Semifinal preview: Classes 3A and 2A

Class 3A

Calvary Day at Cedar Grove

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, William Buck Godfrey Stadium, Decatur

Records, rankings: Calvary Day is 13-0, the No. 1 seed in Region 3-3A and No. 1; Cedar Grove is 8-5, the No. 1 seed in 5-3A and No. 2.

Last meeting: Cedar Grove won 30-0 in the 2022 Class 3A quarterfinals.

Things to know: Calvary Day is 24-1 since joining Class 3A last season. Calvary’s only loss was to Cedar Grove, which held the Cavaliers to 149 total yards in the 2022 quarterfinals. Replicating that defensive performance seems unlikely as Calvary is averaging 49.3 points per game this season. In Calvary's 42-21 victory over Wesleyan in the quarterfinals, Jake Merklinger (committed to Tennessee) passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns. Calvary nearly had three 100-yard receivers – Edward Coleman (134), Caden Arnold (108) and Michael Smith (99). Smith is a tight end committed to South Carolina. Cedar Grove has lost five games, all against much larger schools, including Mill Creek and Colquitt County from Class 7A. According to the computer Maxwell Ratings, Cedar Grove’s average opponent this season is four touchdowns better than Calvary’s average opponent. In the Saints’ 28-14 victory over Mary Persons in the quarterfinals, Boden Walker (Georgia) rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns. E.J. Colson (Central Florida) was 9-of-20 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 67 yards. Devin Carter had four receptions for 80 yards and threw a 7-yard TD pass. Colson has thrown for 2,220 yards and rushed for 677. Walker has rushed for 1,327 yards.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Calvary Day 33, Cedar Grove 24

Savannah Christian at Carver (Columbus)

When, where: 7 p.m. Friday, Odis Spencer Stadium, Columbus

Records, rankings: Savannah Christian is 11-2, the No. 2 seed in Region 3-3A and No. 4; Carver is 10-3, the No. 1 seed in 1-3A and No. 9.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: Both schools won their only state titles more than 10 years ago this century and have been contenders most years since. Savannah Christian, the 2011 Class A champion, is 22-4 in two seasons of Class 3A after playing in Class A the previous 14 seasons. Carver, the 2007 Class 3A champion, is playing in its second semifinal in three seasons and was the 4A runner-up to another Savannah school, Benedictine, in 2021. Savannah Christian beat previously unbeaten Lumpkin County 42-21 in the quarterfinals. Jaden Miles was in on 21 tackles and scored on a 32-yard run. Zo Smalls rushed for 200 yards, and Kenry Wall rushed for 168. Walls also had a 38-yard reception. Both have more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage this season, and Wall has 384 return yards. Savannah Christian’s losses are to Marist (21-7) and Calvary Day (42-21), teams still alive. Carver beat Monroe Area 18-14 in the quarterfinals. Carver scored its first touchdown when Tristian Givens forced a fumble that Tyquis Brown returned 32 yards. Carver led 18-7 at halftime, and Monroe Area didn’t seriously threaten to score after getting to 18-14 in the third quarter. Jacobie Hunter was 14-of-22 passing for 215 yards and a touchdown to Braylon Jakes. De’Ante Childs rushed for 102 yards. He’s run for 1,634 this season. Carver has won eight straight games since consecutive non-region losses to Northeast, Brookwood and Hapeville Charter.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Savannah Christian 27, Carver 15

WRITTEN BY CHIP SAYE

Class 2A

Fitzgerald at Pierce County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bearville Stadium, Blackshear

Records, rankings: Fitzgerald is 10-3, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-2A and No. 10; Pierce County is 12-1, the No. 1 seed from 3-2A and No. 3.

Last meeting: Pierce County won 17-0 in 2021.

Things to know: Fitzgerald is the only No. 2 seed remaining in the Class 2A field but is one victory away from its fourth consecutive trip to the championship game. The Purple Hurricane defeated fifth-ranked Callaway 17-14 last week after trailing 14-10 at halftime. Bill Boone scored the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run with 24 seconds remaining in the third quarter. A 52-yard pass from Wilson Davis to Quincy DeBerry set up the score. Calvin Tillman intercepted a pass in the end zone with less than two minutes left, and the Purple Hurricane ran out the clock. Fitzgerald was outgained 339-299 but forced three turnovers. Pierce County reached the semifinals for the fourth time in six seasons with a 49-17 victory over eighth-ranked Fellowship Christian last week. The Bears have won their three playoff games by an average of 29.3 points. Caden McGatha rushed for 280 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries and was 3-of-6 passing for 73 yards and a touchdown. For the season, McGatha has 1,631 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing and 1,813 yards and 23 touchdowns passing. Pierce County won the most recent meeting with Fitzgerald in 2021 but trails in the series 7-1.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Pierce County 22, Fitzgerald 14

Cook at Rockmart

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Rock, Rockmart

Records, rankings: Cook is 11-2, the No. 1 seed from Region 1-2A and No. 9; Rockmart is 11-2, the No. 1 seed from 7-2A and No. 6.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: Both teams have won 10 consecutive games since starting the season 1-2, with Cook losing to Valdosta and Clinch County and Rockmart losing to Cedartown and Dalton. Cook beat Columbia 23-20 last week to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2007. Cook led 20-0 in the first half but didn’t secure the victory until an interception by Reshauld Tippins in the final minute after Columbia drove inside Cook’s 25-yard line. Tippins also returned a fumble 38 yards for a second-quarter touchdown. Keshun McKever ran for 145 yards, giving him 1,323 for the season. Drew Folsom has passed for 2,321 yards, and Ny’Shaun Wallace has 780 receiving yards. Rockmart is in the semifinals for the first time since its 2018 team reached the championship game. The Yellow Jackets beat fourth-ranked Toombs County 45-21 last week, their third straight playoff victory by at least 24 points. Calliyon Thompson was 11-of-15 passing for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,872 yards and 22 touchdowns this season with only two interceptions. Brent Washington rushed for 101 yards, and Nahzir Turner had five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. These schools are located about 250 miles apart and have never faced each other.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Rockmart 22, Cook 17