Richmond Hill Wildcats

Bracket Busters

Published November 18, 2025 | By Jason Bishop

By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

We are entering the second round of the GHSA football playoffs. Let’s take a look at some of the premier 6A matchups.

Brookwood (9-2) @ #5 Valdosta (10-1): Brookwood is the No. 2 seed from Region 7. Valdosta is the No. 1 seed from Region 1.

Last week the Broncos beat Archer 42-21. They rushed for 366 yards. Brayden Tyson had 144 yards and Jeremiah Brinson had 129.

Valdosta beat Dacula 56-28 in the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats rushed for 335 yards in that game. Marquis Fennell led the team with 165 yards and Deron Fennell had 116 yards.

Valdosta’s lone loss this season was to #9 Colquitt County, 18-17.

The last time these teams played was 2014. The series is tied 3-3 and I think the Wildcats will win this matchup.

#9 Colquitt County (9-2) @ #1 Grayson (11-0): Colquitt County is the No. 3 seed from Region 1. Grayson is the No. 1 seed from Region 4.

The Packers beat Mill Creek 35-24 last week.

Jae Lamar rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Cohen Lawson was 12-of-24 passing for 226 yards and a touchdown. Antwan Lockett had five receptions for 128 yards and a TD.

The Rams beat Norcross 44-7 in the first round. They scored all of their points in the first half.

Deuce Smith was 12-of-14 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

The last time these teams met was in 2019. Colquitt County leads the series 4-2. I believe Grayson will win.

Newton (8-3) @ #2 Buford (11-0): Newton is the No. 2 seed from Region 4. Buford is the No. 1 seed from Region 8.

Last week the Rams beat Peachtree Ridge 33-14.

They rushed for 373 yards and were 2-of-9 passing. Kevin Hartsfield rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Darius White rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns.

The Wolves beat Richmond Hill 45-0 last week. They held them to 96 total yards. Dayton Raiola was 12-of-20 passing for 204 yards and four touchdowns.

The last time these teams met was 2019 and Buford leads the series 2-0. This is Buford’s 27th straight second-round appearance. I think Buford will win big.

#10 Harrison (10-1) @ #3 Carrolton (11-0): Harrison is the No. 2 seed from Region 3. Carrollton is the No. 1 seed from Region 2.

In the first round the Hoyas beat Marietta, 45-35. Aiden Watson was 17-of-23 passing for 194 yards and rushed for 180 yards and six touchdowns. D.J. Huggins had nine receptions for 95 yards.

The Trojans beat North Forsyth 58-17 last week. Ryan Mosely had five receptions for 112 yards. Cam Wood rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.

These teams have only played once before in 2023 and Carrolton leads the series 1-0. This is Carrollton’s 11th straight second-round appearance. I expect the Trojans to advance.

#6 Lowndes (10-1) @ #8 North Gwinnett (10-1): Lowndes is the No. 2 seed from Region 1. North Gwinnett is the No. 1 seed from Region 7.

The Vikings beat Collins Hill 37-16 in the first round. Jayce Johnson passed for 131 yards and rushed for 36 with three total touchdowns. Lowndes was outgained in this game but they had two interceptions.

The Bulldogs beat South Gwinnett 49-16 last week. They were balanced, with over 200 yards passing and receiving.

Elam Rahman was 12-of-16 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Kalil Mazone rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Lowndes leads the series 2-0 and they have not played since 2019. I think North Gwinnett wins a close game.

Posted in High School Football | Tagged Bishop Media Sports Network, Colquitt County Packers, GHSA, High School Football 6A Predictions, Kenneth Harrison, Lowndes Vikings, Richmond Hill Wildcats, Southern Sports Edition, Valdosta Wildcats

Bedeviled

Published October 12, 2025 | By Jason Bishop

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Week nine of the high school football season was full of unexpected outcomes and the playoff picture beginning to solidify.

The Brunswick High Pirates looked as if they may coast to another region title in region 1-5A. However, the Statesboro Blue Devils had other plans hosting the Pirates at home at Womack Field.

BHS entered the game at 6-1 and they were undefeated in the region. The Pirates’ lone loss came way back in week 1 to the Camden County Wildcats. Statesboro entered the game tied for second place in the region with their lone region loss to Glynn Academy and 4-2 overall.

The Blue Devils got up early 14-0. Brunswick battled back in the second half and held a 21-20 late. However, the Blue Devils took a 26-21 lead and sealed the game with a late safety for the 28-21 final.

The win for Statesboro gives them an inside track for their first region title since 2005; they won the state title that year.

There is no better rivalry in GISA than Frederica Academy and Bulloch Academy. The Knights and Gators renewed their rivalry with Bulloch Academy a significant favorite to win the game. That did not matter to the Knights.

In this rivalry you can throw all records and stats out the window and Frederica showed us why.

The Knights Head Coach Brandon Derrick was fresh off his 100^th career win the week before against the Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders.

The underdog Knights beat Bulloch handily 35-20 in the ‘Bloody Marsh’ on St. Simons.

With the win Frederica improved to 5-3 on the season and 1-0 in region play. It also makes them the favorite to win their win, which comprises of Frederica, Bulloch, Pinewood and St. Andrews.

For Bulloch Academy it was their second loss of the season and made them 6-2 overall.

The MCA Buccaneers came into their game against the Bryan County Redskins having lost four of their last five games and needing a win just to stay in the playoff picture.

The Bucs lone two wins coming into the game were against the Islands and Claxton, not exactly state title contenders.

MCA had lost a heartbreaker to Jenkins County the week before 7-0 in a region tilt. Against Bryan County they turned the tables, this time winning the game 7-0.

The loss for Bryan County more than likely eliminated them from being able to make the playoffs.

The win kept slim hopes alive for MCA in Region 3-A Division 2 as far as making the playoffs. The Bucs have games against Metter, Savannah and Portal remaining. More than likely, The Bucs must win out to get into the playoffs.

Down in Kingsland the Camden County Wildcats continued to struggle in region play. The Cats hosted the Lowndes County Vikings at Chris Gilman Stadium and were downed by the undefeated Vikings, 35-14.

Lowndes has a pretty firm grasp on winning Region 1-6A. Their final two games are both on the road with Richmond Hill and then against rival Valdosta.

Meanwhile for Camden, not making the playoffs is beginning to look like the reality. The Wildcats are 5-3 and 0-3 in the region. The Cats started 5-0 but have now lost three straight, all region games. Those losses include Valdosta, Richmond Hill and Lowndes.

Camden has Colquitt and Tift left on the schedule.

Historically, two region wins will get you in the playoffs in this region. That would not be the case for Camden. The Wildcats need to win out and have Colquitt drop their last game to Richmond Hill for a #4 seed.