In this week’s top performers, we saw some familiar names make the list and also some newcomers who made their presence felt. Very rarely do you see me include two receivers from the same team on a list but I had to this week after the performances of Cambridge receivers who have surprised a lot of people with their 6-0 start to the year.
Lee County DB Jacori White- Jacori White intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown in a victory against rival Thomas County Central. White has been a ballhawk this season and leads the team in interceptions. He also has three pass deflections to go along with 21 tackles in 2024. Lee County ended Thomas County Central’s 20-game winning streak overall and 25-game streak in the regular season in their region opener.
Winder-Barrow RB Demetrius Dowdy- He rushed for 347 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries in a 57-43 victory against Habersham Central. Dowdy averaged 12.4 yards per carry in the win. He is currently the second-leading rusher in the state with 1,046 rushing yards. Dowdy also has 13 rushing touchdowns. It’s been a career year for the junior tailback who has already surpassed his totals from 2023 where he ran for 1,013 rushing yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, he is averaging 174.3 yards per game and has also surpassed his career-long run of 47 yards to 51 this season. Dowdy has led Winder-Barrow to a 4-2 record.
North Oconee QB Harrison Faulkner- Harrison Faulkner was 14-of-19 passing for 267 yards and five touchdowns. He threw three touchdowns in the first quarter as North Oconee took a 28-0 lead. Faulkner has been productive throughout this season for the Titans and has led North Oconee to a 6-0 record and two region wins. Each game he has gotten better and continues to look more comfortable in the offense as the season goes on. I was impressed with Faulkner when I watched his tape and saw him in person with his poise and command of the offense. North Oconee has something special at the QB position and I believe the Titans are title contenders in 4A and have as good a chance as any with Faulkner leading them.
Cambridge WR Craig Dandridge- Dandridge finished with four catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Bears in receiving yards and touchdowns this season. He has 23 catches for 580 yards and six touchdowns and is on pace for a 1,000-yard season and ten touchdowns and has been giving defenses fits all season long. He has great ball skills and an uncanny ability to catch the ball in traffic and make plays. He is averaging 97 yards per game and has been very successful against defenses this season. Cambridge has something special at the wide receiver position and with an innovative mind at the helm in head coach Tyler Jones, the sky’s the limit for this offense.
Cambridge WR Hudson Cocchiara- Another potent weapon on offense for Cambridge. Cocchiara finished with 10 catches for 135 yards this past week. He is a vastly underrated receiver in the state with a massive upside. Cocchiara is only a junior, but has gotten bigger, faster, and stronger when last seen at Georgia Elite Classic. A thing that stands out is his explosiveness in the open field and how he makes defenses pay with his YAC (yards after catch). You saw a lot of that in the victory against East Coweta. Cocchiara has 27 catches for 493 yards and three touchdowns. He’s one of the players colleges are going to regret not offering when he goes on to the next level.
Peach County QB DJ Hudson- For the second week in a row, DJ Hudson makes the top performers list. Hudson was 14-22 for 166 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-36 victory against Westover handing them their first loss of the season. Hudson also rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Hudson continues to impress week in and week out and is cementing Peach County as a true contender in 3A capable of a deep playoff run.
Sumter County RB Demontae Reeves- Reeves rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries against Jordan. Reeves also made his presence felt on special teams returning a punt for a touchdown. This season he has rushed for 370 yards and seven touchdowns and has helped lead Sumter County to a 6-0 record.
Fannin County ATH Carson Callihan- Callihan rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns and had four receptions for 77 yards. For the season he has rushed for 748 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is also the second-leading receiver with 12 catches for 255 receiving yards and a touchdown. He’s been a do-it-all player for Fannin County this season.
Manchester LB Darius Favors- Favors was valuable on both sides of the field for the Blue Devils in their dominant 34-7 win against Trion. He rushed for 269 yards on 10 carries and scored on runs of 73 and 47 yards. He was also all around the football on defense finishing with 10 tackles. On offense, he leads Manchester with 458 rushing yards and five touchdowns. On defense he had one of his best games of the season against Trion.
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