Semifinal preview: Class 4A

by Ricky Dimon,

Griffin vs. Tucker: Griffin opened the Class 4A state playoffs with a 34-0 blowout of Glenn Hills. The Bears followed that up with a narrow 34-30 road win over Brunswick and 10-7 home victory at the expense of Southwest DeKalb. Following a 3-3 start featuring losses to Dunwoody, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro and North Clayton, Griffin has since won seven in a row. Tucker took care of Whitewater and Hillgrove at home in Rounds 1 and 2 before shocking top-ranked Westside-Macon 31-20 on the road in quarterfinal action. The Tigers, at 12-1, are enjoying an eight-game winning streak since getting erased by Marist 38-0. Will a Bears defense that has posted three shutouts and held five opponents to seven points or less be able to slow down Tucker running back Jonathan Davis and flanker Drayton Calhoun? Both Griffin and Tucker are No. 2 seeds (Tucker in Region 6 and Griffin in Region 4).

Rome vs. Marist: Rome had to pull out a 16-8 defensive battle against Apalachee in order to pack its bags as playoff visitors. And what road warriors the Wolves have been! They stunned Sandy Creek 19-13 in Round 2 and booked their spot in the semifinals with a 41-21 drubbing of Statesboro. Rome has been able to right the ship after a crushing 27-6 loss to Sprayberry in the Region 7 championship game on Nov. 7. Marist has found different ways to prevail in all three of its home playoff games en route to the semifinals. The War Eagles eased past Northgate 42-0 in Round 1, beat Sequoyah 28-12 in a game that was closer than the score suggested, and survived a furious fourth-quarter rally to subdue Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 34-33 in the quarterfinals. Marist, which again holds home-field advantage as a No. 1 seed, lost its season-opener to St. Pius but went undefeated in region play and has won 12 straight overall.

Ricky Dimon can be reached at rdimon@scoreatl.com.