Let the real games begin.
Fans all across northeast Georgia and the state should be in for some outstanding matchups as the first round of the state football playoffs begin Friday night.
Only Class A misses out this week (it will begin postseason play on Nov. 20), as Classes AA through AAAAAA get things started. What we know is that Class AAAAAA should be a brutal slugfest right from the get-go while Class AAAAA offers a very balanced field as well but may have to wait a week before the tantalizing showdowns materialize.
All five of the 2014 state champions from Class AA to AAAAAA are back to defend their titles, including Buford in Class AAAA. The Wolves look poised once again as they go for their second consecutive AAAA title, fourth straight overall, and eighth in the last nine seasons.
Mount Paran in Class A Private is also back but Hawkinsville, the defending Class A Public champion, did finish in the top 16 in the power ratings to try and defend its title.
Northeast Georgia is well represented in every classification with teams like Lanier, the Region 8-AAAAA champ, and Jefferson, runner-up in 8-AAA, amongst the top 10 in their respective classifications. Rabun County, the Region 8-AA champ, is also amongst those regarded squads and comes in as the No. 1 defensive unit in AA, hoping to improve on last year’s second round run.
North Hall is back after a one-year absence in Class AAAA, while Dawson County, fresh off its first-ever region title in 7-AAA, is looking for a win its first-ever home playoff game. Union County, from Region 8-AA, is also looking for its first ever playoff victory, playing at home against Bowdon. Gainesville is also looking to make it eight straight seasons with a first round state playoff win when it hosts Alexander -- click here to watch a video preview of the contest.
It should make for an exciting night.
For a look at all of the first round matchups 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 SCHEDULE FOR Nov. 13
(Games listed by classification and region)
CLASS AAAAAA
Four teams -- No. 1 Colquitt County, No. 2 Grayson, No. 3 Roswell, No. 5 Mill Creek -- navigated the regular season undefeated and it figures to be a slugfest every round in the state’s top classification. ... The right half of the draw is brutal with No. 1 Colquitt County, No. 4 Archer, No. 5 Mill Creek, No. 6 McEachern, No. 7 Walton, and No. 10 Etowah all on the side with only one advancing to the title game. ... There could be six potential behemoth matchups in the second round. Camden County-Roswell, Lambert-Newton, Grayson-Valdosta, McEachern-Archer, Tucker-South Forsyth, and Colquitt County-Walton all are on course to meet barring upsets in the first round. ... However, 7-AAAAAA’s Peachtree Ridge, with a star-studded defense, could be a darkhorse and has a favorable draw and may not have to face a ranked team until possibly No. 2 Grayson in the quarterfinals.
NORTHVIEW at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- NORTHVIEW (6-4): No. 4 seed from 6-AAAAAA
-- MILL CREEK (10-0): No. 1 seed from 7-AAAAAA, ranked No. 5 in final AAAAAA poll
-- NOTABLE: Series tied 2-2. First meeting since 2009 and first-ever in the playoffs. ... The Hawks are looking for their first playoff win since 2012 while the Titans are looking for their first-ever playoff win. ... This is an interesting matchup. Mill Creek leads Class AAAAAA in defense allowing just 6.1 ppg while the Titans have been rolling of late. They won three must-win games down the stretch just to get in the playoffs and averaged 41 ppg during that stretch. However, Northview is allowing 27.2 ppg on defense while Mill Creek is 8th in offense in AAAAAA averaging 37.6 ppg. ... Three of the top five defensive units, including Mill Creek, are in their quadrant. However, 7 of the top 9 offensive teams also are on their half of the draw. ... Mill Creek faces a tough road to a title. No. 1 Colquitt County, No. 4 Archer, No. 6 McEachern, No. 7 Walton, and No. 10 Etowah are on their half of the draw. In fact, Archer and McEachern are on course for a second round meeting with Mill Creek facing a possible quarterfinal showdown with the winner of that game if both advance past the first round. Mill Creek would earn a title. The Hawks face potential games against No. 1 Colquitt County (semifinals), No. 2 Grayson (finals), No. 4 Archer or No. 6 McEachern (quarterfinals). ...
CLASS AAAAA
Only two teams managed to come through the regular season unbeaten in AAAAA -- No. 1 Stockbridge and No. 2 Lanier. ... It would seem that some defensive battles are on tap as the top 17 defensive teams in AAAAA all advanced to the playoffs. But, the top 15 offensive teams also advanced so something will have to give. ... It is a very balanced bracket overall with five ranked teams on each side. However, No. 6 Jones County and No. 9 Glynn Academy will meet in Brunswick in the only matchup of ranked teams in the first round. ... Four of the top six defensive teams in AAAAA -- Northgate, Lanier, Coffee, Kell -- are all in the same quadrant with all four facing matchups in the second round (Lanier-Northgate and Coffee-Kell). ... According to the Maxwell Ratings published by the Georgia High School Football Daily, Lanier faces the second-toughest road to a state title of the eight region winners. The Longhorns could face two of the top three defenses in AAAAA as well as three of the top five teams over the final three rounds. ... Gainesville also faces a tough road with four potential games against ranked teams in No. 1 Stockbridge (2nd round), No. 6 Jones County or No. 9 Glynn Academy in the quarterfinals on the road, No. 4 Northside-Warner Robins in the semifinals on the road and either No. 2 Lanier or No. 3 Houston County, or No. 9 Allatoona in the finals, if they advance through.
ALEXANDER at GAINESVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: ESPN 1240 AM
-- ALEXANDER (8-2): No.3 seed from 5-AAAAA
-- GAINESVILLE (7-3): No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAA
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Forget the higher-seed in this one. Other than Grayson and Lanier, this may be the toughest team the Red Elephants have faced all season. The Cougars are averaging 32.1 ppg and giving up just 21.8 ppg on the season. However, in their two losses they scored just 28 total points and were torched for 34 ppg. ... Gainesville has yielded just 18.5 ppg on defense and will be at full strength for one of the few times all season. ... The key for the Red Elephants may be the offense and whether they can find some consistency with QB Messiah Dorsey and RB Chris Byrd. ... Gainesville has won seven straight first round games going back to 2007. The Red Elephants also have been nearly unbeatable at home in the playoffs in that stretch going 13-2 at City Park Stadium since 2008. ... Alexander has dropped two straight road playoff games.
EAST PAULDING at LANIER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lanier Community Stadium, Sugar Hill
-- EAST PAULDING (8-2): No. 4 seed from 5-AAAAA
-- LANIER (10-0): No. 1 seed from 8-AAAAA; ranked No. 2 in final AAAAA poll, second straight region title
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Raiders finished in a three-way for second place but lost head-to-head tiebreakers with both South Paulding and Alexander. However, the Raiders handed No. 9 Allatoona its only loss of the season. ... This should be a great matchup when East Paulding has the ball. The Raiders are averaging 27.5 ppg and nearly 250 yards rushing behind RB Cody Long (963 yards) and QB Dylan Prater (925), who also has over 1,300 yards passing. The Longhorns are No. 2 in Class AAAAA in defense allowing just 7.9 ppg and gives up less than 100 yards rushing per game behind run-stoppers Derrick Brown, Michael Allen, Devin Miller, and Juwan Jones. ... But the key matchup could be the Lanier offense (30.6 ppg) vs. the Raiders defense (13.0 ppg). The Longhorns have gotten on a roll of late averaging 44.2 ppg the past month behind a balanced attack led by QB Tahj Tolbert to go with RBs Marcko and Marcella Baity, who have combined for over 1,500 yards rushing.
WINDER-BARROW at ALLATOONA
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Buccaneers Stadium, Acworth
-- WINDER-BARROW (6-4): No. 4 seed from 8-AAAAA
-- ALLATOONA (9-1): No. 1 seed from 5-AAAAA; ranked No. 9 in final AAAAA poll
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Winder-Barrow faces a tough road in the playoffs but also could be one of the darkhorses in AAAAAA. They could see Starr’s Mill in the second round and face a potential matchup with No. 3 Houston County in the quarterfinals, if they can get by the Buccaneers in the first round. ... All four of the Bulldoggs losses were playoff teams. ... The Bulldoggs were as hot as anyone in 8-AAAAA down the stretch winning 5 of their last 6 games, four in come-from-behind fashion. They will have a healthy CeCe Green in the backfield and So. Brock Landis and Sr. Noah Chapman offer a solid tandem under center. Sr. WR Andre Jackson offers big-play ability as well. ... Allatoona, however, is yielding just 13.8 ppg and has experience coming off a semifinal appearance in 2014. ... The Bulldoggs also are looking for their first playoff win since beating Clarkston in the Class AAA quarterfinals in 1993.
CLASS AAAA
Four teams -- No. 1 Woodward Academy, No. 2 Cartersville, No. 4 Mary Persons, No. 5 Bainbridge -- finished the regular season undefeated with two each on opposite sides of the bracket. Defending AAAA state champion Buford (9-1) is back and on the same half as Woodward and Mary Persons which should make for some monster showdowns in the later rounds if all five advance. ... Woodward could face an interesting second round matchup against Spalding out of Region 4. The Jaguars are third in points allowed at just 7.9 ppg while Woodward is fourth in scoring at 38.0 ppg. ... No. 3 Buford also could face an interesting second round contest between the winner of Worth County and Locust Grove. Worth is averaging 36.0 ppg and Locust Grove is averaging 35.4 ppg on the season. Buford is second in defense allowing just 7.5 ppg. ... Traditional power Thomas County Central comes in at only 6-4 but could be a tough first round matchup for No. 6 Jonesboro (9-1). The Yellow Jackets have scored 28 or more eight times while Jonesboro yielded just 103 points all season and is just 29th in AAAA in scoring. ... The matchup between North Hall and its wing-T ground attack could spell trouble for No. 9 Sandy Creek in the first round. The Trojans beat the Patriots in their one and only meeting in the 2007 playoffs running the same offense.
CARROLLTON at STEPHENS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Reservation, Toccoa
-- CARROLLTON (5-5): No. 3 seed from 5-AAAA
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (8-2): No. 2 seed from 8-AAAA
-- NOTABLE: Carrollton leads series 3-1. The Trojans won 40-7 in 2012 in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs. All four previous meetings also were in the playoffs. ... The Indians are looking for their second straight straight trip to the second round but it will not be easy. Despite the record, Carrollton faced one of the toughest schedules in the state in any classification playing seven playoff teams during the season. All five losses were to playoff teams, including Class AAA No. 1 Calhoun, which was just a 24-20 loss. However, they are coming into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. ... Stephens County is coming off a disappointing 42-0 loss to Buford in the season finale but overcame a similar fate in 2014 to beat Pickens in the first round. ... They do have one common opponent in 2015 in North Hall in a pair of games played at The Brickyard in Gainesville. Carrollton routed North Hall 42-3 at while the Indians needed a missed extra point to beat North Hall 14-13. ... Carrollton is allowing 31 ppg and has scored just 50 total points in its losses. Stephens County was allowing just 13.4 ppg on defense until the Buford loss.
FAYETTE COUNTY at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- FAYETTE COUNTY (3-7): No.4 seed from 5-AAAA
-- BUFORD (9-1): No. 1 seed from 8-AAAA, ranked No. 3 in final AAAA poll; defending Class AAAA state champion
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Buford overcame early-season injuries and suspensions to repeat as region champs. Now, the Wolves set their sights on repeating as state champions. ... It will not be an easy assignment for Fayette County as Buford leads Class AAAA in scoring (470, 47.0 ppg) and is second in defense yielding just 7.5 ppg on the season. The Tigers were outscored 251-159 for the season. ... Fayette County is looking for its first playoff win since 2007. Buford has not lost in the first round of the playoffs since a 29-3 loss to Manchester in the Class A playoffs in 1997.
NORTH HALL at SANDY CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Battlefield, Tyrone
-- NORTH HALL (6-4): No. 3 seed from 8-AAAA
-- SANDY CREEK (8-2): No. 2 seed from 5-AAAA
-- NOTABLE: North Hall leads series 1-0. The Trojans won 21-7 in 2007 in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. ... It was a remarkable turnaround for the Trojans in 2015 after a 2-8 season in 2014. After a 1-2 start to region play North Hall won four straight to end the season to make the playoffs. They face a tough Fighting Patriots team whose only losses were to No. 1 Woodward Academy and No. 6 Jonesboro. ... The key matchup will be the North Hall offense, which is averaged just 22.4 ppg on the season but has scored 153 points (38.2 ppg) over its last four games. The Patriots, however, are fourth in AAAA in defense yielding just 9.7 ppg on the season. The Trojans wing-T attack will need to grind out some first downs and keep the Sandy Creek offense off the field. ... Sandy Creek is 16-1 at home in the playoffs since 2009. North Hall has lost its last four road playoff games going back to 2008.
CLASS AAA
It should be an interesting playoffs in AAA. The top 16, and 20 of the top 22, defensive teams in AAA all advanced to the playoffs and allowing less than 20 ppg, led by No. 1 Calhoun, which is yielding just 8.0 ppg. However, 18 of the top 20 offensive teams -- all of which are averaging 30 or more points -- advanced so virtually every game has potential for shootouts or defensive battles. ... Last year Region 8-AAA had three teams make the quarterfinals and the region looks poised for another strong showing in 2015 . Meanwhile, 7-AAA is trying to avoid a second straight sweep in the first round and is matched up against a tough Region 6-AAA that has No. 1 Calhoun and No. 8 Adairsville. ... The most intriguing first round matchup may be No. 3 Central-Carroll playing host to Elbert County, which had been ranked all season until the final week. The Blue Devils are 4-1 on the road in 2015 and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2014. ... All four semifinalists from 2014 -- Calhoun, Washington County, Westminster, and Blessed Trinity -- advanced to the playoffs in 2015. ... Points may be hard to find on the side of the draw with West Hall, Jefferson, and Dawson County. Six of the top eight defensive teams roam that side. Dawson County, according to the Maxwell ratings, has the third-most difficult path to a title. ... East Hall has a favorable draw and would not face a ranked team until the quarterfinals, although a possible second round matchup for the Vikings would be Laney, which is second in AAA in fewest points allowed (87).
RINGGOLD at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: northgasportslink.com
-- RINGGOLD (6-4): No. 4 seed from 6-AAA
-- DAWSON COUNTY (7-3): Region 7-AAA champion
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams come in red-hot riding three-game win streaks. ... The Dawson County regulars have been as dominant as anyone in the area of late and should be a favorite to get their first playoff win since beating Trion in 1999 in the Class A playoffs. The front-line starters outscored the opposition 113-0 over a 10-quarter stretch until the reserves played the second half of last week’s win over Johnson. Dawson County’s offense has been supercharged behind the play of So. QB Coey Watson and seniors Hunter Mitchell (RB) and Tucker Maxwell (WR). ... It will be a tough road for Dawson County with four of the top seven teams are on its half of the draw and the winner plays the Spencer-Washington County winner in the second round. Washington County lost to Calhoun in the Class AAA state finals in 2014. ... Ringgold will be a tough matchup. All four of its losses were to 2015 playoffs teams but Ringgold has outscored its last three opponents 103-20 to advance to the playoffs on the final game of the regular season.
SONORAVILLE at EAST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: East Hall Stadium, Rabbittown
-- SONORAVILLE (7-3): No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAA
-- EAST HALL (6-4): No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Vikings also have been in playoff-mode over the past five weeks with virtual mus-wins the entire way. They are riding a five-game win streak, their longest since a 7-game streak in 1994. ... Expect some offensive fireworks in this one. ... Offense has been the key fort East Hall, which has averaged 33.4 ppg during the run while the defense also has improved allowing just 22 ppg over the second half of the season compared to nearly 37 ppg over the first half of the season. So. Austin Parker has gotten better each week and has a talented WR group to throw to led by Sr. Jacquen Hopkins and Jr. Markese Jackson. ... The Phoenix have won three straight behind an offense that has scored 137 points (45.6 ppg) during the streak and a defense that has allowed just 46 points (15.3 ppg) at the same time. ... No matter the winner it will be unchartered territory for both. The Phoenix, which have only been around since 2006, have never advanced past the first round while the Vikings have not advanced to the second round since 1993 when they got to the Class AA quarterfinals.
WEST HALL at CALHOUN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Phil Reeve Stadium, Calhoun
-- WEST HALL (5-5): No. 4 seed from 7-AAA
-- CALHOUN (10-0): Region 6-AAA champion; ranked No. 1 in final Class AAA poll and defending Class AAA state champion
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Spartans did not get a break with the draw but are also ecstatic about being in the playoffs. They have been in playoff-mode for a month and needed three wins down the stretch and some help and got it. ... ... Four of the top seven teams are on their half of the draw. ... West Hall is no stranger to tough road playoff games. The Spartans traveled to then-No. 1 Cartersville in 2013 and nearly pulled the upset falling 28-26 and missing a game-winning field goal on the final play of the game. ... West Hall will face a Yellow Jackets squad that leads all of Class AAA in scoring (499, 49.9 ppg) and has yielded the fewest points in Class AAA (80, 8.0 ppg) during the regular season. Calhoun is working on a 25-game winning streak. ... West Hall has found its offense behind So. QB Cameron Shirley and is averaging 27 ppg during its three-game win streak after scoring just 38 total points in a five-game losing streak. Defensively the Spartans have been solid all year creating turnovers and allowing just 19 ppg. ... The winner plays the Josey-Peach County winner in the second round
PEPPERELL at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- PEPPERELL (7-3): No. 3 seed from 5-AAA
-- JEFFERSON (9-1): No. 2 seed from 8-AAA; ranked No. 5 in final AAA poll; the Dragons advanced to the quarterfinals in 2014
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Pepperell won two straight to end the season to take the third seed. However, Pepperell has not won a playoff game since advancing to the quarterfinals in 2008 (0-5). ... Jefferson must get back to its defensive ways. After yielding just 49 total points over its first eight games, Jefferson has given up 63 points (31.5 ppg) over its last two contests. Pepperell has shown it can score averaging 31.6 ppg, including scoring 38 or more six times in 2015. ... Jefferson will try and exert its will behind So. RB Colby Wood, who is still in the top five in the state in rushing. ... Pepperell is allowing 24.0 ppg on defense and 37 ppg in its three losses.
CLASS AA
All four of the semifinalists from 2014 advanced to the playoffs again this season led by defending state champion Benedictine and interestingly all four would meet each other in the quarterfinals this season. ... This could be an offensive classification, at least in the early rounds as 16 of the top 18 offensive teams advanced to the postseason. However, the top 7 defensive teams all advanced and should begin squaring off in the quarterfinals. ... Benedictine (10-0) comes in ranked No. 1 again and should not face much of a challenge until possibly meeting Fitzgerald (9-1) in the third round. ... No. 2 GAC (9-1) could face a tough second round game against Vidalia (7-3) whose only losses were playoff teams. The Spartans could see No. 6 Brooks County (8-2) in the quarterfinals. ... Region 8-AA champ Rabun County (9-1) got a very favorable draw. The Wildcats may only have to face one ranked team through the first three rounds but could meet Benedictine in the semifinals with a shot at a spot in the Georgia Dome on the line. ... 8-AA runner-up Union County also got a good draw. The Panthers may not have to face a ranked team until the quarterfinals as Screven County, Pace Academy, and Darlington, all ranked in the final AA poll, will have to battle it out for the other quarterfinal spot in the Panthers quadrant. However, they could meet No. 2 and 2014 state runner-up or 2014 semifinalist and No. 6-ranked Brooks County in the semifinals.
BOWDON at UNION COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville
-- BOWDEN (5-5): No. 3 seed from 5-AA
-- UNION COUNTY (9-1): No. 2 seed from 8-AA
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Panthers have rebounded nicely since their only loss to No. 4 Rabun County three weeks ago with two straight wins and have gotten QB Joseph Mancuso back in the process. ... Union County is still looking for its first-ever playoff win and on paper it looks a mismatch with Union averaging 36.9 ppg and Bowden giving up just under 20 ppg on defense. In the Red Devils; five losses they also have scored just 34 total points and been shutout twice. ... However, Bowden finished the year winning 4 of its last f5 game to get in the playoffs.
BREMEN at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger
-- BREMEN (4-6): No. 4 seed from 5-AA
-- RABUN COUNTY (9-1): No. 1 seed from 8-AA; ranked No. 4 in final AA poll
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Wildcats are playing as well as any team in AA and are one of just three teams along with No. 1 and defending AA state champ Benedictine and No. 9 Screven County to be in the top six in both offense and defense in AA. ... Rabun County leads all of AA in defense allowing just 6.8 ppg with four shutouts and only Class AAA No. 5 Jefferson scored more than 14 on them during the regular season. The Wildcats are 6th in scoring at 37.7 ppg and outscored the other 8-AA playoff teams 126-13 during the regular season. ... Bremen is 37th in defense in AA yielding 26.4 ppg.
