Class 1A Public Quarterfinal Previews
Warren County Screaming Devils (10-2) at Metter Tigers (12-0)
How They Got Here:
Warren County defeated Mt. Zion 60-14, Macon County 56-26
Metter defeated Turner County 20-19, Mitchell County 49-8
Noteworthy: Metter has had a historic season this year and had not played a team play them within 20 points before their first round game with Turner County. Last year the Tigers were ousted in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A playoffs. The Screaming Devils have had a solid season and have really come on as of late. Since their last loss in mid October, they have outscored teams by almost 30 points per game. This should be a high scoring game down in Candler County!
Irwin County Indians (8-3) at Commerce Tigers (11-1)
How They Got Here:
Irwin County defeated Jenkins County 41-7, Wilcox County 14-0
Commerce defeated Manchester 52-20, Gordon Lee 28-14
Noteworthy: These perennial powers are no strangers to success and deep playoff runs. Both teams won region championships, but more impressively both of their regions have three teams still alive in the playoff hunt. This is the first of three Region 8 vs Region 2 matchups that we have. Irwin County has had a solid regular season after a few early season losses to 2A playoff teams. Commerce has been on a run since an early season loss to Athens Academy, especially ending the year with impressive wins over Washington-Wilkes and Lincoln County.
Clinch County Panthers (7-3) at Lincoln County Red Devils (9-4)
How They Got Here:
Clinch County defeated McIntosh Academy 23-17 (OT), Pelham 14-6
Lincoln County defeated Chattahoochee County 29-13, Hancock Central 28-6
Noteworthy: The #3 seeds from Region 8 and 2 face off in this one. The Panthers are a tough squad who actually beat Region 2 champ Irwin County earlier in the year, and they have gutted out two playoff wins this far. Clinch County has made the semifinals in 1A Public for the past five years. Lincoln County has played a tough non region schedule in addition to their tough Region 8 opponents. A semi-final birth would be an impressive accomplishment for a program that missed the playoffs just two years ago.
Washington-Wilkes Tigers (10-1) at Brooks County Trojans (12-1)
How They Got Here:
Washington-Wilkes defeated Wilkinson County 35-6, Bowdon 34-17
Brooks County defeated Claxton 36-0, Dublin 41-7
Noteworthy: The final of our 3 Region 8 vs Region 2 matchups in 1A Public! Washington-Wilkes has had an impressive campaign so far, and especially for a team that missed the playoffs two years ago. Their lone loss on the year was to Commerce who is also a quarterfinalist. Brooks County enacted their revenge on Dublin last year after losing to them in the state final a year ago. They seem to be on a mission to finish the job this year as they have had an average margin of victory of close to 40 points after an 8 point loss to Irwin County.