After three weeks of exciting playoff rounds, each of the eight classifications has four teams left to battle it out this weekend, with the winners heading to Atlanta’s Center Parc Credit Union Stadium to play for the right to say, “We’re Number One.” With those Georgia high school semifinal rounds upon us, it’s still strange to be making these predictions without a couple of teams we have become accustomed to seeing at this time of the year.
Most notable, of course, is Buford. Walton, the team that stopped the Wolves, was in turn stopped short of their own hopes for a state championship last week at Carrollton. Now the Trojans will travel for the first time in these playoffs, heading to Mack Tharpe stadium to take on the Colquitt County Packers, who defeated a tough North Gwinnett squad last week.
The winner will advance to take on the winner of Mill Creek and Milton, who moved on after wins last week in the other Class 7A quarterfinal matchups. With the exit of Buford, most people believe Colquitt becomes the favorite to win the 7A state title. With a victory this week, they’ll have that opportunity to do just that.
Here’s my pick in this matchup between the Pack and the Trojans, as well as a look at the remaining top games – as I see ’em – in this week’s Georgia high school semifinal Pick 6 predictions.
Class 7A
Carrollton at Colquitt County
Colquitt County head coach Sean Calhoun welcomes in the program that he oversaw as head coach for five seasons before stepping down after the 2020 campaign. He was 51-12 during his run at Carrollton, leading the Trojans to five straight quarterfinal appearances in that span.
Calhoun now has done the same thing at Colquitt County, albeit in his first season as the leader of the Pack. The difference is that whereas the third round was as far as he took the Trojans, he has surpassed that mark with Colquitt County and will look to take yet another step by defeating his former program.
Carrollton is led by freshman phenom quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who has had an incredible first year on the varsity level. But this will be his toughest test of the season, not just going up against the Colquitt defense, but doing it in Moultrie, one of the toughest game-day environments in the state. Lewis also will have to watch for Colquitt standout safety Jack “White Lightning” Luttrell, who is headed to the University of Tennessee following this senior season.
The Packers have a pretty good quarterback themselves in Neko Fann, who will look to a pair of Georgia commits, tight end Landen Thomas and wide receiver Ny Carr, against the Carrollton defense. It’s a great matchup, but just one team moves on to play for state.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 48, Carrollton 41
Class 6A
Gainesville at Roswell
Next up in our Georgia high school semifinal Pick 6 predictions are the Roswell Hornets and the Gainesville Red Elephants. The latter, led by first-year coach Josh Niblett, recorded a perfect regular season and have continued to stampede through the state playoffs, including last week’s home win at City Stadium over the Houston County Bears. Niblett was lured away from Alabama powerhouse Hoover and named the new head coach at Gainesville last offseason following a brief search. The Red Elephants are well balanced, with a strong running game led by Niam Cheeks and Baxter Wright at quarterback.
Roswell trailed the Thomas County Central 24-6 at the half, but managed to find their offense with 36 points in the third and fourth quarters while holding the powerful Yellow Jackets offense to just 10 points in the second half to win 42-34. Both teams enter this Georgia high school semifinal matchup with impressive wins. But only one team will move on.
Phil’s Pick: Gainesville 45, Roswell 35
Rome at Hughes
The Hughes Panthers are led by QB Prentiss Air Noland, who has his team one step away from a repeat trip to the Class 6A state championship, where they fell just shy when a field goal attempt to possibly win the game was blocked by Buford. Here they are again, riding a 13-game win streak after defeating Woodward Academy 56-28 last week.
They’ll take on John Reid’s Rome Wolves, who surprised many around the state by knocking off the Marist Eagles in a low-scoring affair, 17-7. Rome will be making its first trip to the state semifinals since 2019, when the Wolves were defeated by eventual 5A state champion Warner Robins. They’ll be the latest team to try to stop the powerful Hughes offense, whose lowest output of the season was a 40-point game against Alexander.
Phil’s Pick: Hughes 47, Rome 20
Class 5A
Dutchtown at Ware County
The Ware County Gators are here after knocking off nemesis Calhoun in a redemption game last week at Waycross’s Memorial Stadium. It was the Calhoun Yellow Jackets who ended the championship hopes of Ware County last year in the state playoffs, but this time it would be all Gators all night long, winning in impressive fashion 35-0.
The Gators are riding a 12-game unbeaten streak heading into this week’s semifinal matchup against Dutchtown, and this could very well be Jason Strickland’s best opportunity to finally bring that elusive state championship to Ware County.
Dutchtown is a run-heavy team that will look to RBs Jamal Bing and Hakeem Hodges to try to play keep-away from Ware’s potent offense. The Gators are led by standout junior QB Nikao Smith, who had the tall task of taking over for four-year starter Thomas Castellanos. Smith has forged his own path for the Gators with over 2,100 passing yards so far. Ware should cruise in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Ware County 42, Dutchtown 14
Cartersville at Warner Robins
Just when it appeared the Demons were done this year, the two-time defending state champions and Marquis Westbrook caught their second wind. Here they are once again, knocking on the door of another trip to the 5A state championship after an exciting overtime win over Creekside by a 31-28 final score.
This was the eighth straight win for the defending state champions, who were all but counted out of the state playoffs after falling to county rival Houston County, their fourth loss in the first five games. Westbrook leading the Demons on this postseason run without the team’s starting quarterback, Chase Reese, who suffered a significant knee injury at the end of the regular season. The head coach told me they have gone back to the team’s original QB, Isiah Canion, who was moved to wide receiver after Reese transferred in from Hawkinsville before the start of the season.
Cartersville is back in the semifinals again after missing out last year. The Purple Hurricanes are in a familiar spot after defeating the Coffee High Trojans last week, 56-28. Their only loss this season was an overtime thriller against Calhoun back in Week 6. Since then, they’ve reeled off seven wins in a row. Can they make it eight consecutive victories?
Phil’s Pick: Cartersville 24, Warner Robins 13
Class 1A-DI
Swainsboro at Irwin County
Talk about a great football game. This is going to be one for the heartiest of football fans, as Swainsboro travels to Ocilla to take on the Irwin County Indians, whose fans are becoming spoiled at the success of their hometown team. What Casey Soliday has done since taking over under extremely tough conditions following the sudden illness, then untimely passing, of Buddy Nobles has been impressive and, well, noble. The Indians are in a familiar position – the state semifinals – after defeating Mount Pisgah easily last week.
Their opponent this week, however, will be much tougher. Swainsboro won in surprisingly easy fashion last week with a dominant 35-10 performance over a solid Rabun County team. Both teams are your typical run-heavy offense, but that doesn’t mean they can’t – or won’t – throw it, especially Irwin’s Cody Soliday, who has thrown for just under 2,000 yards this season. These predictions are tough – I almost need a coin flip to decide this Georgia high school semifinal classic.
Phil’s Pick: Irwin County 21, Swainsboro 14
