Sluggish Knights have tough road ahead

The Evans Knights' 2004 season has definitely been a success.

They won bragging rights in Columbia County by beating the other three public schools, they earned a surprising playoff berth in AAAA, and they posted an impressive non-region victory over playoff-bound Laney.

However, one look at the AAAA playoff bracket and it is quite clear that the Knights have their hands full.

Evans (6-4) will visit 9-1 Creekside. The Seminoles finished the season 9-1, losing their lone game in the final week of the season to archrival Sandy Creek 31-28.

Creekside, however, was dominant in their first nine games. They outscored their opponents 272-66 (30.2 points per game to 7.3 points per game). Defensively, Creekside likely will be the fastest team the Knights have played all season.

This is not good news for a Knights team that limps into the playoffs having scored only 6 points in their final two games of the season (both losses). Evans was outscored 53-6 in those two games.

If the Knights are able to knockoff Creekside they likely would meet former region foe Warner Robins in the second round.

The Demons were 9-0-1 on the season and outscored their opponents an astonishing 356-53. That's an average victory margin of 30 points per game.

I do not want to sound too pessimistic, but it does not look good for the Knights.

Creekside 34

Evans 17

Like Evans, Augusta Christian (6-4) has a tough road ahead of it. ACS will travel to Orangeburg, S.C., for a rematch with Orangeburg Prep. In the regular season Orangeburg Prep knocked off the Lions 34-21. However, OP actually ended the season with one more loss than the Lions at 6-5. The Lions set a school record by earning a playoff spot for the ninth consecutive season. Also, their win in the final week over R.E. Lee gave ACS its fifth consecutive year at .500 or better. The fact that the Lions are on the road could be the key to the game. Orangeburg was much tougher at home.

Orangeburg Prep 24

Augusta Christian 21

Congrats to Coach Garrett Black and the Greenbrier softball team on its first state title. The team finished 35-5-1, including 17 consecutive wins to end the season.

Also, star pitcher Kristan Glover still has not given up a run in the playoffs. She ended her prep career with 47 consecutive scoreless innings. That's zero earned runs throughout the team's playoff run.