Second-round preview: Classes 2A and A Division I
Class 2A
*Westside-Macon (6-5) at Rockmart (9-2): Westside’s Kadiphius Iverson had one of the best individual performances of the first round when he rushed for 261 yards and six touchdowns on 40 carries in a 49-35 victory over Spencer. It put Westside, the 16th seed, in the second round for the first time since 2018. Iverson, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, has rushed for a Class 2A-leading 1,916 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns. Westside is the third-place finisher in Region 2 behind fellow round-of-16 teams Callaway and Morgan County. Rockmart, the 2023 Class 2A runner-up, has won nine straight games and clinched its eighth straight region championship since opening 0-2 with losses to Cedartown and Cartersville. Rockmart beat Redan 30-6 in the first round. Nate Davis rushed for 117 yards. He leads the team in rushing (764 yards) and tackles (92). Though seeded No. 1, Rockmart is ranked No. 8.
*Sumter County (10-1) at Morgan County (10-1): Both teams lost their only games for their region championships – Sumter County to Carver of Columbus 31-0 and Morgan County to Callaway 33-26. Morgan County, the No. 8 seed, escaped in the first round when Evan Johnson kicked a 32-yard field goal with 14 seconds left in a 52-49 victory over East Jackson. Davis Strickland passed for 341 yards, giving him a Class 2A-leading 2,713 on the season. Three TD passes went to Jaylen Elder, who had 131 receiving yards, giving him a GHSA-leading 1,480 for the season. Morgan County is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990. Sumter County, the No. 9 seed, beat Union County 37-6 in the first round for the school’s first playoff victory since 2019. Sumter County, in its 21st season, has never reached a quarterfinal. Sumter County has been impressive defensively, allowing 10.5 points per game, third-fewest in Class 2A. Offensive leaders are Ishmael Jones (723 passing yards), Aaron Kearse (687 rushing yards), Corderian Leverett (341 receiving yards) and Damontae Reeves (922 all-purpose yards).
*Thomson (8-3) at Hapeville Charter (8-3): This is one of two Class 2A games between ranked teams. Carver of Atlanta, Hapeville’s region rival, is playing in the other against Appling County. Hapeville, seeded No. 5, has won seven consecutive games after a 1-3 start that entailed losses against Lee County, Cartersville and Westlake. Hapeville beat Carver 15-12 for the region title despite injury losses to its leading passer and leading rusher. Quarterback Kevin Pope remains questionable for this game, but safety Zion Crawford, who hadn’t played quarterback in a game since middle school, took his place and starred in the Carver game, then threw two TD passes last week in a victory over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Other Hapeville standouts are defensive back Dylon Henderson (committed to Samford) and big defensive linemen Bruntavious Clark and Chris Booker. Thomson, the 12th seed, bounced back from a loss to Burke County for the region title to beat Pike County 55-6 last week. Thomson’s star is Kent State pledge Anthony Jeffery, who has rushed for 1,309 yards in just nine games. Hapeville is trying to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. Thomson won Class 2A in 2022. The game will be played at Banneker as Hapeville does not have its own field.
*Laney (7-4) at Burke County (10-1): Laney, the 20th seed, beat 13th seed South Atlanta 38-24 in the fourth round to earn a rematch with region rival Burke County, the No. 4 seed. Laney’s Tiquavious Kemp scored on a 70-yard run to break a 24-24 tie in the final minute of the third quarter. Burke County beat Cook 27-21 in the first round. Amerre Williams rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He has rushed for 1,306 yards on the season. Burke dominated the previous meeting against Laney, winning 43-12 and leading 37-0 at halftime. Sean Vandiver was 7-of-8 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Kei’von Scott had three receptions for 127 yards. Burke most recently was in the quarters in 2021. Laney is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013.
*Stephens County (7-4) at Callaway (9-2): Both teams were ranked in the top five in preseason. Stephens County has lost four games, but all against top-five teams that are still playing – Jefferson, Oconee County, Prince Avenue Christian, Hebron Christian). Stephens County, the 14th seed, beat North Murray 31-14 in the first round. Tripp Underwood was 18-of-23 passing for 222 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jonah Swinson. Javin Gordon, who is committed to Duke, rushed for 100 yards. Stephens County has reached the second round four straight seasons but most recently made the quarterfinals in 2005. Callaway, the No. 3 seed, has won nine straight games since opening losses to Cass and Opelika, Ala. The Cavaliers won Region 2 in the regular-season finale with a 33-26 victory over previously unbeaten Morgan County. They beat Miller Grove 38-0 in the first round while rushing for 403 yards. Blake Harrigton, the quarterback, rushed for 164 on eight carries. Tyren Buggs ran for 153 and four touchdowns on 15 carries. Callaway has made the quarterfinals eight straight seasons. Only Irwin County, with 11 seasons, has a longer streak in any class.
*Carver, Atlanta (8-3) at Appling County (8-3): This is one of two Class 2A games between ranked teams. The team that beat Carver for the Region 5 title, Hapeville Charter, is playing Thomson in the other. Carver, the No. 6 seed, beat Shaw 36-0 in the first round. Carver’s standout players are Montavious Banks (1,765 passing yards, 21 touchdowns) and Terrious Favors (811 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns). Carver lost in the first round last season but made the quarterfinals or better from 2020 to 2022 and the Class 3A final in 2021. Appling County has a similar history, losing in the second round last season but also making the quarters or better from 2020 to 2022. Appling was in the same 3A semifinals with Carver in 2021. Appling beat Crisp County 17-12 in a first-round rematch of a game the Pirates won 24-7 in region play. Crisp scored on a 91-yard run midway in the fourth quarter, then got the ball back on a turnover at Appling’s 32, but gained only one yard on four plays. Appling’s top player is Tavion Wallace, an Arkansas pledge who has rushed for 504 yards and leads the team with 49 tackles. Appling employs a freshman quarterback and is comfortable in low-scoring games. The Pirates beat then-No. 1 Pierce County 13-6 for the Region 3 title earlier this month.
*Pierce County (10-1) at Columbia (5-6): Pierce County is the defending Class 2A champion but seeded 10th because of its 13-6 loss to Appling County for the Region 3 title Nov. 1. Columbia, a Class 2A quarterfinalist last season, is the No. 7 seed despite six losses, all against bigger schools, five ranked in the top 10, all still alive in the playoffs. Both these teams won easily in the first round – Pierce over Jackson 56-0 and Columbia over Butler 46-12. Both have dual-threat quarterbacks who lead their teams in rushing and passing. Pierce County’s Caden McGatha has rushed for 1,253 yards and passed for 1,634. He surpassed 2,000 yards in both categories last season. Columbia’s Cameron Graves has rushed for 862 yards and passed for 1,387.
*Ringgold (8-3) at Carver, Columbus (10-1): Ringgold beat Hart County 19-0 in the first round. Ringgold was a 13-point underdog, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings, and the only Class 2A underdog to win, but Ringgold was seeded higher at No. 15 and had beaten Hart in the same round three seasons ago. Ringgold outgained Hart County 288-143 in total yards. Ringgold is a fairly balanced team but leans on Jeremiah Frost, who rushed for 1,137 yards in the regular season. Ringgold can make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. Carver, ranked No. 1 and seeded No. 2, beat Therrell 54-7 in the first round. Kobe Caslin rushed for 167 yards, giving him 1,093 yards on the season. He has 400 receiving yards. Matthew Mungin has thrown for 1,418 yards. Carver, a Class 3A semifinalist last season, has made the quarterfinals each of the past four years.
Class A Division I
*Jeff Davis (8-3) at Fannin County (11-0): No. 16 seed Jeff Davis is in the second round for the first time since 2021 after a 33-17 victory over Washington County. Tied 17-17 early in the fourth quarter, Jeff Davis scored 16 points in less than a minute and a half to pull away. The Yellow Jackets took the lead on a touchdown with 9:41 left, recorded a safety on Washington County’s next possession, then returned the ensuing free kick for a touchdown. In the regular season, Jeff Davis was led by senior quarterback Colby Beach, who passed for 766 yards and rushed for a team-leading 859. Fannin County, the No. 1 seed, defeated Vidalia 41-7 last week to reach 11-0 for the second time in school history. Lawson Sullivan passed for 152 yards and rushed for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Carson Callihan ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Callihan has rushed for 1,627 yards this season. Sullivan has passed for 1,821 yards and run for 1,317.
*Lamar County (9-2) at Northeast (9-2): This game is a matchup of run-heavy teams that rolled through the first round. Lamar County, the No. 9 seed, ran for 476 yards while going 0-for-2 passing in a 51-10 victory over Dade County. Caleb Lester had six carries for 151 yards and a touchdown, and Kaden Carter had 17 carries for 138 yards and one TD. The Trojans are in the second round for the third consecutive season but seeking their first quarterfinal appearance since their 2013 state runner-up season. Eighth-seeded Northeast ran for 359 yards while going 3-for-5 passing for 19 yards in a 46-7 victory over Swainsboro. Nick Woodford ran for 175 yards and Reginald Glover had 119, each with three touchdowns. Woodford has rushed for 1,630 yards this season and 5,309 in his career. Glover has run for 1,063 yards and passed for 867 this season. A victory this week would give the Raiders a school-record 10 victories and put them in the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
*Bleckley County (5-6) at Fitzgerald (8-3): Despite finishing in seventh place in 10-team Region 2-A Division, Bleckley County earned the No. 28 seed for the state playoffs. The Royals immediately justified their playoff inclusion, knocking off Region 4 champion Social Circle 41-16 in the first round. The game was tied 7-7 in the second quarter, but a touchdown pass from Kam Everett to Kaden Perkins and a touchdown run by Everett put Bleckley County comfortably in the lead. Bleckley County has won five consecutive first-round games. Of the Royals’ six losses this season, five were by four points or less. Fitzgerald, the No. 12 seed, has won seven consecutive first-round games. In the past 10 seasons, Fitzgerald had one state title, four runner-up finishes and three semifinal appearances. The Purple Hurricane reached the second round this year with a 42-21 victory over Rabun County, scoring three unanswered touchdowns after the score was 14-14 in the second quarter. Victor Copeland rushed for 128 yards on 11 carries, and Jason Ferguson returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Fitzgerald attempted just one pass. The loss ended Rabun County’s 10-year streak of first-round victories.
*Dodge County (9-2) at Worth County (8-3): Dodge County, the No. 13 seed, was 8-0 until closing out the regular season with losses to Northeast (40-19) and Dublin (50-33). The Indians bounced back with a 40-14 victory over Chattooga last week to reach the second round for the first time since 2020. Duke Johnson, committed to Alabama as a linebacker, rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, and Kain Mincey passed for 183 yards and two TDs. Worth County, the No. 4 seed and a region champion for the first time since 1989, beat Coosa 54-14 last week for its first playoff victory since 2016. Sophomore Lyndon Worthy was 8-of-9 passing for 288 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Jaquaveon Nelson, who had 137 yards on three catches. Worthy averages 248.7 passing yards per game on a team that also rushes for 183.5. Worth County is 5-0 all-time against Dodge County, including victories in 2022 (47-38) and 2023 (40-34 in overtime) when the teams were together in Region 1-2A.
*Elbert County (6-5) at Heard County (9-2): No. 19 seed Elbert County, a quarterfinalist last season, reached the second round with a 28-13 victory over Gordon Lee. Elbert County trailed 13-0 in the first half and led just 14-13 early in the fourth quarter, but Jayvyn Hickman threw two touchdown passes to Brady Dickerson down the stretch to secure the victory. Hickman passed for 132 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 52 yards and a score. He has passed for 1,302 yards and rushed for 856 with a combined 34 touchdowns this season. Heard County, the No. 3 seed, advanced to the second round with a 45-13 victory over McNair, which was making its first playoff appearance since 2007. Sophomore Ethan Tisdale accounted for his team’s six touchdowns, passing for four and running for two. Tisdale finished with 247 yards passing and 24 rushing. He has passed for 1,740 yards and rushed for 1,339 with 40 combined TDs this season.
*Commerce (8-3) at Toombs County (9-1): No. 11 seed Commerce, a quarterfinalist season, escaped the first round with a 35-28 victory over Bremen, the No. 22 seed. Jacari Huff returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and scored on a 22-yard run, and Jaiden Daniels had rushing touchdowns of 83 and 2 yards. Bremen had a late chance to pull even, reaching the Commerce 16, but Zymir Huff broke up a fourth-down pass to secure the victory. Toombs County is ranked No. 1 but seeded No. 6 after finishing second in Region 3 behind Savannah Christian, which is competing in the private-school playoffs. The Bulldogs beat Southwest 62-8 last week and are one win away from back-to-back quarterfinal appearance, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 1995. T.J. Stanley passed for 246 yards and four touchdowns last week, as the Bulldogs finished with 259 yards passing and 220 yards rushing.
*Temple (9-2) at Thomasville (9-2): This game matches a team having the most successful season in program history against one of the state’s perennial contenders. No. 10 seed Temple defeated Putnam County 40-27 last week for its school-record ninth victory (the previous best was six) and second-ever playoff win, first since 2005. C.J. Gray rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns and Maclann Metayer ran for 110 yards and a TD. Temple is a run-first team that typically gets about 85% of its yards on the ground. No. 7 seed Thomasville is in the second round for the eighth consecutive season after beating fellow Region 1 team Bacon County 48-6. The teams did not meet during the regular season, as Bacon County forfeited the scheduled Sept. 20 game. Lavonte Cole rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and Cam Hill passed for 99 yards and two TDs. Thomasville’s offense is more balanced, with 58% of its yards coming from the running game.
*Jasper County (8-3) at Dublin (11-0): Jasper County, the No. 15 seed, ended a 10-game playoff losing streak by beating ACE Charter 41-31 for the Hurricanes' first postseason victory since 1992. Jalen Stewart ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, and Jamarkus Thomas ran for 93 yards and passed for 74 with four combined touchdowns. Head coach Ashley Henderson is 18-17 at a school that had not had a winning record since 2003. The Hurricanes will face a huge task this week against a Dublin team that is the No. 2 seed and ranked No. 2. The computer Maxwell Ratings project Dublin as a 32-point favorite. The Fighting Irish advanced to the second round for the seventh time in eight seasons with a 63-9 victory over Gordon Central. Dublin is averaging 376.5 yards rushing, 46.9 yards passing and a Class A-best 51.2 points per game. The leading rushers are Xavier Bostic (1,121 yards and 19 touchdowns), Willie Batts (1,063 and 13), Travion Bostic (708 and 12), and Micah O’Neal (597 and 15).