over Islands.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Lovett (8-3)

4. Liberty County Panthers (2-AAA)
Head Coach: Kirk Warner
Record: (10-1/5-0)
Last Game: Jaalon Frazier threw for 189 yards and five scores in the Panthers 56-10 win over Pike County.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Sonoraville (8-3)

5. Ware County Gators (2-AAAAA)
Head Coach: Franklin Stephens
Record: (7-3/4-0)
Last Game: Alyx Sayles ran for two scores in the Gators 35-28 win over Ola.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Loganville (9-2)

6. Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets (1-AAAAA)
Head Coach: Bill Shaver
Record: (8-3/3-1)
Last Game: Jaylen Dunbar accounted for 132 yards of offense and two scores in the Jackets 38-26 win over Riverdale.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Carrollton (10-1)

7. Jenkins Warriors (3-AAA)
Head Coach: Tim Adams
Record: (10-1/7-0)
Last Game: Jordan Stafford picked off three passes and Joe Burke ran for 192 yards and two scores in the Warriors 31-14 win over Dougherty.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Union County (9-2)

8. Savannah Blue Jackets (3-AAA)
Head Coach: Tony Welch
Record: (9-2/6-1)
Last Game: Ahlik Fenn accounted for 116 yards and two scores in the Blue Jackets 27-3 win over Cook; it marked the first playoff win for Savannah since 1969.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Westminster (9-2)

9. Pierce County Bears (2-AAA)
Head Coach: Sean Pender
Record: (8-3/4-1)
Last Game: Stetson “The Mailman” Bennett accounted for 270 yards and three scores while all-purpose back Shyheim Clark scored four times in the Bears 41-34 win over Westside Macon.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Bremen

10. Worth County Rams (1-AAA)
Head Coach: Jason Tone
Record: (7-4/3-1)
Last Game: Horace Everson and Chris McDaniel each scored twice in the Rams 35-7 win over Southeast Bulloch.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Greater Atlanta Christian (10-1)

Just Outside: Bainbridge (5-5), Brantley County (6-4), Carver (7-4), West Laurens (7-4)

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Small School’s Top 10 (AA/A)

1. Benedictine Cadets (2-AA)
Head Coach: Danny Britt
Record: (11-0/7-0)
Last Game: John Wesley Kennedy, III accounted for 208 yards and four scores in the Cadets 58-7 win over Glenn Hills.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Banks County (7-4)

2. Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane (1-AA)
Head Coach: Jason Strickland
Record: (10-1/5-0)
Last Game: Sophomore Ethan Gordon ran for three scores in the Canes 42-7 win over Dublin.
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Rockmart (9-2)

3. Clinch County Panthers (2-A)
Head Coach: Jim Dickerson
Record: (9-1/7-0)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Mitchell County (9-2)

4. Calvary Day Cavaliers (3-A Div. A)
Head Coach: Rick Tomberlin
Record: (9-0/5-0)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Savannah Christian (7-3)

5. Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs (3-A Div. B)
Head Coach: Chris Kearson
Record: (9-0/5-0)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Miller County (9-2)

6. Macon County Bulldogs (4-A Div. B)
Head Coach: Dexter Copeland
Record: (8-2/5-0)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Turner County (8-3)

7. Vidalia Indians (2-AA)
Head Coach: Lee Chomskis
Record: (9-2/6-1)
Last Game: Lakia Henry ran for 252 yards and two scores in the Indians 30-13 win over Laney.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Rabun County (10-0)

8. Pelham Hornets (1-A)
Head Coach: Dondrial Pinkins
Record: (9-1/8-1)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Greene County (8-3)

9. McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers (3-A Div. A)
Head Coach: Robby Robinson
Record: (7-2/4-1)
Last Game: First Round Bye
Next Game: 11/18 vs. Lincoln County (7-3-1)

10. Brooks County Trojans (1-AA)
Head Coach: Maurice Freeman
Record: (8-3/3-2)
Last Game: Naiquavis Sutton carried the ball 20 times for 101 yards and two scores in the Trojans 20-16 win over Southwest Macon.
Next Game: 11/18 @ Callaway (11-0)

Just Outside: Dodge County (6-5), Dublin (8-3), Irwin County (7-4), Miller County (9-2), Mitchell County (9-2), Savannah Christian (7-3), Taylor County (10-1), Thomasville (5-5), Turner County (8-3)

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Note: Special thanks go out to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association (ghsfha.org)