Class AAAA Semifinal Preview

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CLASS AAAA SEMIFINAL PREVIEW

Today, we preview the Class AAAA semifinals and breakdown each of the four teams. To access all the playoff brackets CLICK HERE . Please visit ScoreATL.com for more coverage and contact us at info@scoreatl.com for story ideas and information to help us make this year's newsletter great.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

CLASS AAAA SEMIFINAL PREVIEW

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TODAY'S QUESTION

How many classifications feature a field of semifinalists that have all won state titles in their respective histories?

MONDAY'S QUESTION

Who was the AJC's All-Classification Player of the Year in 2018?

MONDAY'S ANSWER

Cedar Grove's Jaden Haselwood

AAAA SEMIFINAL PREVIEW

By Craig Sager II

The expectations surrounding the upcoming Class AAAA semifinals are enormous as four of the season’s most dominant programs get set to compete for spot in this year’s finals. Here’s a look at each of the teams and how they have made it this far.

Woodward Academy is Class AAAA’s only remaining undefeated team at 13-0 and it has been the War Eagles’ balanced offense and outstanding defense that has preserved their perfect 2019 campaign. After allowing 27.92 ppg in 2018, this year’s Woodward Academy defense comes into the semis allowing just 8.54 ppg. The War Eagles have held 10 of their 13 opponents to 10 points or less, including Blessed Trinity, which Woodward defeated 13-10 back on Sept. 6. Woodward Academy’s current playoff run started with a 40-14 win over Upson-Lee and a 38-0 win over St. Pius in the second round. Last Friday, the team rallied past No. 1 ranked Cartersville on the road 31-28. In the victory, quarterback Mike Wright passed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the Woodward comeback after the War Eagles trailed 14-0 after the first quarter and 21-7 at the break. This season, Wright has completed 170-of-266 pass attempts for 2,510 yards and 36 touchdowns with six interceptions while contributing 649 rushing yards and a team-high 12 rushing touchdowns on the ground. It’s this dual-threat ability that makes Woodward’s offense so well-balanced. Also, senior receiver Ambe Cadwell is having a breakout season with his 758 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

Two-time defending state champion Blessed Trinity is 12-1 with its only loss coming in its non-region meeting with Woodward Academy in September. The Titans experienced massive turnover following last year’s perfect 15-0 season and the graduation of many key contributors, but there is a new cast of playmakers leading the way this season that has continued to progress and dominate the competition down the stretch. Blessed Trinity opened the postseason with a 40-14 win over Troup and then they have throttled Baldwin (35-3) and West Laurens (31-0) in its two most recent outings. Seeing Blessed Trinity’s defense playing at such a high level is reminiscent of the program’s last two state title runs. Offensively, freshman Justice Haynes has had a remarkable varsity debut, racking up over 1,500 rushing yards and a team-high 17 touchdowns. Haynes is joined by senior Elijah Greene in the backfield, who has found the endzone six times through the first three rounds. Greene was out with an injury when Blessed Trinity and Woodward Academy squared off this season and Haynes took a career-high 23 carries for 153 yards and a score. Having both Haynes and Greene healthy this time around is a major storyline to follow as Blessed Trinity looks to avenge its only loss this Friday.

Across the bracket, Oconee County is in the semifinals for the first time since its 1999 state championship season. The Warriors are 12-1 heading into the matchup and winners of 11-straight games following an early non-region loss to Clarke Central (28-21). Oconee County’s success this season has been greatly impacted by the incredible play and leadership of senior quarterback Max Johnson. The 6-foot-4 LSU commit has thrown for 1,891 yards and 26 touchdowns with just five interceptions this season. Johnson led the Warriors with five passing touchdowns in their 39-7 win over Perry in the second round and then went an efficient 18-of-24 passing (75 percent) for 206 yards and a score in last Friday’s 17-7 win over Marist. Johnson will have to continue to take care of the football and play at a high level if Oconee County is going to be able to outpace Sandy Creek in the semifinals and avoid turning over the football against a Patriots secondary that specializes in creating turnovers.

Sandy Creek is arguably the hottest team entering the semifinals and they are also the highest-scoring offense in Class AAAA this season at 43.69 ppg. Like Oconee County, the Patriots are 12-1 overall heading into the semis. The Patriots’ lone loss came in a 52-42 shootout with Cartersville and they have won their last six games since and also have a 28-10 win over Class AAAAA semifinalists Starr’s Mill on its resume. Sandy Creek has not been tested through the first three rounds and they have produced three blowouts with wins over Denmark (42-7), Americus-Sumter (56-7) and Madison County (41-7) amounting to a 39.3 average margin of victory. In the second-round win over Americus-Sumter, quarterback Matthew Williams became the first player in school history to eclipse 3,000 passing yards in a season. Running back Rashad Amos set the all-time record for career rushing touchdowns last round with his 51st. Also, Alabama-commit and receiver/safety Brian Branch notched his record-setting 15th career interception in the second-round. In the win, Branch had three interceptions and three touchdown catches.

Class AAAA Semifinal Schedule

Friday, Dec. 6

R7#1 Blessed Trinity at R4#1 Woodward Academy

R5#2 Sandy Creek at R8#1 Oconee County

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Class AAAAAAA

Semifinals schedule

R3#2 Marietta at R7#1 Parkview

R6#1 North Gwinnett at R1#1 Lowndes

Quarterfinals scores

R3 #2 Marietta 42, R6 #2 Mill Creek 10

R7 #1 Parkview 35, R8 #2 Archer 17

R1 #1 Lowndes 28, R8 #1 Grayson 20

R6 #1 North Gwinnett 32, R3 #1 McEachern 13

Second Round scores

R6 #2 Mill Creek 41, R4 #1 Roswell 17

R3 #2 Marietta 38, R5 #1 Milton 24

R8 #2 Archer 45, R4 #4 Cherokee 14

R7 #1 Parkview 40, R1 #2 Colquitt County 21

R8 #1 Grayson 42, R2 #2 East Coweta 21

R1 #1 Lowndes 44, R7 #2 Norcross 14

R6 #1 North Gwinnett 60, R4 #2 Walton 10

R3 #1 McEachern 42, R5 #2 North Forsyth 14

First Round scores

R6 #2 Mill Creek 45, R8 #3 Newton 14

R4 #1 Roswell 31, R2 #4 Wheeler 0

R3 #2 Marietta 41, R1 #3 Camden 13

R5 #1 Milton 42, R7 #4 Central Gwinnett 7

R8 #2 Archer 31, R6 #3 Collins Hill 28

R4 #4 Cherokee 41, R2 #1 Westlake 23

R1 #2 Colquitt County 35, R3 #3 North Cobb 7

R7 #1 Parkview 35, R5 #4 West Forsyth 14

R2 #2 East Coweta 20, R4 #3 Etowah 13

R8 #1 Grayson 31, R6 #4 Mountain View 0

R7 #2 Norcross 21, R5 #3 South Forsyth 0

R1 #1 Lowndes 38, R3 #4 Hillgrove 8

R4 #2 Walton 27, R2 #3 Newnan 24

R6 #1 North Gwinnett 51, R8 #4 Shiloh 14

R5 #2 North Forsyth 44, R7 #3 Brookwood 41

R3 #1 McEachern 47, At Large North Paulding 29

Class AAAAAA

Semifinals schedule

R6#2 Allatoona at R2#1 Richmond Hill

R6#1 Harrison at R8#1 Dacula

Quarterfinals scores

R6 #2 Allatoona 24, R1 #3 Coffee 0

R2 #1 Richmond Hill 16, R1 #2 Valdosta 14

R8 #1 Dacula 56, R1 #1 Lee County 21

R6 #1 Harrison 28, R1 #4 Houston County 7

Second Round scores

R6 #2 Allatoona 23, R4 #1 Stephenson 13

R1 #3 Coffee 59, R5 #1 Mays 36

R2 #1 Richmond Hill 48, R8 #2 Lanier 34

R1 #2 Valdosta 28, R7 #1 Johns Creek 24

R8 #1 Dacula 42, R2 #2 Glynn Academy 20

R1 #1 Lee County 49, R5 #3 Creekside 7

R6 #1 Harrison 51, R2 #3 Brunswick 19

R1 #4 Houston County 38, R5 #2 South Paulding 22

First Round scores

R6 #2 Allatoona 49, R8 #3 Gainesville 7

R4 #1 Stephenson 47, R2 #4 Bradwell Institute 20

R1 #3 Coffee 60, R3 #2 Heritage-Conyers 0

R5 #1 Mays 39, R7 #4 Northview 7

R8 #2 Lanier 15, R6 #3 Sprayberry 14

R2 #1 Richmond Hill 28, R4 #4 M.L. King 12

R1 #2 Valdosta 45, R3 #3 Lakeside-Evans 9

R7 #1 Johns Creek 59, R5 #4 Alexander 34

R2 #2 Glynn Academy 31, R4 #3 Tucker 7

R8 #1 Dacula 49, R6 #4 Dalton 10

R5 #3 Creekside 28 R7 #2 Alpharetta 0

R1 #1 Lee County 50, R3 #4 Greenbrier 0

R2 #3 Brunswick 34, R4 #2 Morrow 13

R6 #1 Harrison 45, R8 #4 Winder-Barrow 25

R5 #2 South Paulding 41, R7 #3 North Atlanta 27

R1 #4 Houston County 31, R3 #1 Evans 21

Class AAAAA

Semifinals schedule

R8#2 Buford at R4#1 Jones County

R3#1 Starr’s Mill at R1#1 Warner Robins

Quarterfinals scores

R4 #1 Jones County 49, R3 #2 Griffin 14

R8 #2 Buford 24, R7 #1 Carrollton 21

R1 #1 Warner Robins 49, R8 #1 Clarke Central 14

R3 #1 Starr’s Mill 25, R4 #2 Dutchtown 24 OT

Second Round scores

R4 #1 Jones County 17, R8 #3 Cedar Shoals 6

R3 #2 Griffin 49, R7 #4 Hiram 14

R8 #2 Buford 34, R2 #1 Ware County 6

R7 #1 Carrollton 21, R1 #2 Veterans 10

R8 #1 Clarke Central 28, R2 #2 Wayne County 20

R1 #1 Warner Robins 25, R7 #2 Rome 17

R4 #2 Dutchtown 31, R6 #1 Riverwood 7

R3 #1 Starr’s Mill 45, R7 #3 Kell 28

First Round scores

R8 #3 Cedar Shoals 30, R6 #2 Carver-Atlanta 12

R4 #1 Jones County 26, R2 #4 South Effingham 13

R3 #2 Griffin 21, R1 #3 Bainbridge 20

R7 #4 Hiram 16, R5 #1 Southwest DeKalb 12

R8 #2 Buford 43, R6 #3 Decatur 6

R2 #1 Ware County 35, R4 #4 Ola 22

R1 #2 Veterans 28, R3 #3 Riverdale 6

R7 #1 Carrollton 42, R5 #4 Arabia Mountain 14

R2 #2 Wayne County 20, R4 #3 Stockbridge 2

R8 #1 Clarke Central 63, R6 #4 Lithia Springs 34

R7 #2 Rome 52, R5 #3 Lithonia 0

R1 #1 Warner Robins 28, R3 #4 Jonesboro 7

R4 #2 Dutchtown 20, R2 #3 Statesboro 0

R6 #1 Riverwood 17, R8 #4 Loganville 14

R7 #3 Kell 48, R5 #2 Columbia 32

R3 #1 Starr’s Mill 28, R1 #4 Harris County 7

Class AAAA

Semifinals schedule

R7 #1 Blessed Trinity at R4 #1 Woodward Academy

R5 #2 Sandy Creek at R8 #1 Oconee County

Quarterfinals scores

R4 #1 Woodward Academy 31, R5 #1 Cartersville 28

R7 #1 Blessed Trinity 31, R2 #1 West Laurens 0

R8 #1 Oconee County 17, R7 #2 Marist 7

R5 #2 Sandy Creek 41, R8 #4 Madison County 7

Second Round scores

R4 #1 Woodward Academy 41, R8 #3 St. Pius 0

R5 #1 Cartersville 35, R3 #2 Thomson 0

R2 #1 West Laurens 34, R8 #2 North Oconee 17

R7 #1 Blessed Trinity 36, R3 #3 Baldwin 3

R8 #1 Oconee County 39, R2 #2 Perry 7

R7 #2 Marist 30, R1 #1 Carver-Columbus 20

R8 #4 Madison County 35, R2 #3 Mary Persons 14

R5 #2 Sandy Creek 56, R1 #4 Americus-Sumter 7

First Round scores

R8 #3 St. Pius X 42, R6 #2 Heritage-Catoosa 14

R4 #1 Woodward Academy 40, R2 #4 Upson-Lee 14

R3 #2 Thomson 34, R1 #3 Hardaway 0

R5 #1 Cartersville 14, R7 #4 Flowery Branch 6

R8 #2 North Oconee 45, R6 #3 Pickens 24

R2 #1 West Laurens 37, R4 #4 Luella 6

R3 #3 Baldwin 38, R1 #2 Cairo 30

R7 #1 Blessed Trinity 40, R5 #4 Troup 14

R2 #2 Perry 38, R4 #3 Hampton 0

R8 #1 Oconee County 41, R6 #4 Northwest Whitfield 14

R7 #2 Marist 42, R5 #3 Cedartown 22

R1 #1 Carver-Columbus 52, R3 #4 Richmond Academy 7

R2 #3 Mary Persons 28, R4 #2 Eastside 21

R8 #4 Madison County 27, R6 #1 Ridgeland 20

R5 #2 Sandy Creek 42, R7 #3 Denmark 7

R1 #4 Americus-Sumter 13, R3 #1 Burke County 6

Class AAA

Semifinals schedule

R7#1 Greater Atlanta Christian at R5#1 Cedar Grove

R3#1 Jenkins at R1#1 Crisp County

Quarterfinals scores

R5 #1 Cedar Grove 36, R4 #1 Peach County 3

R7 #1 Greater Atlanta Christian 17, R8 #2 Hart County 16

R1 #1 Crisp County 22, R8 #1 Jefferson 20

R3 #1 Jenkins 41, R6 #1 North Murray 14

Second Round scores

R4 #1 Peach County 35, R6 #2 Calhoun 0

R5 #1 Cedar Grove 49, R3 #2 Benedictine 13

R8 #2 Hart County 32, R2 #1 Pierce County 29 OT

R7 #1 Greater Atlanta Christian 38, R1 #2 Cook 0

R8 #1 Jefferson 28, R2 #2 Appling County 7

R1 #1 Crisp 41, R7 #2 North Hall 3

R6 #1 North Murray 24, R4 #2 Jackson 14

R3 #1 Jenkins 42, R7 #3 Dawson County 9

First Round scores

R6 #2 Calhoun 38, R8 #3 Morgan County 10

R4 #1 Peach County 19, R2 #4 Brantley County 0

R3 #2 Benedictine 58, R1 #3 Monroe 0

R5 #1 Cedar Grove 36, R7 #4 Fannin County 7

R8 #2 Hart County 56, R6 #3 Haralson County 27

R2 #1 Pierce County 49, R4 #4 Central-Macon 6

R1 #2 Cook 7, R3 #3 Windsor Forest 6

R7 #1 Greater Atlanta Christian 35, R5 #4 Pace Academy 14

R2 #2 Appling County 28, R4 #3 Westside-Macon 7

R8 #1 Jefferson 49, R6 #4 Sonoraville 17

R7 #2 North Hall 24, R5 #3 Lovett 21

R1 #1 Crisp 46, R3 #4 Southeast Bulloch 0

R4 #2 Jackson 28, R2 #3 Liberty County 11

R6 #1 North Murray 28, R8 #4 Monroe Area 14

R7 #3 Dawson County 27, R5 #2 Westminster 3

R3 #1 Jenkins 41, At Large Adairsville 0

Class AA

Semifinals schedule

R1#2 Brooks County at R5#1 Callaway

R3#1 Dublin at R1#1 Thomasville

Quarterfinals scores

R5 #1 Callaway 41, R6 #2 Douglass-Atlanta 20

R1 #2 Brooks County 35, R2 #1 Metter 6

R1 #1 Thomasville 38, R8 #1 Rabun County 24

R3 #1 Dublin 35, R6 #1 Hapeville Charter 12

Second Round scores

R6 #2 Douglass-Atlanta 12, R4 #1 Jefferson County 8

R5 #1 Callaway 50, R1 #3 Fitzgerald 31

R2 #1 Metter 14, R8 #2 Union County 7

R1 #2 Brooks County 41, R7 #1 Rockmart 3

R8 #1 Rabun County 34, R2 #2 Toombs County 14

R1 #1 Thomasville 58, R7 #2 Pepperell 14

R6 #1 Hapeville Charter 70, R2 #3 Swainsboro 28

R3 #1 Dublin 45, R5 #2 Bremen 26

First Round scores

R6 #2 Douglass-Atlanta 48, R8 #3 Elbert County 21

R4 #1 Jefferson County 20, R2 #4 Vidalia 3

R1 #3 Fitzgerald 30, R3 #2 Bleckley County 12

R5 #1 Callaway 54, R7 #4 Chattooga 7

R8 #2 Union County 19, R6 #3 South Atlanta 15

R2 #1 Metter 27, R4 #4 Screven County 19

R1 #2 Brooks County 42, R3 #3 Washington County 14

R7 #1 Rockmart 24, R5 #4 Temple County 7

R2 #2 Toombs County 37, R4 #3 Hephzibah 34

R8 #1 Rabun County 38, R6 #4 BEST Academy 0

R7 #2 Pepperell 27, R5 #3 Heard County 7

R1 #1 Thomasville 31, R3 #4 Dodge County 26

R2 #3 Swainsboro 37, R4 #2 Harlem 3

R6 #1 Hapeville Charter 55, R8 #4 Putnam County 0

R5 #2 Bremen 17, R7 #3 Model 0

R3 #1 Dublin 32, R1 #4 Early County 9

Class A-Public

Semifinals schedule

#4 Clinch County at #1 Irwin County

#5 Pelham at #2 Marion County

Quarterfinal scores

#1 Irwin County 54, #9 Manchester 12

#4 Clinch County 38, #21 Warren County 16

#2 Marion County 28, #7 Lincoln County 21

#5 Pelham 31, #3 Mitchell County 20

Second Round scores

#9 Manchester 36, #8 Johnson County 20

#1 Irwin County 47, #17 Chattahoochee County 22

#21 Warren County 34, #5 Bowdon 14

#4 Clinch County 37, #20 Emanuel County Institute 14

#7 Lincoln County 21, #10 Commerce 17

#2 Marion County 35, #18 Schley County 27

#5 Pelham 41, #11 Wilcox County 30

#3 Mitchell County 36, #14 Turner County 7

First Round scores

#9 Manchester 40, #24 Taylor County 0

#17 Chattahoochee County 12, #16 Washington-Wilkes 7

#21 Warren County 20, #12 Terrell County 0

#20 Emanuel County Institute 28, #13 McIntosh County Academy 23

#10 Commerce 23, #23 Trion 6

#18 Schley County 39, #15 Claxton 15

#11 Wilcox County 55, #22 Seminole County 6

#14 Turner County 31, #19 Macon County 12

Class A-Private

Semifinals schedule

#9 Wesleyan at #4 Fellowship Christian

#6 Eagle’s Landing Christian at #2 Holy Innocents’

Quarterfinals scores

#9 Wesleyan 42, #16 Savannah Christian 16

#4 Fellowship Christian 35, #12 Hebron Christian 28

#2 Holy Innocents’ 28, #23 Mount Paran Christian 0

#6 Eagle’s Landing Christian 28, #3 Athens Academy 10

Second Round scores

#9 Wesleyan 34, #8 Christian Heritage 13

#16 Savannah Christian 35, #1 Savannah Country Day 14

#12 Hebron Christian 35, #5 Mount de Sales 6

#4 Fellowship Christian 14, #13 North Cobb Christian 0

#23 Mount Paran Christian 16, #7 Darlington 13

#2 Holy Innocents’ 42, #18 St. Francis 3

#6 Eagle’s Landing Christian 62, #11 Prince Avenue Christian 57

#3 Athens Academy 52, #19 Brookstone 7

First Round scores

#9 Wesleyan 35, #24 First Presbyterian Day 28 OT

#16 Savannah Christian 31, #17 Calvary Day 28

#12 Hebron Christian 13, #21 Mount Vernon Presbyterian 7

#13 North Cobb Christian 16, #20 George Walton 14

#23 Mount Paran Christian 29, #10 Aquinas 27

#18 St. Francis 34, #15 Trinity Christian 31

#11 Prince Avenue Christian 46, #22 Stratford Academy 0

#19 Brookstone 10, #14 Whitefield Academy 7

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