By Lee Wilson
MaxPreps.com
Playoffs are typically unpredictable, no matter the sport. High school playoffs are no different, especially when talking about football.
In Georgia, there have a been a few teams over the past few years that have been exceptionally dominant and manage to get every break imaginable, but as the saying goes luck is a residue of skill and these teams in particular are chocked full of skill.
Lowndes is that team in Class AAAAA. Over the past four years the Vikings have won three titles, including last year’s stomping of North Gwinnett in the title game.
Little did they know another team from Gwinnett (all three of the Vikings' titles have come in wins over Gwinnett County teams) would pose the greatest challenge they have faced.
The quarterfinal round posed challenges for other favorites, as well, including Westside-Macon in AAAA and Emanuel County Institute in A.
AAAAA Quarterfinals: Defense sparks Grayson upset of Lowndes
The Lowndes Vikings lost for the first time in over a year Friday night to a team that many figured would be a driving force in the playoffs – the Grayson Rams. The Rams, getting a big effort from running back Ean Pemberton, defeated the Vikings 17-7 and ended hopes for a repeat title for the state’s top-ranked team.
"We just shocked to world baby," Rams head coach Mickey Conn told his team afterward, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "You're true winners in every sense of the word."
The difference was Pemberton. The 5-foot-3, 135-pounder scampered for 188 yards and two touchdowns. The No. 4 Rams have been riding Pemberton through the majority of their 13-0 season, so it was no surprise to Conn that he did what he did.
"Pemberton just did his thing," Conn told the AJC. "He was awesome. It was no secret what we were trying to do; we just went right after them."
The Rams defense was equally impressive. They limited the potent Vikings offense (they averaged 37 points per game) to seven points. Grayson moves on to the state semifinals against fellow Gwinnett foe Peachtree Ridge next week.
AAAAA Quarterfinals: Woodstock falls to Camden County
The Woodstock Wolverines made an improbable run that included two shocking playoff wins over Walton and Norcross, two of the state’s perennial powers. That run was stopped in nail-biting fashion by the No. 2-ranked team in the state Friday night, Camden County.
Camden trailed Woodstock 17-12 late in the second half but managed a 10-play, 69-yd drive that was capped off by a 1-yd touchdown run by Daniel Valdez with 6:30 remaining.
With Camden leading 18-17, the Wolverines offense failed to score and left the ball to the Wildcats, who promptly killed the clock along with Woodstock's Cinderella run.
"We were scared to death because we looked at film and saw Woodstock was playing really well and was a well coached team," Camden coach Jeff Herron told the AJC.
He praised the Wolverine squad and later added that they played with more emotion Friday night than Camden, despite his team making the comeback win. Camden advances to the semifinals for the fifth time in seven years to face Newnan.
AAAAA Quarterfinals: Newnan dominates North Gwinnett in quarterfinal Rematch
The Newnan Cougars had revenge in mind after the North Gwinnett Bulldogs defeated them in the playoffs last year. The mission was accomplished Friday as the Cougars, led by quarterback Russell Powell, defeated the Bulldogs 20-3.
Powell finished the night with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, but the real story was the defense of the Cougars.
In the previous two rounds, North Gwinnett scored 34 and 43 points. The Cougars, which were on the short end of a 38-35 thriller last year against North Gwinnett, limited the opportunities for the Bulldogs who also had several costly miscues.
The loss means that last year's state championship pairing of Lowndes and North Gwinnett both saw their seasons come to an end on the same night.
Newnan will face Camden County next week. The home team will be decided later this week with a coin flip.
AAAAA Quarterfinals: Peachtree Ridge blanks Coffee
Peachtree Ridge has been good all year, but over the final weeks of the season and into the playoffs, the Lions have been great. That trend continued with a 38-0 pounding of Coffee Friday night to advance to the semifinals.
The key was an aggressive defense that forced three first-half turnovers, all resulting in touchdowns. The Peachtree Ridge defenders added a safety for good measure and limited limited the Trojans to just 64 rush yards on 34 carries. The Lions have won 11 straight games after dropping the first two games of the year.
"We came out ready to play tonight," Lions linebacker Eric Mitchell told the AJC. "This is the best we've played so far, but I think we can get better."
They can't get much better, but they might need to be just as good next week when they face Grayson in a Gwinnett showdown in the semifinals. Grayson shocked the state with its defeat of Lowndes and the two teams will meet for the first time since Grayson narrowly defeated Peachtree Ridge last season 17-14.
AAAA Quarterfinals: Tucker ousts Westside-Macon
Tucker defeated the top-ranked AAAA team in the state Friday night 31-20, ending Westside-Macon's run at a title shot. While the win is considered an upset, it should not be a surprise as Tucker makes its third trip to the semifinals in six years.
Aiding the Tucker Tiger victory was the 21-point second half sparked by an interception by A.J. Bouye that was returned for a touchdown.
The Tigers will move on to face Griffin, who defeated Southwest Dekalb Friday night.
AAAA Quarterfinals: Griffin hangs on
Griffin's narrow 10-7 victory over Southwest DeKalb in the quarterfinals was the result of a 29-yard third-down reception by Buck Hancock. With his squad leading 3-0, Hancock made the catch getting his offense to the one-yard line and leading them to their only touchdown of the night.
"We were going into the huddle, and (Hancock) told me to look for him (on the play) because he was open," Griffin quarterback Marcus Walker told the AJC. "Usually on that play the ball goes to somebody else. But I saw him, he was open and I got him."
Griffin now moves on to face Tucker, who defeated Westside-Macon, in the semifinals.
AAA Quarterfinals: Flowery Branch dismantles Baldwin County
It came down to a third quarter drive to preserve the lead, but the Flowery Branch Falcons managed to get the points they needed behind quarterback Connor Shaw as they beat Baldwin County 35-17.
Flowery Branch will move on to face LaGrange.
AA Quarterfinals: Buford dominates Dublin
Buford continued its dominance over its opponents with a 44-10 win over Dublin Friday night. The win is Buford's 28th in a row and it advances to the semifinals to face Fitzgerald.
The Wolves will be playing for a shot at their sixth title overall and fifth of the decade.
A Quarterfinals: Emanuel County Institute rides Ealey again
The Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs have revolved around Washaun Ealey all year long. So why would they do anything differently in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs?
Ealey rushed for 194 yards on 30 carries, including an 11-yard touchdown run. ECI's other touchdown came from quarterback Michael Robertson, who ran 8 yards for a score in the second half.
ECI will advance to the semifinals to face Wilkinson County.
