Can you believe it? We have reached the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Georgia high school football playoffs. Some really good teams will move on to the semifinals after this weekend’s games, and some other really good teams will see their stellar seasons come to an end.
In this week’s Pick-6 games, I choose one 2023 quarterfinal matchup each from Georgia high school Classes 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, and 1A-DII. Buford will visit Grayson in the 7A game, while Lee County takes to the road for the first time in these playoffs, making the trek to Douglasville to battle the Tigers of Douglas County. Big-team slayer Cass will have to come up with yet another Goliath-type performance to defeat the heavily favored Coffee High Trojans, who seek to stay undefeated.
In what I think will be one of the greatest games of this 2023 Georgia high school quarterfinal round, the Spalding County Jaguars will go up against the two-loss Stockbridge Tigers in a battle of big cats. Despite the mascot reference, this is truly a matchup of two really good teams, and yet another example in which one good team will be eliminated and one will keep going. May the best Cat win.
Class 7A Quarterfinal
Buford at Grayson
The Wolves seem to be clicking on all cylinders since suffering their only regular-season loss to Mill Creek. Head coach Bryant Appling said at the time that the loss was good for his team, and that maybe “the pats on the back will stop.” While there’s no guarantee the gestures from fans and other well-wishers have ceased, Buford has indeed played with a focus like a team on a mission. The defense recorded four straight shutouts, including a first-round 50-0 playoff win over Wheeler.
Last week, the Wolves defeated Norcross to advance to this 2023 quarterfinal round matchup with Grayson, the Georgia high school Region 4 champion. The Rams earned the matchup with Buford following wins over Richmond Hill and North Paulding at home. While they’ll be the underdog in this one, they’ll stay home for the third straight game. Will that be enough to stop what may be the most talented team Buford has fielded under Coach App?
Phil’s Pick: Buford 31, Grayson 7
Class 6A Quarterfinal
Lee County at Douglas County
Lee County will make its first road trip of the postseason following two playoff victories in front of the home fans in Leesburg. Those wins came against Dunwoody and Lovejoy, but this quarterfinal matchup will be a bit tougher for Dean Fabrizio’s team, partly because of the long road trip, but mainly due to the fact that it’s against an undefeated Douglas County team that won the Region 5-6A title.
The Tigers are led by standout quarterback Sire Hardaway, a 2000-yard passer, and sophomore running back Rah’Keith Kelly. Of course, when it comes to the run game, there’s perhaps not a better back in the state than junior Ousmane Kromah, who has left defensive coordinators stumped in trying to come up with game plans to stop him. Even when defenses know that #32 is getting the ball, they still can’t slow him down. Can Douglas County change that?
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 30, Douglas County 26
Class 5A Quarterfinal
Coffee at Cass
The Trojans have steamrolled through the 2023 regular season and the first two rounds of the state playoffs with wins over Chamblee and Jones County. Coffee is led by RB Fred Brown, who became the Trojans’ single-season rushing leader earlier this season against Jenkins.
These teams have attracted a lot of attention for their performances this season, with Cass having upset the favored Kell Longhorns in the first round of the playoffs with a 28-14 win. In fact, the Colonels are gaining a reputation for their upset playoff wins, as last season saw them knock off the favored Jefferson Dragons in the opening round of the 5A state playoffs. Coffee will be the favorite in this one, but that seems to inspire Cass. Will the inspiration be enough to hand a loss to the unbeaten Trojans?
Phil’s Pick: Coffee 35, Cass 7
Class 4A Quarterfinal
Stockbridge at Spalding
The Jaguars have been one of the top stories of the 2023 GHSA regular season, and their success has continued into the playoffs. Having played in the shadow of neighbor Griffin High’s Bears for decades, Spalding has enjoyed an undefeated season for the first time in the school’s history, and the Jaguars have done it with dual-threat QB Curt Clark, who is being touted as a candidate for Class 4A Player of the Year honors.
Spalding has earned its way to this quarterfinal matchup with playoff wins over two solid programs in Wayne County and Troup County. Stockbridge played a daunting schedule that included early-season matchups against Colquitt County and Douglas County. The Tigers have gone undefeated since those two losses, including last week’s second-round win over Westminster. This is going to be a great matchup, and it’s a tough one to call. But here goes …
Phil’s Pick: Spalding 26, Stockbridge 24
Class 3A Quarterfinal
Cedar Grove at Mary Persons
After their defense spent the first half of the season trying to find their groove, the Cedar Grove Saints have settled into more of the team we have come to expect in recent seasons under coach John Adams. They’ll be tasked with trying to slow down the Mary Persons offense, especially RB Duke Watson, who had a big game last week in the Bulldogs’ win over Crisp County.
Wilson isn’t the only threat the Saints need to worry about, though – Mary Persons can throw it effectively behind sophomore QB Mac Nelson, who excels in the play-action passing game with Watson in the backfield. Speaking of offensive playmakers, Cedar Grove QB EJ Colson and RB Bo Walker are two of the best in the state, so the Mary Persons defense will be tested, too. Expect both offenses to put up some points in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Cedar Grove 41, Mary Persons 35
Class 1A-DII Quarterfinal
Early County at Schley County
The Schley County Wildcats were able to enjoy the state playoffs’ only bye in Week 1, and they needed it in last week’s win over a tough Lincoln County team to advance to this quarterfinal matchup against Early County. Schley came up just short of winning the state championship last year, finishing as the runner-up, so coach Darren Alford’s team is hoping to get back and take this season one step further.
But they’ll have to get by an Early County team that won the Region 1-A title. After dropping their last three regular-season contests, the Bobcats managed to get back to their winning ways with playoff wins over Hawkinsville and ECI. They’ll have to keep that swagger if they are to defeat the Wildcats.
Phil’s Pick: Schley County 33, Early County 7
