Prep Preview
Evans (6-2, 4-1) at Baldwin (3-5, 3-2)
7:30 Milledgeville
Previous Week: Evans beat Lakeside and Baldwin knocked off Wayne County 33-0.
Key Players: Evans-RB Cheng Ho, QB Brad Freeman, WR Ryan Crislip, DL Will Groomes, DB Jay Acree. Baldwin-WR Nick Kyles, CB Jarvis Kyles.
Outlook: The Braves are the hottest team in the region. Baldwin started 0-5, losing to undefeated Warner Robins and Statesboro and playoff contenders Jones County and Mary Persons. The Braves have won three straight, including victories over Greenbrier and Wayne County by a combined score of 83-13. The Braves have the premiere playmaker in the region and one of the top receivers in the nation in Nick Kyles. The Knights must not relax now that they are in the playoffs. One more win guarantees the first home playoff game in Columbia County since 1998 by any public school.
Jones County (4-4, 3-2) at Greenbrier (2-6, 2-3)
7:30 The Brierpatch
Previous Week: Greenbrier lost 18-17 to Effingham County and Jones County 25-22.
Key Players: Greenbrier-WR Eugene Rogers, LB Reggie Rice, LB Erik Smith, DL Edward Curtis, RB Tyler Dent.
Key Matchup: Greenbrier's defensive lines vs. Jones County's offensive lines.
Outlook: Greenbrier must win the next two games to make the playoffs. The bad news is the Wolfpack must face two of the top three teams in the region. Greenbrier must recover after losing a heartbreaker to Effingham and Jones has confidence after playing No. 1 Statesboro close. The Greyhounds have been the surprise team of Region 2-AAAA this season.
Wayne County (2-6, 1-4) at Lakeside (2-5-1, 0-5)
7:30 Saturday Panther Stadium
Previous Week: Lakeside lost to Evans and Wayne County fell to Baldwin 33-0.
Key Players: Lakeside-QB Jimmy Johnson, LB/RB Reggie Porter, RB Carl Burrow, OL Donovan Lowe, DB Chris Drayton.
Key Matchup: Lakeside's offensive line vs. Wayne County's defensive line.
Outlook: Lakeside played a gutsy game last week against Evans, and just fell short of winning their first region contest. Johnson was knocked out of the game last week and it is not yet known if he will be available for the game. The Panthers match up well with the Yellow Jackets. If Randy Hill's team can run the ball, then they have a good shot to pick up their first region win.
Augusta Christian (5-3) at Hammond (8-0)
7:30
Previous Week: Augusta Christian beat Ben Lippen 23-7 and Hammond beat Cardinal Newman 35-7.
Key Players: Augusta Christian-QB Lee Banks, TE/LB Toby Brown, OL/DL William Lyon, WR/DB James Hawes, RB Dillon Quick.
Key Matchup: Hammond's defensive line vs. Augusta Christian's offense line.
Outlook: When the Lions have been able to effectively run the ball, they have won every time. Augusta Christian has played a streaky season, winning two straight, dropping three in a row and now winning three in a row. Now they must play Hammond, the No. 2 ranked team in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association. A win virtually guarantees a playoff berth for the Lions.