Prep Football: East Coweta, Trinity, Northgate, Heritage advance to state
From Staff Reports
Four Coweta County schools have advanced to the state high school football playoffs which begin this weekend.
East Coweta, Northgate and Trinity Christian punched their tickets to the first round of the GHSA (Georgia High School Association) state tournament while Heritage School earned a berth to the first round of the GIAA (Georgia Independent Athletics Association) playoffs.
East Coweta, 6-4 overall and 2-2 in region, got a 31-yard field goal from Brock Beldon with less than a minute to play for a 17-14 win over Pebblebrook last Friday. That kick sealed a third-place finish in Region 2-7A and sends the Indians and head coach John Small to Kingsland on Saturday to face Camden County, 7-3 overall with a second-place ranking in Region 1-7A.
Northgate, 4-6 and 3-1 in region, earned its first state playoff berth since the 2018 season. Coach Mike McDonald’s Vikings whipped Drew, 42-7, on Friday to finish the regular season on a two-game win streak and winners of three of their last four. Northgate is second in Region 3-5A and will host Arabia Mountain (5-5), the 3rd-place team out of Region 4-5A, on Saturday at Henry Seldon Field.
Trinity Christian, 6-4 and 5-2 in region, found itself in a three-way tie for second place in Region 4-4A. Lions QB Henry Brodnax connected on 22 of 29 passing for 414 yards and 5 TDs in a 47-13 win over Fayette County last Friday to end the regular season. After the tiebreakers, Trinity Christian and Coach Kenny Dallas was awarded third place in the region and travels to Jesup on Friday to face Wayne County, 8-2 overall with a second place finish in Region 3-4A. A year ago, Trinity Christian ran the table to a 14-0 perfect season and GHSA State 1A Private Championship.
Heritage School, 7-3 overall, stumbled late in the season including a 38-7 loss to Brookstone School last Friday after trailing just 7-0 at halftime. The Hawks did earn a No. 8 ranking in the final GIAA regular season 3A standings and will host No. 9 Lakeview Academy (6-4) of Gainesville on Friday. Coach Jake Copeland’s squad had a huge turnaround in 2022 after going winless in 10 games a year ago.
The 2022 season is over for both Newnan High and Central Christian School.
Newnan, 4-6 and 3-4 in region, did end the season on a high note with a 31-6 drubbing of New Manchester at Drake Stadium last Friday. The Cougars and Coach Chip Walker finished fifth in the Region 5-6A standings, just one place out of a state playoff berth.
Central Christian, 2-8 and 1-3 in region, found the going tough in the GAPPS (Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 8-man football league this season. The Crusaders and Coach Paul Frantz lost their finale last Friday at Cumming, losing 61-18 to Horizon Christian. Central Christian was fourth in the Region 2-2A standings, one spot out of the playoffs.
If the local teams advance to the second round of the playoffs, below are the potential opponents.
East Coweta would face the winner of Hillgrove and Grayson in the 7A second round.
Northgate gets the winner of Statesboro and Dutchtown in the 5A second round.
Trinity Christian takes on the winner of Shaw and Perry in the 4A second round.
And Heritage School would travel to No. 1-ranked John Milledge Academy.
LAST WEEK’S SCORES – Nov. 4
East Coweta 17, Pebblebrook 14
Newnan 31, New Manchester 6
Northgate 42, Drew 7
Trinity Christian 47, Fayette County 13
Brookstone 38, Heritage School 7
Horizon Christian 61, Central Christian 18
THIS WEEK’S GAMES – Nov. 11-12
Friday
Trinity Christian at Wayne County, 7:30 pm – GHSA 4A 1st Round
Lakeview Academy at Heritage School, 7:30 pm – GIAA 3A 1st Round
Saturday
East Coweta at Camden County, 6:30 pm – GHSA 7A 1st Round
Arabia Mountain at Northgate, 7:30 pm – GHSA 5A 1st Round
