The 2023 Georgia high school football playoffs head into the second round, and so far, this postseason has given us some really good matchups. I am highlighting what I think are some of the more intriguing Round 2 matchups: three Class 7A contests, plus one game each from 4A, 5A, and 6A.
Among the three higher-classification playoff games is a clash between the Norcross Blue Devils and the Buford Wolves. Norcross has won two state championships – back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 – while Buford has a whopping 14. It’s a great second-round matchup for sure.
The way this season has gone, with upset after upset, there are sure to be a few postseason surprises. Of course, trying to predict who and when is the trick. After all, the art of the upset is not knowing when to predict them. Let’s look at these six games and see whether I can find an upset in Round 2 of the Georgia high school playoffs.
Norcross at Buford
Buford and Norcross will meet in this Class 7A Round 2 matchup after handling each of their first-round opponents last week. Buford was able to get by a talented Wheeler team at Tom Riden Stadium, while Norcross defeated Denmark in its home game. These two teams actually met back in their spring game at Norcross, and ITG Next was fortunate to be there. Yes, that was a warmup contest for both teams, and a lot has happened in the regular season since they faced off back in May.
Unofficially, Buford won the spring game going away, connecting on several big plays. However, once the regular season rolled around, both teams enjoyed a lot of success. Norcross finished the regular season with eight wins and now is 9-2 following the playoff win over Denmark. You can bet that Buford’s Bryant Appling has reminded his team what happened at this same point of last year’s postseason, when an early-round playoff upset at the hands of Walton dashed the Wolves’ hopes of a state championship. Norcross is very capable of doing the same thing, but I don’t think they will.
Phil’s Pick: Buford 35, Norcross 21
LaGrange at Benedictine
The Grangers travel to Benedictine to take on the Cadets of Danny Britt in this Class 4A second-round matchup. LaGrange, led by head coach Matt Napier, finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed from Region 4-4A. The Grangers and Starrs Mill each finished with 6-1 region record, but LaGrange had to settle for the second spot thanks to a 21-7 regular-season loss to the Panthers. Still, LaGrange finished 8-2 overall and picked up win number nine against Westover in the first round of the playoffs.
The Grangers now turn their attention to trying to upset 2022 state champion Benedictine on the road. The Cadets began their march toward defending that title by winning their opening-round playoff game against Baldwin last week at home. They have a group of playmakers who can step up when their number is called, including two-way standout Bryce Baker and quarterback Luke Kromenkoek. With those and other standouts on this team, they are the favorite in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Benedictine 33, LaGrange 13
Peachtree Ridge at Mill Creek
The Lions have been one of the truly great stories in Georgia high school football since Matt Helmrich took over as head coach last season. Inheriting a program that had not finished at or above .500 since 2016 (a 6-6 campaign), Helmrich led Peachtree Ridge to a 6-5 record and the playoffs in 2022. This season then saw the Lions turn into a legitimate contender, finishing with a 9-1 regular-season record and a 5-1 region mark. Their only loss was to region foe Norcross, which also finished 5-1. The head-to-head tiebreaker gave Norcross the No. 1 seed, with the Lions taking the second spot seed in Region 7-7A.
Peachtree Ridge added win number 10 last week by defeating Lambert in its Round 1 playoff matchup. The Lions’ reward is to face defending state champion Mill Creek in Round 2 of the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs. Mill Creek, which defeated Osborne last week, enters the game as a heavy favorite, not only this week, but to repeat as state champions. The Hawks come into the game undefeated at 11-0, and they have won their last 19 games. Can they make it 20 in a row?
Phil’s Pick: Mill Creek 35, Peachtree Ridge 10
Ware County at Warner Robins
This one is a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state championship. Shane Sams led Warner Robins to yet another region championship this year, finishing with a perfect 6-0 mark in 2-5A. The first-year head coach now has his sights set on taking the Demons to their seventh straight state championship game in 5A, and they were able to take that first step with last week’s first-round win over McIntosh.
Their opponent in Round 2 of the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs will be a familiar foe, the Ware County Gators, who visit McConnell Talbert Stadium after having defeated Decatur last week. Ware County won its first-ever state championship when the teams met last season. The Gators would like to keep their hopes of a second one alive, but it’ll take a win against Warner Robins at their home stadium if that’s going to happen. Who you got? My pick is …
Phil’s Pick: Warner Robins 28, Ware County 23
Lovejoy at Lee County
Coach Dean Fabrizio’s Trojans had little trouble in their opening-round win over Dunwoody, and they now move on to the Round 2 of the 2023 Georgia high school playoffs. They have been playing like a team with a purpose this season, and right now that purpose is to go far in these state playoffs. Lee County will host Lovejoy, which earned the right to battle the Trojans by upsetting No. 1 seed Effingham County last week.
If the Wildcats are hoping to do against Lee County what they did against Effingham, they will have to find a way to stop perhaps the best running back in the state in Ousmane Kromah. The standout junior is averaging over 139 yards rushing and 185 all-purpose yards per game. It may be more a matter of slowing #32 down rather than stopping him all together. Many teams have attempted to do just that, stacking eight defenders in the box, but nothing seems to matter. And with Lee at home, things will be even tougher for Lovejoy. Still, with the way this year has gone, who knows what can happen?
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 44, Lovejoy 16
Jonesboro at Thomas County Central
The Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets’ regular-season run of 10 consecutive wins was impressive, and the Jackets carried that momentum into the playoffs with a dominating 49-0 win over St. Pius in the opening round last week.
The now turn their attention to the Jonesboro Cardinals, who won their first-round playoff game against Glynn Academy by the slimmest of margina, 32-31. The Cardinals are led by head coach De’Timothy Floyd, who is in his 15th season at the school. Jonesboro has enjoyed a dramatic turnaround this fall; after winning just three games in 2022, they have rallied under Floyd to win eight this year.
Thomas County Central is in its second year under Justin Rogers, who led his team to a 12-1 record last year and has the Yellow Jackets at 11-0 so far in 2023. TCC cans feel like this could be their year, but they must get by the Cardinals first. I think they can, and I think they will. No upset here.
Phil’s Pick: TCC 47, Jonesboro 14
