The regular season is done and the postseason will begin on Friday with some teams taking to the road and the counties sole region champion, the Warner Robins Demons, getting set to host their playoff opener on Fri., Nov. 9.
Warner Robins to host familiar opponent in first round
The reigning region 1-5A champion Warner Robins Demons (9-1 overall) will host a familiar opponent on Friday when the Locust Grove High School Wildcats (5-4, 4-2 in 4-5A) make their way to McConnell-Talbert Stadium. The two teams faced off earlier in the season on Aug. 24 at Locust Grove and proceeded to throw 90 total points on the board during the Demons 50-40 victory.
The Wildcats are much better than their record and with senior quarterback R.J. McDaniel, Jr. and junior tight end Billy Ward, both of whom gave the Demons defense fits, will be a tougher than usual first round test.
Warner Robins has only lost two home games the past two seasons, to Rome during the 5A state title game in 2017 and to Colquitt County on Sept. 14.
Northside will also see a not so friendly face in playoff opener
The Eagles are back in the postseason and that should not surprise anyone with an ounce of familiarity with Georgia high school football. After going 5-5 this season (2-2 in 1-6A) head coach Kevin Kinsler and the Eagles will open the 6A playoffs on the road and that is not so familiar of a position. Northside will travel to Tucker High School, the number two seed in region 4-6A after going 7-3 overall and 6-1 in region play.
The Tigers only region loss came at Stephenson High School last Friday and thus they will draw a Northise team fresh off a 41-6 victory over Houston County High School to close the regular season.
Veterans looks to improve road record during opening round
The playoffs give us unique matchups all over the state and very few first round games will be as interesting as the Veterans Warhawks (8-2 overall, 2-2 in 1-5A) playing at Stockbridge High School (9-1, 6-1 in 4-5A) on Friday night.
The Warhawks went 3-2 on the road during the regular season, with one of those victories coming at Upson-Lee High School to open the season. On the other hand the Tigers, under head coach Kevin Whitley, were 4-2 at home this season with that sole loss coming to undefeated Dutchtown High School, 21-14, on Oct. 19.
Perry will face a battle-tested team to open postseason
The Panthers (6-4 overall, 2-3 in 2-4A) had to win two of their last three games to get in the playoffs and know that there are no easy games ahead. The same could be said for their first round opponent, the Baldwin HIgh School Braves, who have played Northside, Veterans and Warner Robins HIgh Schools, respectively, this season in anticipation of the postseason. According to Braves head coach Jesse Hicks the pre-region schedule -the Braves lost all three of the games against Houston County teams- was to prepare his team for what mattered most, region play.
Baldwin (5-5 overall) was 4-0 during the region 3-4A season, allowing a total of just 13 points during their final three games of the season, including a 27-6 victory at Thomson High School and a 31-0 win at Cross Creek High School this past Friday.
Perry might have less pressure off of them being in the road after having gone 4-1 away from Herb St. John Stadium this season.
Westfield back on the road in playoff opener
The Hornets won big on the road at Pinewood on Friday night and earned their way into the GISA AAA state playoffs. The Hornets will be at Southland Academy on Friday night, 7:30 p.m.
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