It was a great start to the playoffs with plenty of upsets in the first round and teams making their mark in the quest for a state championship. Here is who stood out the most after round one with everything on the line.
Kell ATH Brayden Rouse - Call it the “flu” game. It was a Michael Jordan-esque performance from Rouse who did all he could to lead his team to a first-round victory over Hiram while being sick. Rouse finished with five catches for 108 yards and a touchdown on offense. Defensively, he had 14 tackles including four solo tackles. Rouse recently earned a four-star from 247sports and rightfully so. He has been incredible this season for the Longhorns and every game he has made his impact felt on both sides of the ball. Rouse has established himself as a superstar and you better take him into account when preparing for the Kell Longhorns.
Valdosta QB Todd Robinson - Robinson put together a masterful performance on the road against Walton. He came into the game not 100% which affected his ability to be a dynamic player in the run game, but it didn’t matter. Robinson showed he could be an elite passer and went for 414 passing yards and five touchdowns on a 67.5% completion percentage. The 414 passing yards and five touchdowns were career-highs. One of his best throws of the night came on an 80-yard touchdown to Prince Jean on the first series for Valdosta. It was beautifully thrown over the linebackers and right before the safety came to allow Jean to use his breakaway speed for the touchdown. Robinson has set career highs in passing yards, completions, completion percentage, and touchdowns this season. He’s proven why he should be in strong consideration for Mr. Georgia this year.
Rome QB Aidan McPherson - The sophomore quarterback has continued to get better each game for the Wolves. McPherson has led Rome to eight consecutive wins with an offense averaging 48 points during that span. He delivered again in a 49-17 victory over Glynn Academy. McPherson went 8-12 for 230 yards and four touchdowns. He also showed his ability in the run game rushing for 59 yards and two touchdowns. The most impressive part is that he is keeping defenses honest with his dual-threat ability this season. With Tennessee commit Jaedon Harmon lined up in the backfield, the attention is going to go to him. McPherson is giving defenses another thing to think about when he is back there if they don’t account for him. Through the air, McPherson has been consistent and continues to churn out great performances.
Sequoyah RB Will Rajecki - It’s been an incredible season for the junior running back as he continues to pay dividends for his team. On Friday night against Gainesville, he had 32 carries for a career-high 212 yards and five touchdowns. Rajecki now has eight games this season with over 100 rushing yards and has rushed for a touchdown in every game except one. In the final game of the regular season against Creekview, he surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Rajecki had one of his best games of the season catching the ball against Pope finishing with four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. Colleges are liking what they are seeing from the junior running back as well. Rajecki picked up his first D1 offer this past weekend from Georgia Southern. He’s been a key piece of the offense and why Sequoyah is 10-1 in 2024.
Coffee RB Tyrese Woodgett - The senior running back has been a key part of the Trojans’ offense this season and continues to put together great performances. Friday marked the second time this season he rushed for 200+ yards and the fifth time he’s finished with two rushing touchdowns or more. In a 31-7 win over Jackson County, Woodgett finished with 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 8.7 yards per carry. It brings his season total to 1,268 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s set career highs this year in rushing yards, yards per game, touchdowns, and in the receiving category. If the Trojans want to get back to the state championship, they are going to have to lean on their bell-cow running back.
Norcross WR Jahsaun “Sauce” Clarke – Clarke has been a featured member on the top performances list this season. He is Mr. Do It All. In a 37-27 win over Lambert, Clarke had five catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also had four carries for 45 yards and a touchdown. He’s been the leading receiver for Norcross this season leading the team in catches (45), receiving yards (779), and yards per game (77.9). He is tied for the most touchdowns with Jamari Harold at seven. I think what has been incredible about his season is that Norcross has asked him to do so many things and he has flourished every time his number has been called. In a win against Duluth earlier this season, starting quarterback Dillon Muhammad went out and Clarke had to fill in at quarterback. He went 2-2 for two touchdowns. In that same game, he had 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Clarke has also been a threat in the return game this season. Wherever you look, he is constantly making plays for his team to help them secure wins. It’s been a breakout year for the senior.
Houston County WR Isaiah Mitchell - Mitchell simply couldn’t be stopped on Friday in a shootout 69-48 win over Clarke Central. He finished with 13 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, he added two touchdowns and even threw a touchdown pass. The Cincinnati commit has had a breakout season for Houston County and has seen his stock rise. I got a chance to see a glimpse of it in the first game of the season against Alpharetta. In that win, Mitchell had five catches for 112 yards and also threw a touchdown pass. He now has 1,392 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns this season for the Bears. Mitchell is now a three-star prospect and committed to Cincinnati in November. He’s a great story of hard work and determination and taking advantage of opportunities, which has led him to play D1 football.
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