Series Record: First Meeting
Winner plays Vidalia-Rabun County winner in third round of Class AA state playoffs
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes are going to enjoy one of the luxuries of being a region champion in the state football playoffs this week. Even though the Rockmart Yellow Jackets finished as the No. 2 team from Region 8AA, the Yellow Jackets will have to make the long three-hour, 40-minute trip to the Region 1AA champion Purple Hurricanes in a second round state matchup. The Yellow Jackets have
averaged nearly 400 yards per game on offense this season, but is focused mainly on the run (297.5 yards rushing, 97.8 passing). Markus Smith leads a balanced rushing attack with 1,114 yards on 138 carries. He has also scored 20 touchdowns on the ground. Dlante Smith is the team's second leading rusher with 870 yards on 124 carries and seven touchdowns. Zabrion Whatley has 489 yards rushing on 35 carries, with five touchdowns. Morgan Sims has 355 yards rushing on 56 carries, with five touchdowns. He is also the team's second leading receiver with 14 catches for 388 yards and eight scores. Koby Adams leads the team in catches with 16 for 338 yards and two scores, while Dawson Sanders has 11 catches for 144 yards and one score. Even though the Purple Hurricanes' rushing offense has been heralded all year, Rockmart has actually rushed for more yards. While Rockmart has 3,272 yards on the ground, while Fitzgerald has 3.020. However, led by quarterback James Graham, the Hurricanes have also averaged an impressive 124.8 yards per game through their air. that gives the Hurricanes an average of 409.3 yards per game on offense this season. Graham is 59-for-117 passing this season for 1,223 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. The junior has also rushed 85 times for 481 yards and seven scores. J.D. King is the team's leading rusher. The Oklahoma State commit has 1,283 yards on 166 carries with 17 touchdowns. He has also proven to be one of Graham's best receivers with 15 catches for 362 yards and six more touchdowns. Ethan Gordon has proven to be a very good third option with 435 yards rushing on just 48 carries, while catching 10 passes for 175 more yards. He has a combined 11 touchdowns on the year. Damien Devine has rushed for 339 yards on 49 carries, scoring nine touchdowns, and has also caught 10 passes for 260 yards and four more scores. Montrell Harris has 442 combined yards through the air and ground with six combined touchdowns, while Virginia Tech commit Lectius Smith has eight catches for 171 yards and three scores from his tight end position. While the Rockmart offense has been solid this year, the going will be tough against what is a strong Fitzgerald defense. Donterrious Milsap leads the team on that side of the ball with 93 total tackles, including five for losses, and four sacks. Another Fitzgerald defensive lineman, Marlon Jackson, has also put up all-state numbers with 73 total tackles, seven for losses and six sacks. Josh Reliford is the team's second leading tackler from his defensive back position with 85 total stops, five for losses and two interceptions. 2015 All-State cornerback Willie Ross has four interceptions on the year, with 43 total tackles, and one for loss yardage. Rhamir Bryant has 34 total tackles, six for losses and five sacks, while Markeylan Lundy has 50 total tackles, three for losses and one sack. Finally, Quay Harper has 42 total stops and two interceptions.
Worth County Rams (7-4) at Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans (10-1)
Series Record: First Meeting
Winner will play the Sonoraville-Liberty County winner in the second round of Class AAA state playoffs
The Worth County Rams will travel up to Norcross Friday hoping to play keep away from the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans. GAC has perhaps the most balanced potent offensive attack in the state, with average of 201.8 yards per game passing, and 191.2 yards per game rushing. 2015 All-State quarterback Davis Mills leads the GAC attack with 1,927 passing yards. He has completed 125-of-177 passes and has a remarkable 27 touchdown passes to only one interception on the year. Harrison Sloan is his favorite receiver with 40 catches for 745 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kyler McDaniel leads the equally potent running game with 1,233 yards on 163 carries with 14 scores. Worth will try to rely on long, time-consuming drives to keep that offense off the field. Coach Jason Tone's team is capable of that, with a potent running game of its' own. Worth is averaging exactly 273 yards on the ground per game this year. Chris McDaniel leads the way with 1,183 yards on 168 carries with nine touchdowns. Horace Everson is close behind with 968 yards on 152 carries with 14 scores. Malik Dassie has 510 yards on 90 carries and five touchdowns. Quarterback Chris McDaniel will try to throw the ball enough to keep the Spartan defense honest. On the year, he has completed 29-of-61 passes for 517 yards.
Turner County Rebels (8-3) at Macon County Bulldogs (8-2)
Series Record: Turner leads 11-5
Winner plays Twiggs County-Manchester winner in third round of public school Class A state playoffs
This game may set a state record for passing attempts. Turner County quarterback Tyler Moore has attempted 165 passes this season. As impressive as that may sound, Macon County quarterback K'Hari Lane has attempted 235 passes. Turner is averaging 204 yards per game through the air, while Macon is averaging 291.7 yards per game passing. Moore has completed 94 passes for 1,898 yards and has thrown for 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Lane is having an all-state season, completing 149 passes for 2,857 yards. His most impressive stats are 45 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Tamorrion Terry leads the Turner team in receiving with 1,055 yards on 37 catches. Almost half of his catches, 18, have gone for touchdowns. Other leading receivers for Turner are Ontario Wilson, 28 catches for 606 yards and five touchdowns, and Jarvis Hall with 19 catches for 250 yards and five scores. Lane's favorite target has been Trey Brown with 35 catches for 720 yards and 17 touchdowns. Eight different Macon County receivers have double figure numbers in catches this season. Jared Daniels adds the balance to the Bulldog attack with 1,179 yards rushing on 97 carries with nine touchdowns.
Irwin County Indians (7-4) at Mt. Zion (Carroll) (9-1)
Series Record: First Meeting
Winner plays Miller County-ECI winner in third round of public school Class A state playoffs
For the first time ever, the Eagles of Mt. Zion (Carroll) will face off against the Irwin County Indians. While the Indians had to dispatch of Dooly County in a first round game last week, the Eagles had a bye after losing the Region 6A championship, 28-14, against Fellowship Christian. This will mark the first time the Eagles have played a team from deep south Georgia. Mt. Zion has played state playoff games against ECI and Marion County, as well as regular season contests against Schley County. But this will be the Eagles first game ever against a team from Region 2A. Irwin will come into the game fresh off that 42-0 win over Dooly. Freshman D.J. Lundy had 105 yards rushing in that contest on 18 carries. Senior Jay Ashley added 88 yards on 11 carries, while quarterback Will Stephens threw two touchdown passes to Ashley and Cartavion Benyard for a combined 61 yards. Irwin had 365 total yards in that game, 300 on the ground and 65 through the air. On the year, Irwin has scored 431 points, and have allowed 249. After ending a nine-game winning streak against Fellowship Christian, the Eagles have allowed 135 total points on the year, while scoring 360. Mt. Zion Head Coach Keith Holloway told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently that he respected Irwin, as well as several other schools still alive in the state football playoffs. "There are so many really good teams - Clinch, Irwin, ECI, Macon County, Manchester. I think it will boil down to the team that has the fewest injuries."
