text: Georgia High School Football Playoffs | Milton Hooper
  Tag Archives: Georgia High School Football Playoffs
  Friday Flashback: Warner Robins vs. Starr's Mill 2000 Playoff Game
  Posted on December 6, 2019 by miltonhooper
  Tonight the Warner Robins Demons will play the Starr's Mill Panthers in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 5A state semifinals.
  The last time they played each other was in the 2000 playoffs and I was there on November 24, 2000 in the rain, watching in disbelief as Warner Robins was upset by this strangely named school.
  The lasting memory wasn't necessarily the game but when I was standing in line the day before to get my ticket for the game. There were some guys talking about the Demons' opponent. Here's how the exchange went:
  "Whadda ya know about this team we're playing this week?"
  "They got a bunch of white guys and they're slow."
  It was quite an ominous moment as I had hoped that the team didn't fall into the same mindset about their opponent. It's a funny thing about jinxes and these guys put the hooey on Warner Robins.
  Warner Robins, which was the #1 team in the state at the time, was upset by Starr's Mill 21-7 in overtime. The Demons had just come off an impressive 41-0 win in the first round over Colquitt County but they obviously underestimated the Starr's Mill Panthers. Starr's Mill eventually went on to lose in the state semifinals to Harrison that season. Starr's Mill had only been in their third year of playing football. Warner Robins packed it up for the season.
  I remembered that rain on the day of the game played a big role in the game as it gave Warner Robins problems. The Demons had Willie Reid who was one of the states top players. He was not able to get on track in the rain and the mud on that night. However, Starr's Mill fullback, Jason Laney had the game of his life on that night as he sloshed through the muddy field for 144 yards and two touchdowns. I watched in anguish as Warner Robins' defenders could not seem to bring the big man down throughout the game.
  I have never forgotten that conversation in the ticket line and remembering how the "slow, white guy" ended the season for Warner Robins. Today it is 19 years later and I hope that folks remember that game and have the kids ready to play Starr's Mill.
  In tonight's game, Warner Robins (12-1) is again favored to beat Starr's Mill (10-3) as they were in 2000. This season Starr's Mill has reeled off eight straight wins since its uncharacteristic three-game losing streak. No. 1 Warner Robins' lone loss has been to Colquitt County.
  Starr's Mill will try to control the ball on the ground, eat away the clock and improve their odds by keeping the ball away from Warner Robins as they did in the 2000 game. Quarterback Hunter Lawson runs the option attack and 1,000-yard runner Kalen Sims and Ben Bodne. Warner Robin's QB Jalen Addie has thrown for 2,142 yards and six touchdowns and run for another 536 yards. Marcayll Jones, who set the state receiving a year ago and has 37 catches for 731 yards this year. The Demons have a two-pronged running attack in Jahlen Rutherford (1,246 yards) and James Smith (840).
  Posted in Uncategorized	| Tagged Georgia High School Football, Georgia High School Football Playoffs, milton hooper, Starr's Mill Panthers, Warner Robins Demons	| Leave a reply
  Georgia High School Football Weekly (11/16/17)
  Posted on November 15, 2017 by miltonhooper
  Northside Warner Robins Surprises Brunswick 24-21 in First Round of GHSA Playoffs
  It's playoff time in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) as teams battled in the first round of the state playoffs last week. Rankings mean nothing at this point as you have to win to advance. So let's take a look at the scoreboard from last week and schedule for the second round games:
  Tift Co. 59, Newnan 13
  Colquitt Co. 49, Pebblebrook 7
  Parkview 42, Newton 35
  Milton at Brookwood
  Tift Co. at Hillgrove
  Colquitt Co. at Walton
  McEachern at Lowndes
  Marietta at Woodstock
  Douglas Co. 13, Dalton 6
  Coffee 52, Effingham Co. 32
  Northside, W. Robins 24, Brunswick 21
  Lee Co. 29, Richmond Hill 21
  Heritage, Conyers 20, Stephenson 7
  Douglas Co. at Alpharetta
  Northside, Warner Robins at Tucker
  Centennial at Mays
  Grovetown at Lee Co.
  Heritage, Conyers at Glynn Academy
  Southwest DeKalb 35, Banneker 17
  Bainbridge 48, New Hampstead 6
  Jackson, Atlanta 14, Miller Grove 0
  Buford 54, Paulding Co. 23
  Ware Co. 24, Harris Co. 6
  Carrollton 35, Clarke Central 16
  Arabia Mountain 35, North Springs 21
  Carver, Atlanta 36, Columbia 0
  Jones Co. 32, Griffin 8
  Wayne Co. 28, Thomas Co. Central 0
  SW DeKalb at Rome
  Bainbridge at Starr's Mill
  Jackson, Atlanta at Buford
  Ware Co. at Stockbridge
  Carrollton at Arabia Mountain
  Eagle's Landing at Warner Robins
  Flowery Branch at Carver, Atlanta
  Jones Co. at Wayne Co.
  Marist 38, Madison Co. 14
  Burke Co. 35, Salem 7
  Troup 31, Heritage, Ringgold 7
  West Laurens 14, Northside, Col. 7
  Woodward Acd. 48, Richmond Acd. 35
  Blessed Trinity 35, Oconee Co. 0
  Jefferson 29, White Co. 13
  Mary Persons 27, Carver, Columbus 0
  Cairo at Burke Co.
  GAC 49, Jackson Co. 0
  Cook 26, Tattnall Co. 14
  Jenkins 28, Jackson 21
  East Hall 50, Morgan Co. 36
  Pierce Co. 28, Monroe 21
  Peach Co. 45, Savannah 0
  Dawson Co. 49, Hart Co. 14
  Pike Co. 43, Southeast Bulloch 28
  Crisp Co. 56, Appling Co. 7
  Westside, Macon 14, Windsor Forest 0
  Liberty Co. 43, Dougherty 6
  Cook at Jenkins
  Pierce Co. at Peach Co.
  Dawson Co. at Cedar Grove
  Pike Co. at Crisp Co.
  Monroe Area at Calhoun
  Westside, Macon at Liberty Co.
  Rockmart 47, Monticello 7
  Brooks Co. 39, Vidalia 7
  Dodge Co. 44, Butler 8
  B.E.S.T. Academy 34, Temple 27
  Rabun Co. 49, Chattooga 6
  Toombs Co. 34, Fitzgerald 31
  Screven Co. 42, Washington Co. 7
  Pepperell 57, Banks Co. 0
  Heard Co. 42, South Atlanta 3
  Dublin 42, Harlem 0
  Thomasville 35, Jeff Davis 14
  Elbert Co. 41, Coosa 7
  Jefferson Co. 45, Southwest 14
  Benedictine 56, Berrien 14
  Callaway at Rockmart
  Brooks Co. at Dodge Co.
  B.E.S.T. Academy at Rabun Co.
  Toombs Co. at Screven Co.
  Pepperell at Heard Co.
  Elbert Co. at Hapeville Charter
  Jefferson Co. at Benedictine
  Calvary Day 42, Strong Rock Christ. 7
  Sav. Christian 22, Hebron Christian 15
  Whitefield Academy 26, Walker 7
  Darlington 26, Mount de Sales 3
  Sav. Country Day 33, Brookstone 7
  First Presbyterian 49, Tattnall Square 28
  Fellowship Chr. 41, George Walton 35
  Mount Vernon 21, O.L. of Mercy 14
  Calvary Day at Wesleyan
  Darlington at Aquinas
  Sav. Country Day at Mount Pisgah
  Fellowship Christ. at Stratford Acad.
  Mount Vernon at Mount Paran Christ.
  Marion Co. 28, Telfair Co. 27
  Wash.-Wilkes 34, Chattahoochee Co. 0
  Dooly Co. 56, Trion 35
  Schley Co. 14, Turner Co. 6
  Pelham 41, Towns Co. 14
  Lincoln Co. 28, Taylor Co. 12
  Charlton Co. 49, Montgomery Co. 46
  Jenkins Co. 30, Miller Co. 14
  Marion Co. at Mount Zion, Carroll
  Washington-Wilkes at Manchester
  Dooly Co. at Clinch Co.
  Schley Co. at Mitchell Co.
  Pelham at Macon Co.
  Lincoln Co. at Irwin Co.
  Charlton Co. at Commerce
  Jenkins Co. vs. Emanuel Co. Institute
  Stockbridge WR Marquez Ezzard had six receptions for 255 yards in the 40-7 win over McIntosh.
  Towns County lost their first playoff game in school history, 41-14 to Pelham.
  B.E.S.T. Academy, Eagle's Landing, Grovetown, Jackson-Atlanta, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian, Mountain View and Pike County won their first playoff games.
  Jenkins County won their first playoff game since 1960.
  Northside-Warner Robins had a mild upset of Brunswick as they held on for a 24-21 win. Northside was outgained 442-213 and completed on one pass which was a 43-yard TD for the winning score. Northside will now play Tucker. Both teams are very familiar with each other having played five times. Tucker won last year's game. With the way Northside has played this year, I really don't see them advancing.
  Marietta made the most of their at-large entry by shocking Westlake 34-7.
  Valdosta is the first defending champion from last season to go down as they lost to Glynn Academy 27-3.
  Warner Robins 30, South Effingham 17 – Warner Robins won against 1-9 South Effingham but they were not sharp. Jarius Burnett rushed for 212 yards to help Warner Robins pull away from South Effingham. The Demons will host Eagle's Landing (7-4) this week in the second round. Warner Robins is 3-0 all-time against Eagle's Landing. They last played in 2005. This is the first time Warner Robins has advanced past the first round since 2013.
  Clinch County had a bye. The Panthers will host Dooly County (5-6) this week. Clinch County leads the series 8-4. They last played in 2015 when the Panthers defeated Dooly County 30-8 in the first round of the playoffs.
  TOP SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS:
  Milton at Brookwood – Milton (no relation to me) has been on a roll but must now face Gwinnett powerhouse Brookwood. This will be the first meeting between the schools.
  Coffee at Evans – I think this is an intriguing matchup. No one has paid much attention to Evans from Augusta. Coffee is a team that you can never put away. This should be one of the better games in the second round.
  Jones County at Wayne County – Wayne County got everyone's attention when they beat Valdosta earlier in the year. Jones County has rolled along with only a loss to Stockbridge in week 9. Wayne County leads the all-time series 7-2. Jones County beat Wayne County 39-15 in the first round last season.
  Baldwin at Mary Persons – This will be a good one in Middle Georgia. Baldwin has stumbled into the second round with a 7-4 record but seems to be peaking at the right time. Mary Persons is 9-2 and hoping to go further than their semifinal appearance last season. Mary Persons leads the all-time series 8-2 and have won the last four games.
  Westside Macon at Liberty County – Westside Macon is a hard time to predict. I expected more than a 14-0 win over Windsor Forest in the first round but the Seminoles won and now they play Liberty County who has won their last six games. This will be the first meeting.
  Cook at Jenkins – Cook always seems to find a way to win in the playoffs on the road. You can't count the guys from Adel out of any game. Jenkins is hoping to go where they haven't been since 1966. The teams have played once before in 2015 where Cook won 30-21.
  Brooks County at Dodge County – Dodge County has quietly flown under the radar undefeated. Brooks County is 9-1 and has had lots of success under Coach Maurice Freeman. Eastman will be rocking on Friday night for this one. This will be the first meeting between the schools.
  Dublin at Thomasville – This one seems like one of those old-school matchups. Their first meeting was in the 1963 semifinals won by Dublin 9-6. The all-time series is tied 3-3. They last played in 2008.
  Savannah Christian at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy – Both of these teams have been dominate among the private schools in Class 1A. Savannah Christian has been rebuilding in the past few seasons. ELCA has won 32 straight and looking for their third straight title. ELCA won the only previous meeting between the schools 42-7 in the 2012 quarterfinals.
  The Pike County Pirates are located in Zebulon, Georgia. They have fielded a team since 1971.
  Their all-time record is 159-296-4. They have qualified for the playoffs seven times. Their best season was in 2008 when they finished 9-2. Their longest winning streak was nine games from October 13, 2000 to October 5, 2001. Their biggest rival is Lamar County. They have played 32 times with Lamar County leading the all-time series 25-7. Their most recent most notable player was offensive lineman Dylan Jeffery who was one of the top lineman named by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2012.
  Posted in Sports	| Tagged Georgia High School Football, Georgia High School Football Playoffs	| Leave a reply