What may be the most impressive stat from last week’s first round action is that every single No. 1 seed in all six non-Class A classifications advanced. It has been many, many years since every region champion advanced to the second round (there was no way to know exactly how far back the streak went because not all past brackets were available).
Northeast Georgia area No. 1 seeds Mill Creek, Buford, Jefferson, and Rabun County swept through by a 38-point average margin of victory. Gaining home field advantage in the first round proved huge all over the state as just 13 No. 3 seeds in all classifications pulled off upsets -- though West Hall proved one of those teams. (NOTE: Click here for a video feature on the Spartans' historic postseason charge.)
Several No. 1 seeds could be pushed this week, however, thanks to some juicy, mouth-watering matchups on tap in the second round. Mill Creek, Buford, Jefferson, and Rabun County all will be favored at home to advance with Commerce in Class A Public a favorite as well as its opens its 2016 playoffs at home in the Sweet 16 after a bye week.
Meanwhile, West Hall in Class AAAA and Banks County in Class AA will face supreme road tests in the second round. The Spartans travel to No. 2 Thomson (a team that handed Jefferson its only loss of the season) while the Leopards travel to Savannah to take on No. 1 Benedictine, which won the 2014 Class AA state title.
For a look at all of the night's playoff contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 18
(Games listed by higher classification and in alphabetical order of visiting team)
Class AAAAAAA
There were some stunning outcomes last week, none more so than Region 1 No. 2 seed Lowndes’ ridiculous 92-61 -- yes, 92-61 -- win over Hillgrove. That moved the Vikings into the No. 1 offensive team in AAAAAAA (516 points, 46.9 points per game). However, they face unbeaten Norcross, which is fifth in defense allowing just 10.7 ppg on the season, in the second round. Something is sure to give there. ... No. 1-ranked Grayson and defending state champ Colquitt County are each just one win from a titanic showdown in the quarterfinals. ... Regions 4 and 7 each had three teams move through with two teams each from Regions 1, 3, 6, and 8 advancing. ... Despite some of the best defenses in the state in AAAAAAA, the offenses broke loose last week. A dozen teams scored 35 or more points in the first round. But, eight of the top 10 defensive teams also advanced to the second round.
CHEROKEE at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- CHEROKEE (7-4, Region 4, No. 2): Defeated Wheeler 45-21 in the first round
-- MILL CREEK (11-0, Region 6, No. 1): Defeated Newton 41-0 in first round
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 1-1. Mill Creek won 28-0 in the last meeting in 2011 in Hoschton. ... The win for Cherokee last week was its first playoff win since 2007. It will be a tough matchup for the Warriors. Mill Creek is second in AAAAAAA in scoring (439, 39.99 ppg) and 3rd in defense (96, 8.7 ppg). ... The key matchup could be the Mill Creek offense vs. the Warriors defense. Cherokee was allowing 30 ppg through the first 8 games but has improved, yielding just 23 ppg over its last three games, including just 20 to No. 3 Roswell. ... It was the fourth shutout of the season for the Hawks, who have yielded 7 points or less six times. Cherokee is averaging 34 ppg.
Class AAAAA
As with AAAAAAA, Class AAAAA had just two No. 3 seeds advance, as the home teams went 14-2 in the first round. However, Regions 4, 7, and 8 each punched three teams into the second round. ... Ware County, the only team from Region 2 to advance, is a team to track. The Gators (7-3) have won 10 or more games for six straight seasons and advanced to the semifinals in 2015. The Gators defense against a quick, athletic Loganville offense should be a fun matchup. ... Woodland-Stockbridge is having its best season ever with most wins in school history and its first-ever playoff win last week. The Wolfpack has a tough matchup this week with Grady, which is 4th in both offense and defense in AAAAA. Grady also is in the midst of its best season since 2010.
JONES COUNTY at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- JONES COUNTY (7-4, Region 4, No. 3): Defeated Wayne County 39-15 in the first round
-- BUFORD (10-1, Region 8, No. 1): Defeated North Springs 45-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Jones County is one of the two No. 3 seeds to advance and the Greyhounds have been as good as anyone down the stretch. They have won 6 of 7 with their only loss to No. 1 Stockbridge. ... It should be a favorable matchup for Buford as only Clarke Central and Starr’s Mill have allowed more points amongst remaining teams than Jones County (255, 23.1 ppg). The Wolves are third in scoring (457, 41.5 ppg) in AAAAA. ... Only once (2014) have the Greyhounds advanced past the second round. Buford has won 17 straight second round games. ... The Wolves' Anthony Grant had a big game last week with 174 yards and 3 TDs on just 13 carries.
Class AAAA
Regions 2 and 6 each pushed three teams into the second round. Only two area teams in AAAA -- Jefferson and West Hall -- advanced. ... However, Class AAAA was the one classification where the underdogs staged some upsets with four No. 3 seeds breaking through, including West Hall. But, the eight No. 1 seeds all advanced and almost all will be heavy favorites, led by Cartersville, which put 77 on Chestatee behind No. 1 QB prospect Trevor Lawrence, who had seven TD passes in the first half alone. ... The Hurricanes will face an interesting test in the second round against Burke County. Cartersville is second in AAAA in both offense and defense while Burke is fourth in offense and fifth in defense. ... If the Hurricanes get past the Bears then Woodward Academy and the classification’s stingiest defense could await in the quarterfinals. ... Region 8 champ Jefferson will be pulling for another Sandy Creek upset of Region 1 champ Cairo on Friday. The Dragons would automatically get another home playoff game if the Patriots can slow down the Syrupmakers. If both advance next week’s venue would be determined by coin toss.
WEST HALL at THOMSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Thomson
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- WEST HALL (7-4, Region 7, No. 3): Defeated Troup 24-21 in the first round
-- THOMSON (11-0, Region 3, No. 1): Defeated Americus-Sumter 57-23 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Spartans got that elusive playoff win last week. It was their first postseason victory since 2000 with an impressive upset on the road. Getting that second one is going to be a supreme challenge. ... The Bulldogs have been ranked in the top 2 all season and lead AAAA in scoring (543, 49.3 ppg) and are fourth in defense (109, 9.9 ppg). West Hall is averaging 23 ppg and yielding 21 ppg and they have scored the fewest points of any team left in the playoffs. ... The Spartans will need another big game from the Favorite brothers (AJ and Ashun) and will have to play a flawless game on offense and special teams. Thomson has scored almost a dozen non-offensive touchdowns on the season. ... West Hall will have to find a way to stop the Bulldogs’ Michael Thomas, who has 1,745 yards and 19 TDs rushing on the season. Thomson is averaging 323.8 ypg on the ground. ... The Thomson defense has forced 24 turnovers. The West Hall defense has forced 16 turnovers, including five interceptions last week.
WEST LAURENS at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- WEST LAURENS (7-4, Region 2, No. 2): Defeated Luella 35-14 in the first round
-- JEFFERSON (10-1, Region 8, No. 1): Defeated Pickens 59-21 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Dragons are looking for their first quarterfinals appearance since 2014 and have a favorable matchup against the Raiders, who also are trying to get to their first quarterfinals since 2014. ... Jefferson is eighth in AAAA in both offense and defense. The Raiders are 7th in defense but only West Hall has scored fewer points of the teams left in the playoffs (284, 25.8 ppg). However, after averaging just 23 ppg during their first nine games the Raiders have averaged 38.5 ppg in their last two games. ... A rested Colby Wood had a huge game for the Dragons last week with 219 yards and 3 TDs rushing, most of that coming in the first half. ... If the Dragons can advance, they will earn a trip back to the Georgia Dome the rest of the way. They could face three of the top five ranked teams in the final three rounds.
Class AA
Like the rest of the classifications, the top seeds dominated with just three No. 3 seeds advancing. However, it may be the most balanced of all the classifications after the first round with only Region 7 moving three teams through. Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 all split four first round meetings. ... No. 1 Benedictine has been the odds-on favorite all season to win the state title and opened with a dominating win in the first round. Callaway and Rabun County join Benedictine as the only undefeated teams left in AA. ... No. 4 Rabun County faces a tough draw and could face a ranked team in every round the rest of the way, barring an upset. The Wildcats have No. 7 Vidalia Friday night and could see No. 2 Fitzgerald in the quarterfinals, and either No. 8 Jefferson County or No. 10 Washington County in the semifinals, and most likely No. 1 Benedictine in the finals, if they make it to the Georgia Dome. ... No. 9 Dublin was the only ranked team not to advance to the second round but was knocked off by Fitzgerald in the first round.
BANKS COUNTY at BENEDICTINE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Savannah Memorial Stadium, Savannah
-- BANKS COUNTY (7-4, Region 8-AA No. 2): Advanced with a win over KIPP by forfeit in the first round
-- BENEDICTINE (11-0, Region 2, No. 1): Defeated Glenn Hills 58-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It may not have come the way they anticipated but the Leopards get credit for a win with the forfeit, which makes it the first-ever playoff win in program history. Now they will look to find a way to knock off the preseason favorite to win the AA title. ... The Cadets are 3rd in scoring (463, 42 ppg) and 2nd in defense (88, 8.0 ppg) in AA. They have scored 42 or more in six straight games and have yielded 7 points or less in four straight games with two shutouts. ... Banks County won four straight down the stretch to earn the No. 2 seed and averaged 33.5 ppg on offense and allowed just 13.2 ppg. The Leopards will need to control the ball to keep it away from the potent Cadet offense. ... Turnovers, or lack thereof, will be critical. The Benedictine defense has forced 18 fumbles to go with 5 interceptions. Banks County has turned the ball over just 15 times (1.5 tpg) on the season so something will have to give. ... Benedictine is 19-1 in its last 20 home games going back to its 2014 title season. Banks County has won three straight road games.
VIDALIA at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank McClure Stadium, Tiger
-- VIDALIA (9-2, Region 2, No. 2): Defeated Laney 30-13 in the first round
-- RABUN COUNTY (10-0, Region 8, No. 1): Defeated BEST Academy 55-20 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Wildcats are the highest scoring team (485, 48.5 ppg) with the stingiest defense (81, 8.1 ppg) in AA. But, Vidalia, which is in the second round for a fifth straight season, will be their toughest challenge of the season. ... The Indians have won six straight and have outscored the opposition 206-64. Their last loss was to No. 1 Benedictine (27-6). ... Rabun County led just 26-20 last week before exploding for a 29-point fourth quarter to pull away. RB Cal Drummond had a career game with 306 yards and 4 TDs rushing last week. QB Bailey Fisher rushed for 3 TDs and passes for 175 yards and 1 TD to 7 different receivers.
Class A Public
Only two lower seeded teams -- Turner County and Irwin County -- advanced in the first round. ... Offense will drive this classification with the top nine scoring teams all advancing. Three matchups pit top nine offenses against each other. Clinch County (third; 431, 43.1 ppg) and Mitchell County (fifth; 420, 38.1 ppg) square off in Homerville. Commerce (seventh; 403, 40.3 ppg) and Taylor County (second; 464, 42.1 ppg) meet in Commerce, and the top scoring team in Macon County (480, 48.0 ppg) plays host to Turner County (ninth; 379, 34.4 ppg) in Montezuma. ... Commerce faces a tough quadrant. After Taylor County the Tigers could meet Clinch County in the quarterfinals. However, if they can past Clinch, which would be a road game, they have a favorable road to the Georgia Dome. ... Commerce would get home field the rest of the way if Clinch County, Pelham, and McIntosh County Academy all lose on Friday.
TAYLOR COUNTY at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 8 p.m.
-- WHERE: Ray Lamb Stadium, Commerce
-- TAYLOR COUNTY (10-1, Region 4, No. 10): Defeated Trion 34-31 in the first round
-- COMMERCE (8-2, Region 8, No. 7): Bye in first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Don’t let the seedings fool you, the Vikings are among the most explosive teams in Class A. Taylor County is second in points (464, 42.1 ppg) among both Private and Public and has scored 40 or more five times. Their only loss was to No. 1 seed Macon County, 63-27. ... Defensively the Vikings are not in the top 25 in Class A (203, 18.4 ppg) while Commerce is the second best among Public schools (120, 12 ppg) in defense. ... The Tigers are seventh in scoring average (40.3 ppg) and have been impressive down the stretch pummeling two playoff teams in Athens Academy and George Walton for 84 points and nearly 900 yards rushing behind QB Lane Sorrow and Cole Chancey. ... Commerce also is looking to make the quarterfinals for the third straight season. The Vikings have not advanced past the second round since 1998.
