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Every high school football team in Savannah was successful in one way this season — they got to compete on the gridiron amid a pandemic, and that was no guarantee just a few months ago.

Savannah was well represented by both public and private schools in the GHSA State Playoff first round two weeks ago. But a lot can change in two weeks. For most every school in the city, it’s now basketball season.

Benedictine, Savannah Christian and Calvary are the lone 912 teams still competing for a state championship. All three Elite 8 games will be in Savannah this Friday night, December 11. A historic evening is on tap, and HS football fans can study up on all three games (7:30 pm kickoffs) by checking out the preview capsules below.

RIVERDALE AT BENEDICTINE (MEMORIAL STADIUM)

After trailing 17-3 against Cairo in last week’s second round, BC stormed back to win 45-23 over the Syrupmakers. This week, in the Class 4A Elite 8, the No. 4 Cadets play host to the red-hot Riverdale Raiders.

A Benedictine win would move the Cadets into the Final 4, and it would also be the 600th program win since 1908 (599-408-33 since 1908).

Riverdale’s defense did not give up a point in region play and finished the regular season with four straight shutouts. The Raiders (8-2, 1-seed from Region 5-4A) are unranked in Class 4A, but have won six straight games entering the contest. 

South Carolina commit Derwin Burgess Jr. is a star at receiver and in the secondary on defense. He’ll receive the ball in multiple different ways on offense and likely be tasked with covering the top receiver for the Cadets, Trent Broadnax.

Benedictine (8-2, 1-seed from Region 3-4A) has the offense to compete with the stout Riverdale defense. The Cadets, as they have been all season, will be led by junior quarterback Holden Geriner and the senior receiver Broadnax.

Geriner has thrown for 2,310 yards and 22 touchdowns (one interception) on 147-of-213 passing (69 percent). Broadnax has hauled in 58 catches for 13 touchdowns and 917 yards.

It’s the seventh appearance in the Elite 8 for BC in the last eight years. Riverdale has not made the Elite 8 since 1998.

WESLEYAN AT SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (POOLER STADIUM)

After knocking off Savannah Christian in last year’s Elite 8 meeting in Norcross, the Wesleyan Wolves hope to make it deja vu in 2020, but at Pooler Stadium this time around.

SCPS is 10-1, ranked No. 8 in Class A-Private, and winners of seven straight games after beating Pacelli last week, 37-24. The Wolves beat North Cobb Christian 20-17 last week on a last-second Brooks Sturgeon field goal, advancing them to a third Elite 8 in the last five years. 

They are 10-2 and ranked No. 5.

Savannah Christian averages 35.9 points per game behind senior quarterback Spencer Robicheaux and junior wide receiver George Futch. Robicheaux has thrown for 1,923 yards and 24 touchdowns while Futch, who caught three of Robicheaux’s four TD tosses last week, has 45 catches for 768 yards and eight scores.

On the ground, SCPS has gotten eight rushing touchdowns each from Carter Allen (549 yards) and Ely Brown (483 yards). Peyton Cromwell leads head coach Baker Woodward’s team in tackles, with 128 in his junior campaign.

Wesleyan will lean heavily on junior running back Griffin Caldwell. Caldwell has rushed for 1,164 yards and 16 touchdowns on 188 carries. He accounts for 67-percent of the rushes for Wesleyan, as well as 68-percent of its rushing yards.

Receivers Wyatt Hodges and Cooper Blauser have 37 and 28 catches, respectively. Quarterback Ryan Rose has thrown for nine touchdowns and 1,780 yards. JD Chipman has a team-high 93 tackles. Sturgeon, a junior, is 12-of-14 kicking with a long of 44 this season.

GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY AT CALVARY DAY

Two teams which perhaps did not expect to be playing this late into the season, George Walton and Calvary Day are similar teams in more than one way. But, the most notable similarity between the two is the thing which makes it more surprising that they are in the A-Private Elite 8.

Each starts a freshman quarterback. Calvary’s Jake Merklinger has thrown for 1,664 yards and 16 touchdowns on 124-of-192 passing. George Walton (from Monroe, Ga.) has Gavin Hall, a dual-threat within the Bulldogs’ option-offense. Hall has thrown for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 616 yards and eight scores.

GWA (9-2) also has key rushers in Jack Ellerbee (883 rushing yards, 11 TD’s), Laythan Foglman (505, 5) and Jake Whitten (499, 6). Head coach Shane Davis’ team is 6-0 in road games this season and has won three straight entering the contest.

Calvary (7-4) has a star senior running back in Greg Daniel and a stable of receivers more than capable of helping out the frosh at quarterback. 

Daniel, an Army commit, has rushed for 1,173 yards and 12 touchdowns on 186 carries. Brogan Korta leads Calvary with 37 catches, seven touchdowns and 529 receiving yards. Four of Troy Ford’s 11 receptions have gone for touchdowns.

Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter @JaudonSports and contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.