Two Left in GHSA Sate Football Playoffs - What Do You Know about Richmond & Jenkins Football Matchups?

The Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow for the Wildcats of Richmond Hill High School and the Warriors of Jenkins High School in the GHSA State football semi-finals. The Wildcats will stay in the Hill and the Warriors will hit the war path.


Here are some early notes you need to know about the matches via Georgia High School Football Daily. These breakdowns are compiled by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here. https://bit.ly/2P01o5i

Class AAAAAA

Allatoona at Richmond Hill

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Wildcat Stadium, Richmond Hill

Records, rankings: Allatoona is 10-2-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAAAAA and No. 7; Richmond Hill is 9-3, the No. 1 seed from 2-AAAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Things to know: Richmond Hill (opened in 1986) is in the semifinals for the first time. Allatoona (opened in 2008) is in the final four for the first time since its 2015 state championship season and third time overall. Allatoona rushed for 258 yards and held Coffee to 106 total yards in a 24-0 win last week. Marcus Taylor had a season-high 88 yards and a touchdown. The leading rusher is Alex Wilson, who had 77 against the Trojans and has 1,227 for the season. Allatoona completed just one pass, a 38-yard touchdown from Dante Marshall to Asante Das. Marshall has 1,668 passing yards and Das has 1,039 receiving yards for the season. Richmond Hill had not beaten a top-10 team from its classification since 1996 until knocking off No. 8 Lanier 48-34 and No. 4 Valdosta 16-14 the past two weeks. The Wildcats get two-thirds of their offense from a running game led by Jalen Rouse, who had for 84 yards against Valdosta last week and has 1,754 yards for the season, including 488 yards and eight TDs in three playoff games. Tyler Coleman (986 passing yards for the season) threw a 13-yard TD pass to Isaiah Allen for the winning score against Valdosta with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Allatoona by 7

Class AAAAAA

Jenkins at Crisp County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cougar Den, Cordele

Records, rankings: Jenkins is 12-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-AAA and No. 7; Crisp County is 10-3, the No. 1 seed from 1-AAA and No. 6.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Things to know: Jenkins and Crisp County are undefeated against Class AAA opponents, and neither has lost by more than five points. Jenkins is playing in its first semifinal since 1966 and the first for any Savannah public school since Savannah High in 1969. The last Savannah public school to win a semifinal was 1962 Tompkins in the Georgia Interscholastic Association before the GHSA integrated its membership. Neither Jenkins nor Crisp has played in a state final, although Crisp County predecessor Cordele High won the 1951 Class B championship. Jenkins has a punishing defense that's recorded 37 sacks and hasn't allowed more than 14 points in a game during its 11-game winning streak. Taurus Simmons (committed to West Virginia) has 23.5 tackles for losses. Damazzio Harris has rushed for 1,656 yards, at least 100 in each playoff game, including 196 last week against North Murray. Patrick Blake has thrown for 1,823 yards with 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Crisp's offense comes primarily from RB Marquise Palmer (1,396 yards rushing) and QB A.J. Lofton (954 rushing, 761 passing). Guard Colton Oliver has made 50 starts on the offensive line. Crisp gets 99 percent of its rushing and passing yards and 75 percent of its tackles from underclassmen.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Crisp County by 1