Cedar Grove’s Dennis Bell returns an interception for a touchdown against first round opponent Union County. The Saints travel to face No. 5 ranked Crisp County for a berth in the Class 3A championship game. (File photo by Mark Brock)

The No. 6 ranked Cedar Grove Saints hit the road for the third consecutive week as they travel to Cordele to take on the No. 5 ranked Crisp County Cougars in the Class 3A State Playoffs Semifinals on Friday at 7:30 pm.

The Saints went on the road to beat No. 1 seeds Jenkins (28-3) and Calhoun (47-21) after a home victory against Union County (63-17) to start the 2016 playoffs.

A tall task is in order as the Saints (11-2) take on the undefeated Cougars (13-0) on their home field. Crisp County knocked off Islands (42-0), Lovett (30-29) and Pierce County (56-21), all at home, to reach the semifinals.

In the 47-21 victory over No. 4 Calhoun, Saints quarterback Jelani Woods accounted for five touchdowns (2 rushing, 3 passing) to lead the Saints. Woods has thrown for 2,172 yards (140-201) with 24 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions on the season.

His top two targets are sophomore wide receivers Jadon Haselwood (42 receptions, 703 yards, 10 TDs) and Dennis Bell (27 receptions, 642 yards, 7 TDs).

Senior Grant Walker (188 carries, 1,664 yards, 15 TDs) leads the ground attack and has rushed for 150 yards or more in four consecutive games.

A pair of sophomores leads the Cougar defense in linebacker Ahdarrious Gee (187 tackles, 23 TFL) and sophomore strong safety Sammie Robinson (102 tackles, 6 TFL). Senior defensive end Markaviest Bryant (91 tackles, 33.5 TFL, 15.5 sacks) anchors the front of the defense.

Junior linebackers Rakim Hardrick (96 tackles, 13 TFL0 and Quay Walker (98 tackles, 8 sacks) complete the solid linebacking corps.

Sophomores Patrick Felton (83-141, 1,374 yards, 15 TDs, 3 INT) and running back Sammie Robinson (172 carries, 1,320 yards, 16 TDs) give the Cougars a potent offensive punch. Felton looks to senior wide receivers Tj Ming (34 receptions, 524 yards, 4 TDs) and Brandon Dowdell (37 receptions, 514 yards, 4 TDs) when he goes to the air.

Cedar Grove will counter with seniors linebacker Dezmond Harris (95 tackles, 14 TFL, 3.5 sacks), defensive end DeAngelo Malone (90 tackles, 31 TFL, 11.5 sacks) and senior athlete/defensive back Tre’ Shaw (56 tackles, 13 TFL, 4 sacks).

Junior defensive end Roderic Forts (53 tackles, 25 TFL, 5.5 sacks) and senior defensive lineman Justin Shaffer (35 tackles, 13 TFL, 2.5 sacks) solidify the defensive front.

The Saints are making their second consecutive semifinal appearance and looking to reach the state finals for the second time, the last coming in 1991.

Tucker quarterback Xavier Shephard wants to lead the Tigers back to the Georgia Dome to finish the season where it started. Tucker faces No. 5 ranked Northside-Warner Robins at Hallford Stadium with the state championship berth on the line. (File photo by Mark Brock)

CLASS 6A – Northside-Warner Robins vs. Tucker
The No. 4 ranked Tucker Tigers renew their exciting playoff series with the No. 5 ranked Northside-Warner Robins Eagles as they host the game for the first time in a 7:30 pm affair at Hallford Stadium.

Northside leads the series 2-1, but the three games were decided by a total of seven points. The Eagles won the first semifinal meeting by rallying from a 28-14 deficit for a 31-28 victory at the Georgia Dome in 2007. Tucker evened the series at 1-1 with a 98-yard fumble return for a 17-16 win at Warner Robins in 2011.

The third game was a 23-20 thriller with Northside scoring in the waning moments to advance to the 2012 semifinals.

Senior quarterback Tobias Oliver fuels the Eagle offense with 1,535 yards passing (121-195, 16 TDs, 5 INT) and 1,361 yards rushing (15 TDs). He is joined in the backfield by senior Desean Dinkins (818 yards rushing, 9 TDs) and sophomore Daniel Neal (503 yards rushing, 7 TDs).

Oliver looks to two senior wide receivers when he goes to the passing game led by Jaylen Sandifer (40 receptions, 550 yards, 3 TDs) and Trayvon Willis (22 receptions, 325 yards, 3 TDs).

Senior defensive lineman Aaron Sterling leads the charge for the Tiger defense which is allowing just 207 yards per game. Sterling has team leading 67 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks to go along with an interception and a fumble caused. Fellow senior Brian Strozier has 47 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks to go with a fumble caused and a fumble recovery.

The junior linebacking duo of Gerry Vaughn (66 tackles, 4 TFL) and Tre Leslie (64 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 TFL, 2 fumbles caused, 2 fumble recoveries) and junior defensive back Jalen Jefferson (63 tackles, 2 INT) are very active on defense as well.
The Tigers prolific ground attack (3,368 yards on the season) is led by junior Taurean Taylor (1,321 yards, 16 TDs) and senior Chris Broadwater (1,023, 21 TDs) who has three touchdowns in each of the last two playoff games.

Senior quarterback Xavier Shephard (1,632 yards passing, 15 TDs) and junior receiver Josh Vann (1,078 yards receiving, 11 TDs) have connected for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Northside’s defense is led by senior defensive back Isaiah Nelson (91 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT) and senior linebacker Kam Burnett (88 tackles, 17 TFL). Senior free safety Tae Daley (78 tackles, 4 TFL, 4 INT) and senior defensive lineman Trashon Owens (62 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 TFL) are also big contributors to the Eagle defense.

Tucker is in its seventh semifinal since 2003 and is 3-3 in the first six, including three trips to the state championship round including titles in 2008 and 2011.

DCSD FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
CLASS 6A
HALLFORD STADIUM
Northside-Warner Robins (11-2) vs. Tucker (12-1), 7:30 PM

CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove (11-2) at Crisp Co. (13-0), 7:30 pm