Five Reasons Tucker High Will Win

Are you concerned about 's chances of beating Griffin Friday night and advancing in the Class AAAA football playoffs?

Don't be.

Here are five reasons why the Tigers can — and will — win:

1. Who Are You Gonna Stop? The Tigers score every which way imaginable. Tucker averages 48 points per game — that's a lot of touchdowns scored by a lot of different players. Dallas Rivers and Yusuf Minor had 31 touchdowns between them during the regular season. Tucker has too many weapons.

2. The Other Side of the Ball: Don't let Tucker's gaudy offensive numbers sway you into believing it doesn't focus as much on the D. Jerry Shippy (42 tackles, eight tackles for losses) and Josh Dawson (six sacks) lead a defense that allows just nine points per game and doesn't have to spend much time on the field because it dominates opponents so much. And another thing, the Tigers have scored eight defensive touchdowns.

3. No Place Like Home: According to numbers compiled by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, Tucker is 15-2 in the playoffs in 1995 at Adams Stadium.

4. Can We Have Another? The Tigers won the state title in 2008 and played in the semifinals last year. They seem poised to make another run at it this year.

5. The Man In Charge: Franklin Stephens is 60-6 in his five seasons as Tucker's head coach. Few can boast of numbers like that.

FOOTBALL ON PATCH

Check back with Tucker Patch later this week for more coverage of the high school football playoffs.

Live Blog: Follow Friday's action on our live blog of the playoffs, including Tucker High.

Score Updates: Want a score? Have a score? Check out our list of playoff scores, compiled from all over Atlanta and Georgia.