D2-AA Semifinal
Brentwood Academy (9-2) at MUS (9-2)
MUS is 8-18 all time vs Brentwood Academy. Last time the two teams met was 2010 in the quarterfinal round. BA won 42-24. Last time MUS won was 2008 38-18 in the state championship. MUS has won 4 of the last 6 times they two have played since 2004 including victories in 2 state title games. The teams have met in the semifinals 3 times with BA winning 2 of 3. They have met in the playoffs a total of 12 times with BA winning 8 of the 12. BA has played in 9 state title games since 1998 but they are 1-8 in those games. MUS is 4-0 in state title games.
Both teams are very similar. They both average 38 pts/gm on offense. BA is giving up 16/gm on defense while MUS is allowing 18/gm. BA has 2 Mr. Football finalists in SR WR Jalen Ramsey & JR DE Derek Barnett. MUS has 2 Mr. Football finalists in SR QB Jordan Rodgers & SR LB Peyton Klawinski.
The Eagles beat Briarcrest last week 44-17 and had almost 400 yds of total offense in the win. QB Max Staver was 8-12 for 163 yds and a TD. He has thrown for almost 1700 yds this season and 17 TD with only 6 INT. His go to receiver is Ramsey. Ramsey has 29 catches for 670 yds (23/catch) and 9 TD's.
Here is what MUS thinks about BA:
http://mussports.typepad.com/football/
The Owls beat Baylor last week 20-14 and had almost 400 yds of total offense as well. SR Shane Tucker had 176 yds rushing on only 23 carries and now has over 750 yds on the season (6.8/carry). Rodgers had another stellar night going 20-28 for 210 yds and 2 TD's. He has almost 2300 yds passing on the year and 31 TD's with only 4 INT. Whit Hawkins leads the team in receptions with 44 but Devin Perry & Will Whitley both have 9 TD's each. Klawinski had 12 tackles and a sack in the game and now has 100 tackles on the year ( including 26 for loss) to go with 9 sacks, 1 INT and 3 FF.
D2-A Semifinal
St. George's (11-1) at ECS (5-6)
Rematch. Ask either team about that word and so far it has been nothing but good memories for both. Last year, the Gryphons lost during the regular season to USJ but defeated them in the state title game. ECS lost to Fayette Academy during the regular season this year and defeated the Vikings last week in their playoff opener. The Eagles lost their opener this year to the Gryphons in a hard fought game, 10-6. ECS lost 2 big fumbles in the game including one that could have given them the lead but went in to the end zone where it was recovered for a touchback. Here is a link to the game story on that one from the Commercial Appeal:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/aug/25/punters-heady-play-saves-gryphons-day/
ECS was dominant last week in their rematch with Fayette Academy winning 42-0. Mr. Football finalists Brett Rooker & Walker Jones each had 3 TD's in the win as the Eagles had 444 yds of total offense.
St. George's was dominant as well beating FRA 31-7. Chandler Loy had 203 yds rushing and 2 TD's including a 65 yd TD run on the first play of the game. The Gryphons defense is led by Mr. Football finalist Dylan Young.
MS 6A Quarterfinals
Olive Branch (11-1) at Madison Central (9-3)
Both teams are very familiar with each other having played 3 times in the last 27 games. They opened each of the last two seasons and Olive Branch ended Madison Central's season last year with a 40-35 win in the North champioship game. Olive Branch is 5-2 vs Madison Central since 2004. Expect a lot of points to be scored in this one as both teams feature explosive offenses. Each of the last two seasons, the Conquistadors have won the opening game of the year in the last 30 seconds of the game. Here is a link to the first game of this year from the Commercial Appeal.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/aug/18/top-ranked-olive-branch-narrowly-wins-in-opener/
Olive Branch beat Warren Central last week 53-21 behind the "trifecta" that Sam Craft had. Craft accounted for 329 yds of total offense all by himself while throwing 3 TD passes, rushing for 1 and catching 2 TD passes. Josh Cooley was a cool 5-5 for 128 yds and 2 TD's as well.
Madison Central beat Columbus 41-7 last week. They are a very heavy senior laden team led by #15 QB Jake Schwartz. He is completing 59% of his passes for almost 2000 yds with 14 TD's and 7 INT. Schwartz also has 811 yds rushing and 10 TD's. Their best RB is #33, senior Daniel Goodspeed. He has 1053 yds rushing (7/carry) and 17 TD's. The go to receiver is #18, senior Keith Williams. He has 58 catches for 1076 yds (18.5/catch) and 10 TD's. Defensively, #53 senior Brion Ballard has 115 tackles and #10 senior Dee Johnson has 83 while #11 junior Jeffrey Pate has 7 interceptions.
AR 7A 2nd round game
West Memphis (8-3) at Bentonville (10-0)
West Memphis defeated Rogers Heritage last week 43-36. SR Kendell Allen led the way with 200 yds rushing and 2 TD's and he also returned a kick 96 yds for a score. JR Jarvis Cooper has 163 yds rushing and scored 2 TD's while QB Kody Frasure threw 2 TD passes as the Blue Devils had 480 yds of total offense on the night and they will need all of that and more to knock off Bentonville on the road.
Bentonville knocked the Blue Devils out of the playoffs last year 42-12 and there are some people who say Bentonville is better this year. They are certainly worthy of the top seed in the playoffs. They have won 35 of their last 36 games with the only loss 29-28 OT in last year's state title game. The Bulldogs have not allowed more than 17 points to an opponent all year long. In 8 of their 10 games, they have held opponents to 7 points or less including South Panola who they defeated 41-6.
2 players to watch for Bentonville are 6'2 220 lb RB/LB Garrett Kaufman and 5'10 211 lb RB Tearris Wallace. Kaufmann leads the teams in tackles with 87, 64 of those are solos. He had 114 tackles last year to lead the team. He has committed to Arkansas St. and has a 4.0 GPA and a 25 on the ACT.
Wallace has 4.4 speed and has rushed for 1440 yds and 24 TD's this year. He has 8-100 yd games so far. In his career, Wallace has rushed for 4,356 yds and 64 TD's. He had 119 yds rushing & 4 TD's this year vs South Panola. He was the first sophomore ever to win a MVP award at the state championships back in 2010, rushing for a combined 409 yds & 8 TD's in the semifinals and finals.
TN 6A Quarterfinals
Germantown (9-3) at Whitehaven (12-0)
There is a lot of recent history between the two teams. The Tigers have ended the Red Devils' season each of the last 3 years and the teams have met a total of 14 times since 2001. They are 4-4 in the regular season and 3-3 in the playoffs. Germantown last won back in 2008 pulling off the double of winning in the regular season and again in the playoffs.
Germantown won a thriller last week over Millington in OT, 24-23. Justin Roberson led the way with 110 yds and 2 TD's. RB Damon Cox, WR Caylon Weathers and QB Sam Martin will have to have huge games in order for the Red Devils to advance.
Whitehaven rolls on defeating Southwind 54-0. It's the fifth shutout of the season and tenth time in twelve games that the Tigers have held their opponent to 7 points or less. Mr. Football finalist Mark Dodson had 250 yds rushing and 3 TD's and had an 80 yd TD called back.
TN 5A Quarterfinals
Ridgeway (9-3) at Jackson North Side (12-0)
This is another game that could feature a lot of points. Ridgeway has not scored fewer that 27 points in a single game all year long. Jackson North Side has scored in the 40's 5 times and over 50 once. The two team have met just once previously back in 2010 in the quarterfinals with Ridgeway winning 47-13.
Ridgeway defeated Craigmont last week 49-28 behind SO QB Braxton Conard. He continues his impressive play with 5 TD's in the game (2-passing, 3-rushing). It is the second playoff game in a row that Conard has had 5 TD's. He threw 5 TD passes in the playoff opener vs Lawrence Co. RB Orlando Johnson had 167 yds as well and is a threat everytime he touches the ball.
Jackson North Side defeated Hamilton 41-6 with QB Adam Craig accounting for 3 TD's (1 rushing, 2 passing). Craig has almost 3000 yds of total offense on the year and 39 TD's. The Indians defense is not very big but they are extremely fast.
TN 4A Quarterfinals
Trezevant (10-2) at Covington (12-0)
Both teams haven't had any problem scoring points this year but don't be surprised if this is a defensive game. Both teams are allowing less than 10 pts/gm. Covington has allowed 8 points or fewer in 8 of their 12 games while Trezevant has allowed 14 points or fewer in 9 of their 12 including 5 shutouts.
Trezevant won the last meeting back in 2010 48-6 in the first round of the playoffs. Covington returned the favor back in 2006 winning 14-6 in the first round.
Covington defeated Sheffield last week 42-6 and Mr. Football finalist Johnston White has been like Bo Jackson on Tecmo Bowl the last 2 weeks. (Look it up on You Tube). White has 39 carries for 433 yds and 11 TD's while also catching a 69 yd TD pass.
Trezevant beat Mitchell last week 36-6. SR Lemarcus Stewart scored 4 TD's with 3 of them coming from SO QB Jordan Spencer.
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