Semifinal preview: Classes 5A and 4A
Class 5A
Dutchtown at Ware County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Waycross
Records, rankings: Dutchtown is 12-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-5A and No. 7; Ware County is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 1-5A and No. 1.
Last meeting: Ware County won 24-0 in the 2020 Class 5A first round.
Things to know: Ware County is in the semifinals for the 12th time and is 7-4 in those games. The Gators have never won a state title. Ware beat Calhoun 35-0 in the quarterfinals last week. Ware hasn’t allowed more than 16 points in any game and is allowing 6.8 points per contest against the six Class 5A playoff qualifiers it has faced. Against Calhoun, Dae’jeaun Dennis rushed for 86 yards, putting him over 1,000 on the season (1,080). Nikaeo Smith, a first-year starter, has thrown for 2,087 yards and 22 touchdowns. Dutchtown, making its first semifinals appearance, is also historically strong on defense. The Bulldogs have allowed more than 14 points in a game only twice, but once was last week’s 40-34 overtime victory over Mays. Dutchtown kept Mays out of the end zone from a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the extra period. Dutchtown has scored 40 or more points in six straight games despite being predominantly a running team. Jamal Bring rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns against Mays. He’s run for 1,141 yards this season.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Ware County 27, Dutchtown 0
Cartersville at Warner Robins
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins
Records, rankings: Cartersville is 12-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-5A and No. 3; Warner Robins is 9-4, the No. 2 seed from 2-5A and No. 8.
Last meeting: Warner Robins won 24-17 in the 2021 Class 5A second round.
Things to know: These teams have met each of the past two seasons in the playoffs with Warner Robins winning both. In the 2021 game, Cartersville entered unbeaten and ranked No. 1, and Warner Robins scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns after trailing 17-10. With a victory in this game, Warner Robins will be in the finals for the sixth straight season. Only Buford (2007-16) and Eagle's Landing Christian (2014-19) have accomplished that feat. The Demons are two-time defending Class 5A champions. Warner Robins beat Creekside 31-28 last week on Daniel Barber’s 32-yard field goal in overtime. Miles Joiner's 95-yard interception return also was critical. Isiah Canion has thrown for 406 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games while replacing injured starter Chase Reese. Two touchdowns have gone to Vic Burley, a 285-defensive lineman committed to Clemson. Cartersville beat Coffee 56-28 last week. Malachi Jeffries rushed for 136 yards on 17 carries. Paul Gamble was 8-of-15 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 69 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Jeffries has rushed for 1,379 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Gamble has 1,526 passing yards and 498 rushing yards despite missing two games.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Cartersville 27, Warner Robins 20
WRITTEN BY CHIP SAYEClass 4A
North Oconee at Cedartown
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Doc Ayers Field/Cedartown Memorial Stadium, Cedartown
Records, rankings: North Oconee is 13-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 8-4A and No. 2; Cedartown is 13-0, the No. 1 seed from 7-4A and No. 1.
Last meeting: Cedartown won 56-0 in the 2020 Class 4A second round.
Things to know: This is the only semifinal in any classification matching the top two teams. Cedartown ascended to the top spot for the first time since 1995 after defeating Class 5A Calhoun in Week 4 of the regular season. North Oconee has been ranked No. 2 all year. Both teams were semifinalists last season. Cedartown lost to Carver of Columbus 22-21, and North Oconee lost to Benedictine 42-32. Last week, Cedartown trailed Bainbridge 21-13 at halftime but got third-quarter touchdown runs from Xavier Hargrove (23 yards) and Harlem Diamond (4 yards) for a 26-21 win. Cedartown rushed for 425 yards on 59 carries while attempting just four passes. Diamond (146 yards), Hargrove (137) and Patrick Gardner (109) all rushed for more than 100 yards. North Oconee led Wayne County 24-0 in the fourth quarter before giving up a couple of late touchdowns in a 31-12 victory. Trey Lenhardt’s 70-yard interception return was the only touchdown in the first half, and Dominic Elder had two touchdown runs in the second half. Max Wilson rushed for 122 yards and passed for 105. North Oconee’s 13 wins are a school record, and Cedartown’s 13 victories tie the program record set by the 2001 state runner-up team.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Cedartown 21, North Oconee 14
Troup at Benedictine
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Savannah
Records, rankings: Troup is 12-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-4A and No. 5; Benedictine is 11-2, the No. 1 seed from 3-4A and No. 4.
Last meeting: Benedictine won 42-35 in the 2020 Class 4A first round.
Things to know: Troup is in the semifinals for the third time, first since 2018, and is trying to make its first appearance in the finals. Benedictine is the defending champion and trying to win its fourth title in nine seasons. Troup’s offense revolves around junior QB Taeo Todd, who passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 105 yards and two TDs in a 38-28 victory over Holy Innocents’ last week. Todd has passed for 2,216 yards, rushed for 1,959 yards and accounted for 53 touchdowns this season. Qua Moss and Logan Sinkfield have combined for 1,515 yards and 19 touchdowns receiving. Benedictine was tied 14-14 with Stockbridge at halftime last week but outscored the Tigers 20-0 in the second half for a 34-14 win. Benedictine’s offense is led by 4-star quarterback Luke Kromenhoek (committed to Florida State), 3-star WR/DB Za’Quan Bryan (committed to Minnesota) and sophomore ATH Travis Blackshear. Bryan and Blackshear both have more than 1,100 all-purpose yards. The teams have two common opponents. Whitewater lost to Troup 43-33 and Benedictine 43-10. New Hampstead lost to Troup 36-29 and Benedictine 45-6.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Benedictine 33, Troup 14