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Finally! It's playoff time in Georgia! The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) state playoffs begin this weekend, and we've got eight Savannah area teams in the Big Dance. The GHSA "Savannah Seven" are Bryan County (1A-DI), Calvary Day (3A), Savannah Christian (3A), Benedictine (4A), New Hampstead (4A), Jenkins (5A), Effingham County (6A) and Memorial Day School is the only GIAA team. The ninth team, Bethesda Academy, is alive in the SCISA semifinals and has a chance to move on to the SCISA state championship game next week.

Below you'll find the seven GHSA playoff games involving Savannah area teams split into Friday (November 11) and Saturday (November 12) sections. Each preview capsule includes the teams playing, their overall records, and playoff seeds (one through four in each region), as well as some key stats, facts, trends, and more. All stats are courtesy of MaxPreps unless otherwise noted.

 

 

FRIDAY, November 11, 2022

(All games at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted)

 

CLASS 6A

3. LEE COUNTY (7-3) at 2. EFFINGHAM COUNTY (7-3)

The Rebels fell just short of winning their first region championship since 1995 last week in a 30-27 loss at undefeated Brunswick. John Ford's team still earned a home game in round one as a 2-seed from region 2-6A, but what was the reward for such a good season? A first-round date with the No. 9 team in the state of Georgia.

Lee County is the 3-seed out of region 1-6A, but the Trojans are battle tested and perhaps the most talented 3-seed in the state, regardless of classification. Lee County won the 6A state championship in 2017 and 2018, and two of its three losses this season have come against Class 7A No. 2 Colquitt County (48-27) and Class 6A No. 2 Thomas County Central (39-30).

Effingham's junior running back Jayden Evans has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in four straight games. He has 1,009 yards on the ground this season. ECHS is 4-0 at home this season.

 

CLASS 4A

4. WHITEWATER (8-2) at 1. BENEDICTINE (8-2)

The Cadets are back in the Class 4A state playoffs as a 1-seed, and the region 3-4A champs come into the playoffs ranked No. 4 in the state by the AJC. Danny Britt's Cadet teams have never missed the state playoffs since he took over the program in 2011.

Whitewater is ranked No. 9 in Class 4A by the AJC and is in the state playoffs for a third straight season. The Wildcats reached the Elite 8 last season in Class 5A, and this year's team averages 36.1 points per game. The visitors will have to play a near-perfect game to put up those numbers against defensive coordinator Galen Houston's BC defense. Benedictine's strength has been its defense this season after winning the state championship, thanks to a world-class offense in 2021.

Houston's unit is allowing just 9.1 points per game through 10 regular season games.

BC easily won its season finale over New Hampstead last Thursday, but the Cadets did lose Ack Edwards to a left knee injury in the second quarter of the game. Edwards, a running back who does a lot of different things for Britt's team, was reportedly seen on crutches and wearing a knee brace during the second half of last week's game. He is doubtful to play this week and could miss the remainder of the season.

 

4. NEW HAMPSTEAD (6-4) at 1. TROUP (9-1) (7 pm kickoff)

The Phoenix will travel to LaGrange to take on the fourth-ranked Tigers in a one-four matchup in the bottom right portion of the Class 4A bracket. Troup is 17-4 over the last two seasons, while New Hampstead is 12-8. Both teams have top-10 offenses coming into the game, but the Tigers have a quarterback who is more valuable to his team than any other player in the state.

Junior Taeo Todd's stats this season don't need any filler. So, here they are. Todd has thrown for 1,680 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 1,606 and 22. He has been responsible for 71% of Troup's total touchdowns (57) and 74% of its total yards (4,440). He is the definition of a true dual-threat, as he has 157 pass attempts (61% completion rate) and 153 rush attempts.

NHHS averages 32.6 points per game and allows 21.4 on average. Troup scores 44.0 per game and gives up 17.3.

 

CLASS 1A-DI

3. BRYAN COUNTY (6-4) at 2. HEARD COUNTY (5-5)

Redskins versus Braves is an evenly matched first-round game on paper. Bryan County averages 22.2 points per game and allows 17.1 per game. Heard County scores 25.7 and allows 21.5. The MaxPreps computers have Bryan ranked No. 24 in the class while Heard is at No. 23.

It'll be the first state playoff game for Bryan County since 2015, and the 2022 Redskins have scored more points (273) than any Bryan team since 2013. They will try to advance to the second round of the state playoffs for the first time (since 1976).

Junior Tanner Ennis averages 10.5 tackles per game for the Bryan Co. defense. He'll lead a Redskins’ defense focusing on Heard's quarterback Shaun Swafford (138.3 passing yards per game), and its running back Dereon Pearson (70.8 rushing yards per game).

 

SATURDAY, November 12, 2022

(All games at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted)

CLASS 5A

 

3. JENKINS (4-6) at 2. WARNER ROBINS (6-4)

After winning over Statesboro by forfeit last week, the Warriors are a 3-seed out of region 1-5A, and they'll travel to take on a streaking Warner Robins team, the 2-seed from region 2.

Warner Robins is ranked No. 8 in Class 5A and hasn't lost since September 23 (five straight wins). Four of its five losses came against teams currently ranked in the top 10.

For Jenkins, playing top-10 teams is commonplace this season. The Warriors and head coach Tony Welch will be playing their sixth-ranked team when they meet the Demons on Saturday night. Jayaun Albert leads the HVJ offense as the running back averages 61.1 rushing yards per game.

 

CLASS 3A

4. SALEM (2-8) at 1. CALVARY DAY (9-0) (1 pm kickoff)

The Cavs finished the regular season undefeated, and the region 3-3A champs arrived in the state playoffs, ranked No. 2 in the state by the AJC. Few first-round matchups are as lopsided on paper as this one. Salem (Conyers, GA) won its two games versus the only two teams who finished below them in the region 4-3A standings (Richmond Academy, Cross Creek). Those two teams combined for a 5-15 overall record.

To put this mismatch in perspective, consider the raw numbers for each. Calvary has a +297 scoring differential (403 points scored - 106 points allowed), and Salem is -295 (73 - 368).

 Remember, CDS had nine regular season games, but the Seminoles played in 10.

 

3. HEPHZIBAH (6-4) at 2. SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (9-1) (5 pm kickoff)

Savannah Christian has won five consecutive games in this two-three matchup at Pooler Stadium. Baker Woodward's team averages 45 points per game while allowing just 10.6 on average. In four previous years with Woodward as head coach, SCPS has reached the Final four once and the Elite 8 twice. The Raiders have made the state playoffs in 18 straight seasons (last missed in 2003).

Hephzibah is the 3-seed out of region 4-3A, and the Rebels average 30.7 points per game. The MaxPreps computers rank them No. 26 in Class 3A, while the Raiders slot in at No. 11.

 

GIAA CLASS A QUARTERFINALS

5. MEMORIAL DAY SCHOOL (1-9) at 4. FLINT RIVER (4-6)

Memorial Day school enters the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) playoffs based on the strength of schedule, as does Flint River. The GIAA uses power ratings to select its playoff teams, valuing the strength of schedule over the strength of record. Statistically, the Matadors score 12 points per game but allow opponents 44.5 a game. Flint River averages 20 points a game while surrendering 18. 

Both teams enter the game with small rosters and many players who play both ways. Leaders for the Matadors are junior quarterback Tyler Kindle, who is averaging 150 yards passing a game. Salis Brown is a senior running back averaging 100 all-purpose yards a game. Junior defensive end Justus Robinson DE averaging one sack per game and leads the team in tackles for loss.

 

SCISA CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS

4. BETHESDA ACADEMY (8-3) at 1. WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY (10-0)

Blazers versus Stallions is the South Carolina Independent School Association Class AA state semifinal game. Winner advances to the SCISA championship game. Bethesda comes in as the fourth-seeded team, and Williamsburg is the number-one seed based on MaxPreps computer rankings. Both squads won their quarterfinal games. On the season, the Blazers score 28.9 points per game and allow just 8.5. The Stallions score 39.8 points per game and allow 2.3.

In the quarterfinals, Bethesda defeated Spartanburg Christian Academy 46-14. Bethesda pulled away in the third quarter after trailing 14-12 at halftime. The Blazers scored 34 unanswered points in the victory. Williamsburg defeated Thomas Sumter Academy 43-12.

Bethesda's offense rushed for a total of 324 yards for the game. Junior quarterback Triston Randell was 10 for 15 passing for 167 yards with two touchdown passes. Junior Noah Jones rushed for 204 yards on 17 carries and scored two TD. Jones has rushed for 1022 yards, and sophomore teammate Coray Stafford has 797 yards.

Williamsburg never trailed and won 43-12. Standouts for the Stallions were Junior quarterback Conrad Balder who threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. Running back junior Landon Strong ran for three touchdowns for the Stallions, and wide receiver Bradley Muldrow, a senior, caught two touchdowns.

On the season, Balder has thrown for 1080 yards with 15 touchdowns. The leading rusher for Williamsburg is Junior running back Teague Ward, who has rushed for 886 yards on 64 carries with 13 touchdowns.

 

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE 

 

FRIDAY 11/11 & SATURDAY 11/12

 

FRIDAY

(All games at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted)

 

CLASS 6A

#3. LEE COUNTY (7-3) @ #2. EFFINGHAM COUNTY (7-3)

 

CLASS 4A

#4. WHITEWATER (8-2) @ #1. BENEDICTINE (8-2)

#4. NEW HAMPSTEAD (6-4) @ #1. TROUP (9-1) (7 pm kickoff)

 

CLASS 1A-DI

#3. BRYAN COUNTY (6-4) @ #2. HEARD COUNTY (5-5)

 

GIAA AA QUARTERFINAL

#5. MEMORIAL DAY SCHOOL (1-9) @ #4. FLINT RIVER (4-6)

 

SCISA SEMIFINALS

#4. BETHESDA ACADEMY (8-3) @ #1. WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY (10-0)

 

 

SATURDAY

(All games at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted)

 

CLASS 5A

#3. JENKINS (4-6) @ #2. WARNER ROBINS (6-4)

 

CLASS 3A

#4. SALEM (2-8) @ #1. CALVARY DAY (9-0) (1 pm kickoff)

#3. HEPHZIBAH (6-4) @ #2. SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (9-1) (5 pm kickoff)

 

 

 

FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Bryan County Middle/High School

 

Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!