The second round of the football state playoffs figures to offer a little of everything for area fans.
If you like defense, you may want to head to Sugar Hill where arguably the two best defenses in Class AAAAA meet when Lanier plays host to Northgate. (Watch a video preview of the contest here.)
For the offensive-minded, Dawsonville may be the place to be when Dawson County entertains Spencer in a Class AAA matchup of teams that have been averaging more than 70 points a game combined over the past month.
Want something a little more in between? Jefferson heads to Roswell to take on Blessed Trinity in a Class AAA matchup of two teams that have nearly unstoppable offenses to go with immovable defenses.
Overall, eight area teams still remain, including defending Class AAAA state champion Buford, who plays host to Worth County.
Gainesville, the Class AAAAA 2012 state champion, will head to No. 1 Stockbridge looking for the upset. Meanwhile, Region 8-AA champion Rabun County takes on Early County in Tiger looking for its first quarterfinal appearance since 1998.
Mill Creek will put its Class AAAAAA-leading defense up against Newnan at home, while Commerce gets the Class A playoffs under way traveling to Charlton County.
For a look at all of tonight’s second round 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 SCHEDULE FOR Nov. 20
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
CLASS AAAAAA
Regions 1, 7, and 8 all dominated the first round sending three teams each onto the second round. Also, all eight No. 1 seeds advanced which should begin setting up some titanic showdowns in the quarterfinals, if they all advance on Friday night. ... Three HUGE matchups highlight the second round as Camden County travels to Roswell, Valdosta heads to Grayson, and McEachern plays host to Archer. No matter the outcomes, three of the top eight ranked teams in the final rankings will be eliminated. ... Region 7-AAAAAA was close to sweeping 6-AAAAAA but a late rally by South Forsyth knocked out Norcross. Region 7-AAAAAA champ Mill Creek still leads Class AAAAAA in fewest points allowed (74, 6.7 ppg) and the top nine defensive teams all advanced to the second round. However, 9 of the top 10 offensive teams also advanced so something will have to give soon. Roswell (531 points, 48.2 ppg) leads AAAAAA in scoring with five teams remaining still averaging over 44 ppg on the season.
NEWNAN at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- NEWNAN (9-2): No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAAAAA, defeated Lovejoy 34-3 in the first round
-- MILL CREEK (11-0): No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA, defeated Northview 46-13 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Hawks are looking for their first quarterfinals appearance since 2012. The Cougars are looking for their first quarterfinals appearance also since 2012. ... Mill Creek will have to be careful to not be caught looking ahead. The winner of this one will take on the Archer-McEachern winner in quarterfinals, which figures to be a monstrous showdown for the Hawks. ... Newnan may be underrated but the Hawks have yielded the fewest points in Class AAAAAA (74, 6.7 ppg) while the Cougars are averaging 28.3 ppg. ... Mill Creek is now just 2-1 at home in playoff games. Newnan is just 2-3 in their five road playoff games.
CLASS AAAAA
Region 4 showed its dominance in the first round sweeping Region 1 by an average score of 51-10, led by No. 1 Stockbridge. Region 7 took 3 of 4 from Region 6 and Region 3 was 3-1 against Region 2 in the first round. Only 6 of the No. 1 seeds advanced with Stephenson (Region 6) and Carver (Region 1) falling in the first round. ... Region 8 split with Region 5 and both Lanier and Gainesville face major obstacles against the top two teams in Region 4. Lanier takes on Northgate in a battle of two of the top three defensive teams left in AAAAAA. Northgate also is the highest-scoring team in AAAAA (44.4 ppg) while Lanier is yielding just 9.5 ppg. ... Gainesville has to travel to Stockbridge, which is 7th in scoring. ... The top 8 teams in scoring in AAAAA advanced while 10 of the top 11 defensive teams advanced. ... Ware County pulled off the biggest upset in the state knocking out defending AAAAA champion Northside-Warner Robins 16-7 on the road. The Gators, who were the 2012 state runners-up, next will travel to Rome. ... The Drew-South Paulding matchup is an interesting one as well. Drew is second in scoring at 43.8 ppg while South Paulding is giving up just 15.2 ppg on the season and is 3-1 against playoff teams in 2015.
GAINESVILLE at STOCKBRIDGE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Stockbridge
-- RADIO: 1240 AM ESPN Radio
-- GAINESVILLE (8-3): No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAA, defeated Alexander 25-14 in the first round
-- STOCKBRIDGE (11-0): No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAAAA, defeated Columbus 48-7 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... A big streak will come to an end no matter who wins this one. Stockbridge is looking for its fourth straight quarterfinals while Gainesville is going for its fifth straight quarterfinals. ... The Red Elephants defense was greedy last week forcing six turnovers and will need a similar effort against the top-ranked Tigers, who are averaging 36.6 ppg and outscored their last three opponents 130-9, including two playoff teams. ... Gainesville QB Messiah Dorsey had perhaps his best game of the season with over 400 total yards of offense (208 rush, 204 pass, 4 TDs combined) and RB Chris Byrd added another 119 yards rushing for one of the Red Elephants’ most balanced offensive games of the season. ... The winner will take on the Glynn Academy-Dalton winner in the quarterfinals.
NORTHGATE at LANIER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lanier Community Stadium, Sugar Hill
-- NORTHGATE (10-1): No. 2 seed from Region 4, defeated Shaw 44-0 in the first round
-- LANIER (11-0): No. 1 seed from Region 8, defeated East Paulding 27-13 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Longhorns got their first-ever home playoff win last week and a win this week would put them in their first-ever quarterfinal. ... It won’t come easy, though. Northgate is part of Region 4, which swept out Region 5 in the first round. The Vikings only loss was to No. 1 Stockbridge in a battle for the region title and have allowed a classification-low 72 points (6.5 ppg), including allowing 7 points or less in nine games with five shutouts. ... However, the Lanier defense is the best unit the Vikings will have faced all season, including Stockbridge, which yielded no points to the Northgate offense in a 20-2 win. Despite scoring just the two points, the Vikings remain as the top scoring team in AAAAA as well piling up 44.4 ppg while Lanier is yielding just 9.5 ppg behind Derrick Brown, Michael Allen, Devin Miller, and Juwan Jones. ... The winner will take on the Kell-Coffee winner in the quarterfinals.
CLASS AAAA
Balance is the name of the game in AAAA. All eight No. 1 seeds advanced and six of the regions had two or more teams reach the second round. Locally, defending state champion Buford was the only Region 8-AAAA team to make it through but leads the classification in both scoring (540, 48.1 ppg) and defense (75, 6.8 ppg). It is also the only classification that had all 10 teams in the final poll of the season advance to the second round. ... The four undefeated teams in AAAA -- Woodward Academy, Cartersville, Bainbridge, Mary Person -- all made it through but Woodward and Mary Persons could meet in the quarterfinals. Buford (10-1) could get the winner of that contest in the semifinals. ... Mary Persons has a huge challenge in the second round taking on Marist, which has advanced to at least the third round each of the past three seasons. ... Despite being just 6-5, do not discount Carrollton out of Region 5 from making a deep run. All five of the Trojans losses were to teams to make it into the second round of their respective classifications. They take on Jonesboro Friday night. ... The biggest battle of the second round could be in Bainbridge when the No. 5 Bearcats play host to No. 9 Sandy Creek. Bainbridge is having its best season since advancing to the Class AAAA semifinals in 1993 while Sandy Creek is looking for its seventh straight trip to the quarterfinals.
WORTH COUNTY at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- WORTH COUNTY (8-3): No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAA, defeated Locust Grove 35-0 in the first round
-- BUFORD (10-1): No. 1 seed from Region 8-AAAA, defeated Fayette County 35-0 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It could be an interesting matchup. But Buford is rolling again and it starts with defense. The Wolves, who lead AAAA in defense (6.8 ppg), have given just 18 total points during their eight-game win streak (2.2 ppg). Worth County is fifth in AAAA in scoring (395, 35.4 ppg) and has scored 23 or less just twice, both losses. ... The key for the Rams will be if they can slow the top offense in AAAA. The Wolves are averaging 48.1 ppg on the season and have scored 35 or more in eight straight games. Worth County is giving up 20.3 ppg on defense but has allowed just 13.0 ppg in its eight wins. ... Buford is looking for its 16th straight trip to the third round. The last time they failed to make it to the quarterfinals was in 1999 in a loss to Washington-Wilkes in the Class A playoffs. ... Worth County got its first playoff win last week since 2007 and the Rams have not advanced past the second round since 1997 in the Class AAA playoffs.
CLASS AAA
There will be no easy games left for anyone in AAA from here on out. Nine of the 10 teams ranked in the final poll and seven of the eight region champs advanced through to the second round. Region 2 also swept out Region 3 while three teams each from Regions 4, 6, and 8 advanced. ... Last year Region 8-AAA swept its way into the quarterfinals. But the three remaining teams, led by 2012 state champion Jefferson, will all face huge challenges in the second round this time around. All three face higher-ranked teams with only Oconee County not facing a road trip. ... The No. 5 Dragons travel to Rome to take on No. 2 Blessed Trinity, Elbert County travels to No. 4 Dodge County, and No. 9 Oconee County plays host to No. 3 Cedar Grove. ... The Jefferson-Blessed Trinity matchup, however, may only be the second biggest matchup in the classification in the second round as No. 1 and defending state champion Calhoun plays host to perennial power Peach County. Calhoun leads AAA in scoring (567, 51.5 ppg) and defense (94, 8.5 ppg) but Peach County is allowing just 11.4 ppg on defense and has advanced to the quarterfinals 5 of the last 6 years, including winning the 2009 state title. ... In the other matchup of ranked teams, Region 8-AAA champ Oconee County is looking for its first quarterfinals appearance since 2000. Cedar Grove is looking for its first quarterfinals since 2010. ... Westside-Macon is the only No. 4 seed to advance in AAA and travels to Sonoraville, which earned its first-ever playoff win last week over East Hall.
JEFFERSON at BLESSED TRINITY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Blessed Trinity Stadium, Roswell
-- RADIO: WDUN FM 102.9
-- JEFFERSON (10-1): No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAA, defeated Pepperell 49-0 in the first round
-- BLESSED TRINITY (10-0-1): No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAA, defeated Cook 40-14 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: Blessed Trinity leads series 1-0. The Titans won 28-21 in the 2014 quarterfinals. ... The Dragons would love nothing better than to exact some revenge on the Titans, who knocked them out of the playoffs a year ago. ... Expect a defensive battle as both teams are in the top four in AAA in points allowed. Blessed Trinity is second giving up just 9.4 ppg while the Dragons are fourth giving up 10.1 ppg on the season. The two teams also are within 15 points of each other in points scored so it should be about as even a contest as you get. ... But the Dragons have one of the top running backs in the state in Colby Woods, who is averaging over 200 yards a game. The key for both teams may be if the sophomore can hit his average. ... The Titans have been nearly unbeatable at home in recent years, however. They have won 13 straight at home going back to a quarterfinal loss to Washington County in the 2013 playoffs. ... The Dragons have been a solid road team over the years, though. They are 19-3 in their last 22 road games going back to 2012. Their only loss in 2015 was on the road to Oconee County in double overtime.
SPENCER at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- SPENCER (8-3): No. 3 seed from Region 2-AAA, defeated Washington County 47-27 on the road in the first round
-- DAWSON COUNTY (8-3): No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAA, defeated Ringgold 63-40 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams made some history last week. The Tigers notched their first-ever home playoff victory and first playoff win of any kind since 1999. The Greenwave Owls got their first-ever playoff win since the format changed 20 years ago. They did win a pair of playoff games in 1967 but there were only two rounds and there is no record of what region or classification they played in at the time. ... Dawson County can make more history with another victory as the Tigers have never advanced past the second round. The offense put in a record-setting night in the first round with a school-record 63 points. Spencer is allowing just 17.2 ppg but the Tigers have scored 166 points (41.5 ppg) during their four-game win streak. ... Sr. WR Tucker Maxwell had a huge game for the Tigers with 224 yards receiving with 4 TDs and also added a INT return for a TD as well. So. QB Coey Watson threw for 336 yards and 5 TDs. ... The Tigers defense played better than the 40 points allowed. Ringgold scored twice in the final 3 minutes against the Tigers reserves. Spencer is averaging 31.0 ppg during a 7-game win streak, its longest since 1967.
CLASS AA
This classification also should be a slugfest the rest of the way as all eight region champs and eight of the 10 ranked teams in the final poll advanced to the second round. ... Region 6 swept out Region 7 with Regions 1 and 5 having three teams moving through. ... No. 8 Pace Academy looked impressive in knocking out No. 3 and Region 7-AA champ Darlington 31-0 as a No. 4 seed from Region 6-AA. Pace Academy next will take on No. 9 Screven County on the road. ... Teams left in the quadrant with Rabun County better bring some offense. The four teams on that side averaged 43 ppg in the first round but the Wildcats are No. 1 in AA in defense allowing just 7.4 ppg. ... Wesleyan, an early-season favorite for a title run, and Jefferson County offer a compelling matchup. The Wolves (9-2) have allowed 20.7 ppg over their past four games, going just 2-2, after allowing just 56 total points in a 7-game win streak to open the season. The Region 3-AA champion Warriors (9-2) have won nine straight and have been smoking over the past five weeks outscoring their opposition 259-50 during that span. ... No. 5 Fitzgerald faces an interesting road game at Region 5-AA champ Heard County, which is 5-1 at home in 2015 and 15-4 at home since 2013.
EARLY COUNTY at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- EARLY COUNTY (7-3-1): No. 3 seed from region 1-AA, defeated Lamar County 28-0 in the first round
-- RABUN COUNTY (10-1): No. 1 seed from Region 8-AA, defeated Bremen 49-14 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Wildcats continue to show consistency on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats are the No. 1 defensive team in AA allowing just 82 points (7.4 ppg). They have not allowed more than 19 points in any game this season. They held Bremen scoreless in the second half last week after leading just 14-7 at halftime. ... The Bobcats have been up and down all season. They have given up just 49 points (7.0 ppg) in their seven wins or tie but have yielded 119 points (39.6 ppg) in their three losses, all against teams still alive in the playoffs. ... Rabun County is looking for its first quarterfinal appearance since 1998 while the Bobcats last reached the quarterfinals in 2012. ... The Wildcats are 18-5 at home under coach Lee Shaw. ... Charlie Woerner came out of hiding last week with 8 catches for 186 yards receiving and 2 TDs for Rabun County.
CLASS A Public
It is the opening round for Class A and Region 2 appears to be the power region with five teams in the 16-team field. Commerce is the only team from local Region 8-A to advance to the playoffs. ... This could one of the best fields in years with only one team, Twiggs County (4-6) making the field with a losing record. Twelve of the 16-teams have won 7 or more games during the regular season. ... Marion County (9-1) is the No. 1 seed and has been stout all year yielding just 7.3 ppg on defense while scoring 40.0 ppg. Emanuel County Institute (9-1) is the No. 2 seed and is second in all of Class A in scoring at 44.1 ppg. ... A pair of 9-1 teams -- Emanuel County Institute and Lincoln County -- could meet in the quarterfinals.
COMMERCE at CHARLTON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Indian Field, Folkston
-- COMMERCE (7-3): No. 9 seed out of Region 8-A
-- CHARLTON COUNTY (7-2): No. 8 seed out of Region 2-A
-- NOTABLE: Charlton County leads series 1-0. The Indians won 35-21 in the first round of the 2013 playoffs. ... The Tigers are in a similar position as last year when they rode a four-game win streak into the playoffs and then advanced to the semifinals. However, they were at home last year for the first two rounds and face a long road trip this time. ... On paper Commerce has outscored Charlton County (315-294) and given up fewer points (136 to 160) but the Indians are part of five teams from Region 2-A to make the 16-team field and are battle tested. The Tigers have not faced a team with a winning record since losing to No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian in Week 6. ... Commerce will have to get its ground game going to control the ball and the clock and keep the Indians offense off the field. ... The Tigers have lost seven straight road playoff games going back to the 2006 season. Charlton County has won 13 straight at home. The Indians last home playoff loss was to Savannah Christian in 2010 before Class A split into public and private.
