What to Watch for in Week 17 Athens-area High School Football
1-seed North Oconee vs. 1-seed Blessed Trinity
This Friday, the state's No. 13 team, Blessed Trinity, arrives in Bogart to face an undefeated North Oconee football team led by 4-star senior wide receiver and Georgia commit Landon Roldan. North Oconee, ranked No. 9 in Georgia, defeated a fellow undefeated team last week. Blessed Trinity has only one loss this season, a 28-14 setback to Milton. Since then, they have outscored their opponents 236-82, recording a shutout against Westminster and emerging victorious against Cambridge in overtime.
The green Titans of Roswell have a running back with an impressive 247 carries for 1,102 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Their quarterback is on par with NOHS's Harrison Faulkner, completing 122 out of 195 attempts for 1,541 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. They also have a sophomore linebacker who has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times for a loss of 78 yards and made 108 tackles against the opposing offensive line, 47 more than the next person on the team. North Oconee defeated Cartersville 28-26 in the quarterfinals, while Blessed Trinity defeated Benedictine 24-10.
Prince Avenue Christian (team 5) vs. North Cobb Christian (team 8)
In Georgia, Prince Avenue Christian ranks No. 32, while North Cobb Christian is at No. 94. However, their competitiveness and caliber match seamlessly. The Wolverines and Eagles have a sophomore standout - Andrew Beard for PACS and DJ Huggins for NCC. Beard averages significantly more receiving yardage per game (155.7 yards) compared to Huggins, but Huggins leads in the rushing category with 81.7 yards per game versus Beard's 43.8. But Beard is no slouch; he has 207 carries for 1,868 yards (10 games with over 100 rushing yards) and 21 touchdowns, along with 31 receptions for 526 yards and 8 touchdowns.
North Cobb Christian's quarterback is a sophomore with three college offers. In his second season as a starter, he has eclipsed 2,000 yards passing for the second time (he achieved this as a freshman too). Teddy Jarrard is truly a standout. In 2023, he threw 153 completions on 260 attempts for 2,065 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2024, he has 209 completions on 291 attempts for 2,647 yards and 31 touchdowns in the same 12-game span. Prince Avenue Christian defeated Calvary Day 61-39 in the quarterfinals, while North Cobb Christian defeated Savannah Christian 30-27.
Jefferson (team 1) vs. LaGrange (team 20)
Finally, Jefferson will face a team they haven't seen before - LaGrange. LaGrange is cutting through Atlanta and the suburbs with a 10-3 record, like Jefferson. Both teams closed out the regular season with a loss and have since dominated their playoff opponents. Jefferson only allowed 12 points in the first two rounds, while LaGrange slipped in the second round when Sandy Creek scored 22 against them.
The Dragons rely heavily on senior quarterback Gavin Markey for everything. He is their leading rusher, averaging 111.2 yards per game for a total of 1,445 yards and 183 carries in 13 games. He has more rushing yards than passing yards, with only 1,283 yards on 74 completions out of 130 attempts. He has accounted for 37 of Jefferson's 58 touchdowns - 17 passing and 21 rushing. The Dragons have lost only five fumbles this season, and Markey has been intercepted only 6 times on 140 passes. Jefferson defeated Cherokee Bluff 42-28 in the quarterfinals, while LaGrange defeated North Hall 49-17.