The 2023 Georgia high school football playoffs have finally arrived, and if the postseason is anything like the regular season was – mostly unpredictable – then we are in for a treat. I have referred to this as one of the craziest seasons Georgia high school football has ever experienced, and you can bet we will see an upset or two in the upcoming playoffs.
Speaking of upsets, I present to you my Pick-6 matchups, playoff-style, and I believe there are some upsets just waiting to shock all of us in the first round of the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs. My Pick-6 gives you three matchups from Class 7A: Parkview at Colquitt County, Collins Hill at North Cobb, and Lambert at Peachtree Ridge.
The Parkview game with Colquitt County has an interesting feel to it. Parkview has shown it can play with anyone in the state so far, and of course, Colquitt has made mince meat out of just about every opponent to date. Collins Hill and North Cobb is another interesting one to watch. Drew Swick has his young Eagles team playing with a lot of fire in their bellies, so watch out for Collins Hill. Those are but a few sneak peeks at this week’s Pick-6. For the full slate, read on!
Collins Hill at North Cobb
Both of these teams roll into the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs having played well down the stretch of the regular season. After starting 1-5, Collins Hill has bounced back with three wins in its last four games, including last week’s victory over Dacula to end the regular season on a strong note. Swick is known for his defensive background, and it’s been the Eagles defense that has come up big this year.
Their opponent is the North Cobb Warriors, who welcomed back RB David Eziomume and QB Nick Grimstead from late-season injuries just in time for the postseason. The Warriors are coming into the playoffs red-hot, winners of their last four games. Can the Collins Hill defense keep Shane Queen’s Warriors offense at bay, at least enough to earn a first-round upset?
Phil’s Pick: North Cobb 19, Collins Hill 17
Lambert at Peachtree Ridge
This will be one of the more interesting first-round matchups in the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs as a couple of Suwanee-area programs battle it out. The Lambert Longhorns (8-2) represent Region 6-7A as the No. 3 seed, while Peachtree Ridge comes in with a 9-1 overall record and a 5-1 region mark, good enough for the 7-7A crown.
Peachtree Ridge has flourished under the leadership of head coach Matt Helmrich, who has fans recalling the days of 2007, when the Lions battled Roswell to a 14-14 state championship tie. The teams were named as co-champions, and that was the last time Peachtree Ridge came close to a state title. But before the Lions can even come close to thinking about a state championship this year, they’ll have to worry about the Longhorns.
Peachtree Ridge has gotten solid play from its skill positions all season long, especially QB Darnell Kelly, RB Pork Chop Miller, and receiver Mayles Abernathy. Defensively, look for the Ridge to lean on Alex Faruq and Jeremiah Brinson to bring pressure against Lambert QB Marshall Coleman and stuff the rushing attack of junior RB Cameron Bland, who according to Helmrich, is “a very special back.” The Peachtree Ridge head coach has respect for not only Bland, however. “They are very well-coached,” Helmrich said, “and have some really hard-nosed kids.” Who is ready to become King of Suwanee Football for a week?
Phil’s Pick: Peachtree Ridge 28, Lambert 14
Cass at Kell
This Class 5A first-round matchup pits the Region 6-5A champion Kell Longhorns against the Cass Colonels, the No. 4 seed from Region 7-5A. This is one of a handful of 1-vs.-4 seeds that are much more than they appear to be at first glance – in other words, not your typical last-place playoff team that is just thankful to be playing past the regular season.
Yes, the Colonels will be the underdog against Kell, but they enter the playoffs following a huge win over traditional state power Calhoun by 23 points. They are also rested after enjoying their bye last week, so look out for this Cass team that boasts the 7-5A Offensive Player of the Year in Devin Henderson, Defensive Player of the Year Kaden Ellis, and ATHlete of the Region Sacovie White
Cass will need Ellis and his defensive mates to step up and stop WR Kyle Vaka, who is averaging 24 yards per catch in 2023. Kell’s only loss came in the season-opening Corky Kell Dave Hunter Classic, a 43-24 decision against Parkview. After that, the Longhorns reeled off nine in a row to win the region. No need to stop now if you are a Kell fan, right?
Phil’s Pick: Kell 27, Cass 22
Parkview at Colquitt County
This is another of those very untypical No. 4 seed vs No. 1 seed matchups that you just normally overlook, thinking that you’ll be waiting instead to see who the next two opponent will be. Oh no. Not this 2023 Georgia high school playoffs game. Parkview was sitting atop Region 4-7A not long ago, but their region has become one of the most unpredictable in the entire state, and the way things have fallen, any of the four 4-7A teams, with their yo-yo style of play, could easily go on to contend for a state title (or just get ousted in the first round).
The Panthers fell in their final game of the regular season, losing 41-14 to Grayson. Now there is one critical issue that could decide whether Parkview is able to give Colquitt County a run for its money: Panthers quarterback Jaiden Jenkins suffered a lower leg injury against the Rams, and at this point, his status to start – or even play – against the Packers in Moultrie Friday night is unknown. Truth is, even if Jenkins is able to play, going into the Hawg Pen and knocking off the Packers is going to take a valiant effort by the Panthers. Can they do it?
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 35, Parkview 21
Wayne County at Spalding
This Class 4A playoff battle will pit Jaybo Shaw and his Wayne County Yellow Jackets against upstart Spalding County, which has captured the championship in Region 2-4A. Wayne County comes into the matchup with a 7-3 overall record and a 3-2 Region 3-4A mark that was eventually good enough for the fourth and final seed after all the tiebreaker scenarios played out. (Wayne County, Burke County, and New Hampstead all ended up at 3-2 in the region.)
Wayne County is led by the state’s top running back, Matthew Fuller, a South Carolina commit. He’s the type of RB who just gets stronger and better the more carries he gets, so expect a heavy dose of Fuller if you are a Spalding fan. He has 1,837 rushing yards, which leads Class 4A and is second overall in the state.
On the Spalding side, the Jaguars have been the talk of the state, with a surprising undefeated 2023 season that saw them finish 10-0 and win their first region title in 20 years. This will be the biggest game in recent Spalding history, no question. That leaves the only real question: Who gets Phil’s Pick? Their win over a very good Perry team two weeks ago was enough to convince me that this Spalding team is the real deal.
Phil’s Pick: Spalding 21, Wayne County 14
Washington County at Cook
This Class 2A matchup between Cook and Washington County almost didn’t happen. Just two weeks ago Cook was staring into the abyss, having been rocked by a GHSA decision that found the Hornets had used an ineligible player during the 2023 season and therefore were stripped of all of wins to date this year. That would have left Cook out of the state playoffs for the first time in over 25 years. But a judge’s ruling to reverse the penalty and restore the Hornets’ wins was followed by a GHSA appeals board ruling in favor of the Hornets, thus putting the issue to rest once and for all.
So now the Hornets can focus strictly on football and what is in front of them: a Class 2A first-round matchup against the visitors from Washington County, who visit Adel as the No. 4 seed in 4-2A. The Golden Hawks finished the regular season at 5-5 overall while posting a 1-3 region record, and they are coming into the contest playing their best football of the season. Despite a season-ending 49-47 loss to Putnam, coach Robert Edwards’ team has won three of its last four games and is looking to keep its late-season momentum going against Dr. Byron Slack’s Hornets. Cook is riding some serious momentum of its own, though.
Phil’s Pick: Cook 35, Washington County 26
