Thursday March 28th, 2024 6:07PM
5:31PM ( 36 minutes ago ) News Alert

Playoff previews: Area teams face tough matchups in Elite 8 quest

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

The first round of the state playoffs proved an up-and-down affair for northeast Georgia programs as nine of 18 teams in action advanced.

There is plenty of quality remaining amongst area representatives. Region champions North Gwinnett (6-AAAAAAA), Buford (8-AAAAA), and Rabun County (8-AA) all moved on, while No. 2 seeds Mill Creek (6-AAAAAAA), Winder-Barrow (8-AAAAAA), Flowery Branch (8-AAAAA), Jefferson (8-AAAA), and Dawson County (7-AAA) also advanced.

East Hall, the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAA, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the state, knocking off Region 8-AAA champ Morgan County. Only three region champions statewide in all seven classifications failed to advance.

However, every northeast Georgia team faces a huge challenge in the second round as six teams hit the road with two teams taking on defending state champions. North Gwinnett plays host to defending AAAAAAA state champion Grayson and Dawson County travels to defending AAA champion Cedar Grove.

Two teams, Winder-Barrow and East Hall, meanwhile, are looking to make their first quarterfinal appearances since 1993.

For a look at all of the night's second round playoff contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night 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 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 17
(Games listed by highest classification and in alphabetical order of visiting team)

CLASS AAAAAAA
It is a powerhouse Sweet 16 with the top eight offensive teams and 8 of top 10 defensive squads still playing. There are some monster showdowns throughout the bracket, highlighted by defending champion Grayson traveling to North Gwinnett in the only battle of two ranked teams. ... Only eight of the 16 teams remaining advanced to the second round in 2016. Only two of the Final Four teams from 2016 (Grayson and Mill Creek) are still alive. ... The classification had the most No. 1 seeds fall with two as at-large Marietta knocked off Region 2 champ Westlake and Mountain View took down Region 5 champ South Forsyth in the first round. The victory for Mountain View was its first-ever postseason win in program history. ... Regions 3 and 6 proved stout as they each pushed through three teams in the second round. Regions 1, 4, 7, and 8 had two each and Regions 2 and 5 just one each. ... Overall, the higher-seeded home teams were 13-3 in the first round. ... Offensively, Lowndes (596, 55.1 ppg) leads the way, while Marietta has scored the fewest (256, 23.2 ppg) of those left in the field. ... Defensively, Archer has allowed the fewest (105, 9.5 ppg) and Parkview has surrendered the most (319, 29 ppg).

GRAYSON at NORTH GWINNETT
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee
-- GRAYSON (10-1, Region 8, No. 2 seed): Defeated Norcross 31-14 in the first round
-- NORTH GWINNETT (10-1, Region 6, No. 1 seed): Defeated North Forsyth 55-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: North Gwinnett leads the series 2-1. The Bulldogs won the last meeting 35-0 in 2013. It is the third meeting in the second round of the playoffs between the two teams, with each team winning at home in the first two matchups. ... Only undefeated teams Lowndes County, Walton, and Archer have a longer active win streak in AAAAAAA than the Bulldogs, who have won 10 straight since losing to Walton in the season-opener. ... This has all the makings of a classic. Both teams sit in the top five in defense with Grayson second, allowing just 106 points (9.6 ppg) while the Bulldogs are fifth (146, 16.2 ppg). Both are in the top seven in offense with the Bulldogs sixth, averaging 38.7 ppg, and the Rams seventh, averaging 36.2 ppg, so this one could be a defensive battle or an offensive slugfest. ... A key could be the return of Grayson RB Camron Thompson, who missed eight games during the regular season. He rushed for 193 yards last week to complement QB D.J. Irons, who accounted for 244 yards running and passing. ... The X-factor, however may be Sr. Bulldogs QB Jimmy Urzua. He was nearly perfect last week going 10-of-12 passing for a career-high 302 yards and 4 TDs in his first-ever playoff start. ... North Gwinnett is in its first Sweet 16 since making the 2013 finals while defending state champion Grayson is going for its third straight quarterfinals berth.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Marietta (At-large) at Woodstock (R4, S2) winner in the quarterfinals

MILL CREEK at ARCHER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Archer Stadium, Lawrenceville
-- MILL CREEK (8-3, Region 6, No. 2 seed): Defeated West Forsyth 29-14 in the first round
-- ARCHER (11-0, Region 8, No. 1 seed): Defeated Meadowcreek 37-0 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: Mill Creek leads the series 2-1. Archer won 16-13 in Week 4 in Hoschton. ... The loss to the Tigers during the regular season was one of two 3-point losses on the season and the Hawks would love nothing better than to return the favor on the road. That loss snapped Mill Creek’s 28-game regular season win streak. ... Mill Creek has advanced to the semifinals each of the past two seasons but did not face a second round matchup this tough. It should be another defensive battle. ... Archer leads all of AAAAAAA in defense allowing just 105 points (9.5 ppg) while the Hawks are 10th yielding just 15 ppg. ... The Hawks are 11th among the 16 teams remaining in scoring (348, 31.6 ppg), while the Tigers are 13th of 16 teams left (328, 29.8 ppg). ... Mill Creek got its ground game going last week with Uriah Leverette and C.J. Johnson each topping the 100-yard mark. ... Mill Creek is plus-3 on turnover-ratio.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Colquitt County (R1, S3) at Walton (R4, S1) winner in the quarterfinals


CLASS AAAAAA
Like AAAAAAA, the second round will pit some of the classifications best offenses and defenses against each other. Nine of the top 10 defenses are still alive, paced by Mays (105, 9.5 ppg), while eight of the top 10 offenses, led by Evans (503, 45.7 ppg), are still going. ... The best matchup of the second round may be perennial powerhouse Northside-Warner Robins traveling to take on Tucker in a rematch of last year’s semifinal showdown, won by Tucker 22-7 at home. Heritage-Conyers sports the classification’s best QB in Sr. Caleb Pruitt (3,496 yards, 34 TD, 16 INT), and the Patriots are averaging just under 500 yards a game on offense. But they also sport the worst defense still playing (272, 24.7 ppg). They head to Brunswick to take on a Glynn Academy defense that is yielding just 15.9 ppg on defense. ... Nine of the Sweet 16 teams advanced this far in 2016 and and five of the Elite 8 from last season are still alive as well. ... Regions 1 and 3 both moved three teams into the second round while Regions 5, 6, 7, and 8 each sent two. Regions 2 and 4 had just one advance. ... However, all eight region champions advanced and the home teams went 14-2 in the first round. Only Northside-Warner Robins and Heritage managed road wins in the first round.

WINDER-BARROW at HARRISON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Bruce Cobleigh Stadium, Kennesaw
-- WINDER-BARROW (9-2, Region 8, No. 2 seed): Defeated Chattahoochee 36-7 in the first round
-- HARRISON (8-3, Region 6, No. 1 seed): Defeated Alexander 33-28 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... This is new territory for the Bulldoggs, who got their first playoff victory since 1993 last week. But neither team has been past this round in ages. The Hoyas are looking for their first quarterfinal appearance since 2002 while Winder is looking for its first quarterfinals since 1993. ... The key is this one should be which offense will be able to control the game. The Winder defense (247, 22.4 ppg) is 13th and has produced 26 takeaways (2.3 per game) while the Hoyas are 14th in defense (255, 23.1 ppg) of the 16 teams left but are plus-6 in turnover-ratio. ... The Hoyas are fifth in offense (399, 36.2 ppg) in the field but have averaged just 27 ppg since QB Justin Fields was lost for the season after averaging over 44 ppg. They survived last week getting a TD pass from Fields’ replacement, Gavin Hall, in the final minute and then having to hang on in the final moments with a defensive stop. Hall has thrown 4 INTs in three games since taking over. ... The Bulldoggs are 9th of the teams left (340, 30.9 ppg) in offense. Last week Jr. RB Jamar Mack ran for a season-high 211 yards. Sr. QB Brock Landis went over the 2,000-yard mark last week and has 18 TD passes to just 5 INTs on the season.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Heritage-Conyers (R3, S3) at Glynn Academy (R2, S1) winner in the quarterfinals


CLASS AAAAA
Home field advantage was crucial in this classification. Only Class AA (16-0) was tougher for road teams than AAAAA, which saw home teams go 15-1 in the first round. ... Region 4 showed its dominance pushing through three teams in the second round. Regions 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 all had two teams advance while Region 3 had just region champ Starr’s Mill advance. ... The top defensive teams proved that they will decide who advances. Nine of the top 10 and 10 of the top 12 defensive teams in AAAAA moved through while only nine of the top 14 offensive teams made it through. Defending champion Rome is No. 1 in offense (560, 50.9 ppg) and tied for 3rd in defense (125, 11.3 ppg). Buford is No. 2 in both areas. ... Perhaps the most interesting second round matchups has Ware County traveling to No. 2 Stockbridge in what should be a hard-hitting defensive struggle. Both defenses are in the top 5. Also, Jones County heads to Wayne County in a battle of top seven defenses. However, Jones County is third in offense. ... Only nine of the 16 teams that made the second round in 2016 made the Sweet 16 in this season. But three of the four semifinalists (Rome, Buford, Stockbridge) from 2016 are still alive.

FLOWERY BRANCH at CARVER-ATLANTA
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Grady Stadium, Atlanta
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (9-2, Region 8, No. 2 seed): Defeated Kell 21-14 in the first round
-- CARVER-ATLANTA (10-1, Region 6, No. 1 seed): Defeated Columbia 36-0 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... It had been a while since either of these teams had won a playoff game. The Falcons got their first postseason win since 2011 and it was the first for Carver since 2007. ... It will be strength vs. strength on both sides of the ball the entire game as two good offenses go against two of the better defenses in AAAAA. The Panthers are averaging 33 ppg while the Branch is averaging 31.1 ppg on offense. Carver is 9th in defense (145, 13.1 ppg) and the Falcons are 10th (161, 14.6 ppg). ... The Panthers are paced by Sr. QB Octavious Battle (2,617 yards, 20 TD, 0 INT) So. RB Jo'Quavious Marks (1,629 yards, 15 TD), and Sr. Auburn-commit WR Quindarius Monday (833 yards, 11 TD). ... The Falcons have been balanced averaging 192 yards rushing and 137 yards passing, paced by Sr. RB Malik Damons, who has 1,305 yards on the season. So. QB Elijah Gainey has thrown for 1,370 yards with 10 TDs but also has thrown 7 INTs. ... The Branch is plus-2 on turnover-ratio including forcing 7 fumbles. The Carver defense has forced 23 takeaways, including 13 INTs.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Jones County (R4, S2) at Wayne County (R2, S1) winner in the quarterfinals

MAYNARD JACKSON at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- MAYNARD JACKSON (9-2, Region 6, No. 2 seed): Defeated Miller Grove 14-0 last week
-- BUFORD (9-1, Region 8, No. 1 seed): Defeated Paulding County 54-23 last week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... The Jaguars already have set a new record for wins in a season and and are in the the playoffs for just the third time. The victory last week was their first-ever playoff win (1-2). Meanwhile, the Wolves are in the playoffs for the 19th consecutive season and are 76-8 in the playoffs during that span. ... 
Both teams are tied for the 4th-longest active win streak in AAAA at 7 straight. It is the longest win streak ever for the Jaguars in team history. ... The Wolves are 2nd in both offense (460, 46.0 ppg) and defense (10.4 ppg). However, the 23 points allowed by the Wolves defense last week was more than the previous six weeks combined (14). ... The Jaguars are 8th in defense (135, 12.2 ppg) but are just 24th overall in offense and 15th out of the 16 teams left (275, 25 ppg). Jackson is led by QB Roderick Hammond, who thrown for 1,650 yards and 15 touchdowns. Marquis Colzie is his favorite target (42 rec., 805 yards, 12 TD). ... According Georgia High School Football Daily, Buford, ranked No. 2, has not lost to an unranked opponent since 2004 (Central Gwinnett), nor one from the same classification since 1998 (Jefferson). 
-- WINNER PLAYS: Ware County (R2, S2) at Stockbridge (R4, S1) winner in the quarterfinals
 

CLASS AAAA
Another classification that saw all 8 region champs advance and the home teams were 14-2 in the first round. Only Baldwin and Troup managed upsets in the first round. ... It also will see several juicy matchups as 8 of the top 10 defenses and 10 of top 12 offenses advancing. Ridgeland leads the defenses (84, 7.6 ppg) while St. Pius has surrendered the most (291, 26.4 ppg). No. 1 and two-time defending champ Cartersville (557, 50.6 ppg) paces the offenses while West Laurens has scored the fewest (212, 19.2 ppg) of the Sweet 16 teams. ... Regions 3 and 5 sent three teams into the second with Regions 1, 2, 7, and 8 sending two each. Regions 4 and 6 each had just one team move on.

JEFFERSON at RIDGELAND
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Ridgeland Stadium, Rossville
-- JEFFERSON (9-2, Region 8, No. 2 seed): Defeated White County 29-13 in the first round
-- RIDGELAND (11-0, Region 6, No. 1 seed): Defeated Chapel Hill 63-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... Jefferson ran its first round win streak to six last week but faces its sternest test of the season this week. The Panthers are a complete team. They are second in scoring (48.5 ppg) and are the stingiest defensive team (84, 7.6 ppg) in AAAA. ... Jefferson is 11th in scoring (381, 34.6 ppg) and 9th in defense (166, 15 ppg). The Dragons are led by Colby Wood, who ran for 148 yards and 2 TDs and caught a TD pass as well last week. The key may be Sr. QB Bryce Moore (1,734 yards, 15 TD, 4 INT) and if he can keep the Panthers defense honest in the passing game. ... The Panthers are a punishing rushing team averaging right at 300 yards a game behind Markeith Montgomery , who has 1,012 yards on the season, and Jalyn Shelton, who is just under 1,000 yards on the season. ... Jefferson is trying to make its fourth quarterfinals in the past five seasons. The Dragons made the semifinals in 2016. ... Ridgeland has not advanced past the second round since advancing to the AAAA championship game in 2012, losing to Sandy Creek in the finals. ... The Jefferson defense has forced 15 turnovers, including 12 INT, on the season.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Baldwin (R3, S3) at Mary Persons (R2, S1) winner in the quarterfinals


CLASS AAA
East Hall pulled off the biggest upset in the classification knocking off Region 8-AAA champ Morgan County last week. Home teams went 13-3 in the first round but the three losses by higher-seeded teams were the most of any classification in the first round. ... You will need to bring some defense to advance in AAA as 11 of top 13 offenses moved on while just just seven of top 10 defenses made the second round. ... All four 2016 semifinalists advanced last week with Peach County, Cedar Grove, and Greater Atlanta Christian all are in the top five in offense and defense. ... Calhoun is looking for its 10th straight trip to the quarterfinals but faces a Monroe Area team that is fifth in offense and 4th in defense in AAA. The Hurricanes are looking for their first quarterfinal appearance since 2012 and just the fourth time in program history. ... Pike County advanced to the second round for the first time ever but faces a Crisp County squad that is looking for its second straight run to the semifinals. 

DAWSON COUNTY at CEDAR GROVE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Panthersville, Ellenwood
-- RADIO: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- DAWSON COUNTY (8-3, Region 7, No. 2 seed): Defeated Hart County 49-14 in the first round
-- CEDAR GROVE (11-0, Region 5, No. 1 seed): Defeated Adairsville 48-13 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... The Saints are working on a 21-game win streak and have made the semifinals each of the last two seasons and is the defending state champion. ... This will be the toughest challenge of the season for the Tigers, who already have played No. 2 GAC this season. The Saints are 4th in offense (464, 42.1 ppg) and the stingiest defense in AAA having surrendered just 71 points (6.4 ppg). ... The Tigers have been as hot as any team in AAA offensively over the past two months averaging 40.5 ppg, which would put them 5th in AAA. However, they have yielded 235 points (21.2 ppg) on defense. ... Dawson County has a solid duo that could give them a puncher’s chance. Sr. RB SeVaughn Clark (1,676 yards, 154 ypg, 15 TD) rushed for 263 yards and 3 TDs last week. Sr. QB Coey Watson is a dual threat with 1,628 yards passing with 15 TDs and 587 yards rushing and 15 TDs. ... Cedar Grove is led by RB Darrell Neal, QB Xavier Dennis, and Jr. Jadon Haselwood, who is the top Jr. receiver in the nation. According to Georgia High School Football Daily, Dawson County is 0-30 all-time against ranked teams in its classification.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Pike County (R4, S3) at Crisp County (R1, S1) winner in the quarterfinals

EAST HALL at WESTMINSTER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Alfred E. Thompson Stadium, Atlanta
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- EAST HALL (7-4, Region 7, No. 4 seed): Defeated Region 8-AAA champion Morgan County 50-36 in the first round
-- WESTMINSTER (6-5, Region 5, No. 3 seed): Defeated North Murray 37-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two teams. ... The Wildcats have the pedigree with three consecutive playoff runs of making the quarterfinals or better, including winning the 2015 AAA state title. Last week was the Vikings first playoff win since 1993. ... It is the only matchup in any classification that pits a No. 3 seed vs. a No. 4 seed. And, it figures to be a classic matchup of the Vikings high-powered offense and the Wildcats stingy defense. East Hall owns the 3rd-best offense (489, 44.4 ppg) of the 16-team field left, with only Peach County (533) and GAC (527) having scored more. East Hall has scored 42 or more 9 times and 50 or more five times on the season. ... The Wildcats have the 7th-best defense among the remaining field (195, 17.7 ppg) but have yielded just 19 points during a 3-game win streak and just 40 total points (8.0 ppg) over their last five games. ... East Hall Sr. QB Austin Parker (4,026 yards, 44 TDs) solidified his top standing in the state with nearly 500 yards and 6 TDs passing last week against a Bulldogs defense that had allowed just 15 ppg on the season. ... The key will be the Vikings defense, which has allowed the most points of any team left in the field (407, 37 ppg). But after surrendering 20 points in the first quarter last week, they allowed just 16 the rest of the way racking up six sacks and picking off two key passes. Westminster is 14th out of the 16 teams left averaging just 23.8 ppg on offense. But, Wildcats’ QB Ward Croft was 18-of-24 passing for 234 yards and 4 TDs last week. ... The win over North Murray (7-4) was the first for the Wildcats over a team with a winning record this season.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Pierce County (R2, S2) at Peach County (R4, S1) winner in the quarterfinals


CLASS AA
Everything went true to form as all eight No. 1 and all eight No. 2 seeds advanced and the home teams went 16-0 in the first round. That also means that every region sent two teams through to the second round. ... Expect scoreboards to be put to the test as the top 13 offenses all advanced. The top 8 defenses made it through but the offenses as a collective whole are averaging over 38 ppg. ... As a result, it will be a powerhouse second round. The best matchup could be Jefferson County (537 points, 48.8 ppg) and its No. 2 offense traveling to defending state champ Benedictine and a defense that has surrendered just 101 points (9.1 ppg) on the season. ... Another interesting matchup has Elbert County traveling to Hapeville Charter. The Hornets have given up just 18 points with five shutouts over their last 9 games (2.0 ppg). Meanwhile, the playoff stalwart Blue Devils are averaging 42.2 ppg over their last nine games.

B.E.S.T. ACADEMY at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Frank McClure Stadium, Tiger
-- B.E.S.T. ACADEMY (6-5, Region 6, No. 2 seed): Defeated Temple 34-27 in the first round
-- RABUN COUNTY (11-0, Region 8, No. 1 seed): Defeated Chattooga 49-6 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 1-0. The Wildcats won 55-20 in first round of 2016 playoffs. ... Last week was the Eagles' first-ever playoff win in program history. ...  This looks like a mismatch on paper with the Wildcats possessing the top offense (547, 49.7 ppg) and the Eagles having the lowest-rated defense of the 16-teams left (301, 27.3 ppg). ... However, the Eagles offense, which also comes in as the lowest-scoring unit left in the playoffs (297, 27 ppg) put up a season-high 536 total yards, including 404 yards rushing, last week. Rabun Sr. QB Fisher continues to put up huge numbers. He now has 2,537 yards passing and 839 yards rushing (3,376 total yards), on the season. ... Rabun County is looking for its third straight quarterfinal berth.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Toombs County (R2, S2) at Screven County (R4, S1) winner in the quarterfinals


CLASS A Public
The top seeds in the first round went 7-1 with only Dooly County (21) breaking through against No. 12 seed Trion. ... Lincoln County flashed some defense last week holding the top scoring Public team, Taylor County (40 ppg) to just 12 points in a first round win. ... Defending champion Macon County faces a major challenge in Pelham, who is averaging 38.3 ppg, in its attempt to  become the first repeat champion in Class A since Lincoln County won two straight in 2005 and 2006. Macon County is allowing just 19.3 ppg.

CHARLTON COUNTY at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 8 p.m. 
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Commerce
-- CHARLTON COUNTY (8-2, No. 11 seed): Defeated No. 22 seed Montgomery County 49-46 in the first round
-- COMMERCE (8-2): Bye last week; defeated George Walton 24-13 two weeks ago in final regular season game
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 1-1. Commerce won 31-29 in 2015 in the first round of the playoffs. ... The Tigers should be rested after a week off to heal and are looking for their fourth straight win in the second round. ... The Indians were once a playoff stalwart but missed out on the playoffs in 2016 and the No. 11 seeding is the lowest in program history. ... The Commerce defense may be the key sitting 5th in Public (158, 15.8 ppg) while the Indians are yielding (21.3 ppg). The Tigers are 12th and the Indians are 15th among the 16 teams left in offense. ... Charlton County is plus-12 on turnover-ratio. Indians’ QB A.J. Bell has passed for 2,152 yards and 30 TD to just 5 INT and they have lost just one fumble on the season. ... Charlton County is 4-1 on the road in 2017 with its only loss coming to No. 5 seed Clinch County. Commerce is just 3-2 at home in 2017 but both losses came to top Private seeds Prince Avenue (5) and Athens Academy (2). The Tigers have won 3 straight home playoff games but their last loss at Tiger Stadium in the playoffs was to Charlton County, 35-21, in 2013.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Jenkins County (No. 14) at Emmanuel County Institute (No. 3) winner in the quarterfinals

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