Cedar Grove’s Jesse Reverio (4) reaches for pass during the Saints’ 41-25 Class 3A playoff win over Westside-Macon last Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The No. 3 ranked Cedar Grove Saints and Westminster Wildcats meet for the first time this year in the Class 3A state playoff semifinals on Friday at 7:30 pm at James R. Hallford Stadium in Clarkston despite being members of Region 4-3A.

The pair along with No. 2 ranked Blessed Trinity make up a trio of Region 4-3A teams to reach the semifinals along with No. 1 ranked Calhoun and the winner on Friday assures the region of at least one team in the Class 3A championship game at the Georgia Dome on Friday, December 11 at 4:30 pm.

Cedar Grove and Westminster did not meet in the regular season as they were on opposite sides of the region and did not play in a crossover game. Against common opponents all within in the region the Saints were 3-0-1 and the Wildcats were 3-1-0.

The Saints (11-1-1) are coming off an impressive 41-25 victory over Westside-Macon (9-4) to make their third Final Four in school history. Cedar Grove last made the semifinals in 1991 when they went on to finish as the Class AA state runner-up to Cartersville (28-19) and also went to the semifinals in 1976 where the fell in a tough 7-0 battle with Commerce.

Cedar Grove’s third round victory was led by junior quarterback Jelani Woods (111-173-5, 1,883 yards, 20 TDs) who threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns including scoring passes of 36 yards to running back Labron Morris on a broken play due to defensive pressure on Woods and a 42 yard catch and run with freshman receiver Jadon Haselwood (9-237 yards, 4 TDs). Woods also scored via his feet on a three-yard keeper.

Morris finished the night with 115 yards rushing on 16 carries to improve his season totals to 1,676 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. Tre’ Shaw (92-670 yards rushing, 10 TDs) is another big strike weapon for the Saints heading into the collision with Westminster.

Preseason All-State linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse (77 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 15 TFL) was in on 13 tackles including 2 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss in the victory over Westside. Mbem-Bosse also has one fumble return and one interception return for touchdowns this season.

Cedar Grove defensive linemen Antwaun Jackson (52) and Natori Johnson (72) put pressure on the Westside-Macon quarterback during the Saints’ 41-25 Class 3A playoff victory last Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Senior Army All-American defensive lineman Antwaun Jackson (93 tackles, 10 sacks, 50 TFL) collected 5 tackles, including 3 for a loss and 0.5 sack, and returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown. Senior Adrian Fendell (58 tackles, 8 sacks, 20 TFL, 5 FC, 2 FR) caused the fumble that Jackson returned for the score after returning a fumble 64 yards for touchdown just second earlier.

Westminster started the season 3-4, but has won six consecutive games since falling to No. 2 Blessed Trinity 24-10 on October 16 to reach the Class 3A semifinal matchup with Cedar Grove.

The Wildcats, the No. 3 seed from 4-3A, has dispatched a pair of 11-2 No. 1 seeds Callaway (49-28) and Adairsville (51-21) while winning all three playoff games on the road.

Quarterback Rankin Woley (58-101-2, 711 yards, 8 TDs) threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and also returned an interception 31 yards for a score as the Wildcats pulled away from an early 7-7 tie with Adairsville to take a 31-7 lead at the half.

Junior running back Zay Malcome (161-1,224, 13 TDs) rushed for 154 yards on 13 carries and senior running back Chase Williams added two touchdowns and 115 yards on the ground in the victory.

Williams leads the Westminster defense from his outside linebacker spot with 76 tackles (3 sacks, 10 TFL, 3 PBU) along with senior defensive end Tyler Gillikin (72 tackles, 6 sacks, 20 TFL). Woley has five interceptions to go with 55 tackles on the defensive side of the football for the Wildcats.

Tickets for the semifinal game are $15 at the gate.