GHSA Semifinals Highlights: Latimer, Anglin Among Top Performers
Each week ITG Next recognizes the best offensive, defensive and special teams performances by players across the state. Following are highlights from the semifinal round of the Georgia high school playoffs.
Offense
Sandy Creek QB Geimere Latimer threw for 4 TDs and 308 yards to lead his Patriots to the 3A state championship game with a 49-14 win.
Hughes QB Prentiss “Air” Noland has been a fixture in our weekly highlights. The Georgia semifinal round was no different as he completed 21 of 24 passes for 242 yards and 3 TDs to lead Hughes to a 42-3 win over the Rome Wolves and a trip to their second straight state championship game.
Gainesville QB Baxter Wright threw for 4 TDs with 208 yards passing to lead his team to a 6A semifinal victory over Roswell Friday night.
Carrollton RB Bryce Hicks had 37 carries and 206 yards rushing against Colquitt County in the Trojans’ semifinal win over the Packers.
Mill Creek’s Makhail Wood had 152 yards and 3 TDs on 5 receptions to lead the Hawks to a win over Milton in the Class 7A semis.
Defense
Hughes DB Xavier Leonard returned an INT for a 48-yard TD against Rome to help his team advance to the state title game for the 2nd straight season
The entire Cedar Grove defense gets a shoutout in our Georgia semifinal highlights. The Saints recorded their second straight shutout in these 2022 playoffs, blanking Oconee County Friday night, 23-0.
Bowdon’s Robert McNeal had 2 INT, including one to stop an Irwin drive and secure the win for his team, sending them to the class A-D2 state championship. McNeal also added 2 rushing TDs.
Sandy Creek CB Kaleb Cost had a key third-quarter INT to stop a Carver drive and keep the Panthers out of the end zone. He also had 3 TDs on offense for the Patriots.
Mill Creek’s defensive leader came up big once again in the Hawks’ defeat of Milton. Junior LB Josh Anglin led the defense with 7 tackles, along with 1 QB pressure and 1 sack. He leads the Hawks defense with 87 tackles for the season, plus 5 sacks and 11 QB pressures. He is a big reason for the Hawks success this season.
Special Teams
Friday night’s Georgia high school semifinal highlights included some spectacular special teams play, including that of Gainesville WR/KR Darius Cannon, who had a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD in the Red Elephants’ 35-28 win over Roswell. Cannon also added a 23-yard TD reception.
Warner Robins kicker Daniel Barber had FGs of 47 yards, 36 yards, and 22 yards to help his Demons to a 35-10 semifinal win over Cartersville.
Rome K Diego Cordon supplied the Wolves’ only points with a 35-yard FG against Hughes in the 6A semifinal contest.
Colquitt County K Brett Fitzgerald was a perfect 3-for-3 on PAT and 2-for-2 on FG attempts (42 and 22 yards) in the Packers’ loss to Carrollton.
Colquitt County S Jack “White Lightning” Luttrell had a 49-yard punt return for a TD in his team’s playoff game against Carrollton.
Our list of Georgia semifinal highlights concludes with a key play by Ware County’s Jaden Jones, who blocked a punt that was returned for a TD to kickstart the Gators’ scoring in their 31-7 semifinal win over Dutchtown.
