ITG Next broadcaster Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Round 1 of the 2024 Georgia high school football state playoffs.
Greene County vs. Irwin County
The Irwin County Indians could very well be the best No. 3 seed in the GHSA’s state playoffs regardless of classification. In our ITG Next Top 10 poll for Class 1A-Division II, head coach Casey Soliday’s Irwin County team is ranked No. 2, trailing only No. 1 Manchester.
Greene County is the No. 9 ranked team in our poll, but as the No. 2 seed from Region 8, they’ll have the advantage as the host team. Will that be enough to give them the edge, though?
Phil’s Pick: Irwin County 28, Greene County 21
Fitzgerald vs. Rabun County
Using their own proprietary ranking formula this year for the 2024 football state playoffs, the GHSA Class 1A-Division I, Class 2A, and Class 3A playoffs take a different approach, with the 32 teams assigned a power ranking number.
I’m interested in the Fitzgerald versus Rabun County first-round game, which pits the No. 12 Purple Hurricane against the No. 21 Wildcats.
Fitzgerald looked very physical in their game against Appling County last week, and this time of year is when head coach Tucker Pruitt’s teams put on their best faces.
Phil’s Pick: Fitzgerald 36, Rabun County 16
Ringgold vs. Hart County
This Round 1 playoff matchup pits the No. 15 Ringgold Tigers against the No. 18 Hart County Bulldogs.
Watch out for Ringgold. Their three losses were by just 1 point (27-26 versus North Murray), 3 points (23-20 in overtime against No. 1 power ranked Rockmart), and 2 points (41-39 against North Cobb Christian).
Hart County finished the regular season at 5-5.
Phil’s Pick: Ringgold 33, Hart County 14
Westside (Augusta) vs. Oconee County
This contest has the No. 17 Oconee County Warriors going to No. 16 Westside (Augusta) to battle the 8-2 Patriots.
The Warriors of head coach Ben Hall are one of the teams to watch in Class 3A. With an experienced team of 17 returning starters from last year and the Warriors ending the regular season with a resounding win over Jefferson to capture the region title, look for Hall and his Oconee County team to make some noise this postseason.
But first, they’ll have to beat Westside.
Phil’s Pick: Oconee County 38, Westside 14
Rome vs. Glynn Academy
This first-round matchup in Class 5A pits the Glynn Academy Red Terrors of head coach Rocky Hidalgo against the Rome Wolves of head coach John Reid at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia.
Rome won Region 5 and is looking to make a run in the playoffs after closing out the regular season with seven straight wins.
Glynn Academy, the No. 4 seed from Region 1, earned a playoff spot with a 28-24 win over Evans in last week’s regular-season finale.
Can the Red Terrors keep their season going?
Phil’s Pick: Rome 35, Glynn Academy 10
Douglas County vs. Mill Creek
This interesting Round 1 matchup sees two Top 10 teams from our ITG Next Class 6A rankings face off with the No. 10 Mill Creek Hawks taking on the No. 7 Douglas County Tigers.
The Hawks of head coach Josh Lovelady are the No. 3 seed from Region 8 in Class 6A, and they’ll travel to the westside of Atlanta to battle the Tigers of Douglas County, the No. 2 seed from Region 2 in Class 6A.
Both teams are looking to rebound from poundings they took in their regular season finales. Douglas County lost to Carrollton by 21 points, and Mill Creek lost to Buford by 25 points.
Hey, there’s no shame in losing to either of those programs, but neither Douglas County nor Mill Creek wants to head into the offseason with consecutive losses, either.
