Here’s a quick look at every local playoff game this weekend.
CLASS 6A
Lakeside-Evans (2-8) at Richmond Hill (8-2); Fri.; 7:30 pm
After advancing to the Class 6A Final 4 last year,
RHHS has plenty of experience in the state playoffs on its 2020 roster.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 9 in this week’s Georgia High School Football Daily rankings.
4A
Hardaway (7-3) at Islands (6-1); Memorial Stadium; Sat.; 2 pm
The first of two games set for Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Hardaway at Islands has the look of a quarterfinal matchup in the Class 4A first round.
The Sharks are coming off their first setback of the season after losing 10-7 in the regular season finale to Class 3A’s Windsor Forest last week. It is the first home playoff game in Islands High School history.
Troup County (6-4) at Benedictine (6-2); Memorial Stadium; Sat.; 7 pm
Troup knocked off LaGrange 14-7 earlier this season to earn its marquee win of 2020 thus far — upsetting quarterback Holden Geriner and the No. 4 ranked Cadets would far and away qualify as its best win of the season.
Benedictine should be well rested, the Cadets haven’t played since Oct. 30.
New Hampstead (6-1) at LaGrange (7-3); Callaway Stadium; Sat.; 6 pm
The Phoenix travel to take on the Grangers, who are 6-1 at home this season.
LaGrange averaged 31.4 points per game in the regular season and was 3-1 in one-possession games.
Jenkins (4-3) at Carver-Columbus (8-0); Memorial Stadium; Sat.; 6 pm
The Warriors will hit the road as the region’s No. 4 seed and will play at the Columbus version of Memorial Stadium.
Coming off a decisive win over Savannah High last week, HVJ will have its hands full with undefeated, No. 3 ranked Carver and it’s dual-threat quarterback, D.J. Riles.
3A
Johnson (3-4) at Peach County (7-1); Fri.; 7:30 pm
Peach County enters as the classification’s No. 3 ranked team and is a heavy favorite over the Atom Smashers, the No. 4-seed from Region 3-3A.
Johnson outscored opponents 115-14 in its three wins this season.
Windsor Forest (6-1) at Crisp County (8-1); Fri.; 7:30 pm
Windsor Forest managed to slide under the radar all season, eventually knocking off No. 7 Islands in last week’s season finale to make its claim as the City of Savannah Public School Champion for 2020.
Under first-year head coach Jeb Stewart, the Knights have won six straight since falling 7-6 to New Hampstead in the season opener on Oct. 2.
Crisp has a plus-178 (241points for, 63 against) scoring margin this season and was responsible for eliminating Jenkins in the Final 4 last season. The Wildcats are ranked No. 4 in Class 3A.
A-PRIVATE
Landmark Christian (1-9) at Calvary Day (6-4); Fri.; 7:30 pm
Calvary is 5-1 at home this season and Landmark is 1-4 on the road.
Senior Cavs running back Greg Daniel has rushed for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. The Army commit has 2,262 and 21 for his prep career.
Note - On Tuesday, Landmark Christian announced it would forfeit it it's first round game with Calvary citing COVID-19 concerns on its roster. A 2 seed, Calvary will play the winner of First Presbyterian (1 seed) and Heritage (4 seed) in round two.
Savannah Country Day (3-5) at Whitefield Academy (5-4); Fri.; 7:30 pm
SCDS had found some life midway through its up-and-down season before falling to rivals in back-to-back weeks to close out the season.
In a 48-28 loss to Region 3-A Private Champion and No. 8 ranked Savannah Christian (9-1) last week, Hornets’ junior quarterback Barry Kleinpeter threw for three touchdowns (185 yards) and rushed for another to account for all four SCDS scores.
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter @JaudonSports and contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo - Georgia High School Assocaition