Jeff Hart

Mississippi State scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter, capped by Adam Carlson's 48-yard field goal with 18 seconds left, to beat rival Mississippi 17-14 on Friday and probably lock up the school's first bowl bid since 2000.

Vanderbilt is still just a game away from bowl eligibility. Entering their final game of the season, the Commodores already have blown one chance at a winning record and a possible bowl invitation after three straight losses. But Saturday's visit by Wake Forest will give Vanderbilt one more shot.

Who says college football doesn't have playoff games? The way Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge looks at it, the 19th-ranked Volunteers have been in the playoffs for weeks. To Ainge and the rest of the Volunteers, Saturday's game against Kentucky is just another step in a playoff march that began more than a month ago.

While most people associated with Gwinnett County football think about Parkview and Brookwood, another cross-county rivalry is starting to rise to the top. When North Gwinnett travels to Brookwood Friday night in the second round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs, the two teams will be playing for the third time in just over 12 months.

You may have to excuse the Buford football team if it starts to plan ahead a little. Looming on the horizon next week for the Wolves is a possible showdown with three-time defending Class AA state champion Charlton County. However, first Buford will have to get by Darlington Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs.

Typically the first thing that comes up when fans talk about the Habersham Central football team is its offense. The Raiders are averaging 34 points a game behind senior quarterback Bo Hatchett and senior wide receiver and Georgia signee Tavarres King. But the real key to the Raiders 10-1 season to this point may be its defense.

The last time a Jefferson football team advanced past the second round of the state playoffs it was 1977, Jimmy Carter was president, and it also marked the last time the Dragons played for a state title. So if Jefferson is able to beat Warren County Friday night in the second round of the Class A playoffs are the Dragons headed for another trip to the title game?

Call North Hall football coach Bob Christmas and his coaching staff geniuses, prophetic, clairvoyant, or anything else you can think off. But the Trojans staff had a feeling when looking at the Class AAA playoff bracket that their team could see giant-killer Sandy Creek in the second round of the playoffs.

The Braves designated utility infielder Pete Orr for assignment and promoted three minor leaguer pitchers to their 40-man roster Tuesday.

It seemed like a textbook example of how to handle losing five players to suspension.