With the first round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs complete, eight teams in our northeast Georgia overage area advanced to the second round and are still alive in their quests for state titles.
Jacobs Media will provide action for nearly half of them with our three radio stations and live streaming.
While all of the matchups are compelling, No. 5 Flowery Branch traveling to take on No. 1 Marist in Class 4A, has peaked the interest of just about everyone in the state. You can hear the game live on WDUN AM 550 (Click to listen live). The Falcons (9-2) and War Eagles (9-0) were region foes last two seasons -- Marist won both meetings -- and are more than familiar with each other. And the key matchup on the field is obvious. The Falcons bring in the classification's No. 2 offense (420 points, 38.1 ppg) against the War Eagles' top-rated defense (27, 3.0 ppg). Marist has pitched four shutouts and allowed more than three (3) points only once all season, a 52-21 win over Mays. Flowery Branch, which routed Luella 40-6 last week in basically one half, has scored less than 27 just once in a 40-10 loss to No. 2 Jefferson. Is it Friday yet?
And in another showdown between former region opponents, North Hall heads to Norcross to take on old nemesis Greater Atlanta Christian in the second round in Class 3A. You can hear action on FM 94.5 The Lake (Click to listen live).The Trojans (7-4) are coming off a 36-28 win over North Murray and have never beaten the fifth-ranked Spartans (10-0) in four all-time meetings, all coming since 2016. The Trojans' patented wing-T offense was in full force last week piling up 370 yards behind senior Clark Howell, who had 233 yards rushing and more than 100 on kickoff returns in a win over North Murray. Meanwhile, GAC is allowing just 12.4 ppg on defense and North Hall has never scored more than 21 against the Spartans. North Hall is just 1-5 in its last six road games going back to 2015 and GAC is 12-3 at home in the playoffs since 2015.
Cherokee Bluff got its first-ever playoff win last week in a solid 35-7 win over LaFayette. The Bears (10-1) will go for their second against Carver-Atlanta (5-4) at Yonah Field. You will be able to hear the action live on FM 102.9 WDUN (Click to listen live). The Bluff followed its usual MO falling behind early and then putting the defensive clamps on the rest of the way against the Ramblers. The Panthers took out a good Hart County team, 32-21, at home. But they are 0-6 in their last six true roads games. Their last road win came against Decatur (20-14) to close the 2018 regular season. Carver also is averaging just 21.1 ppg while the Bears have been one of the classification's best defensive teams (139, 12.6 ppg). The Bluff offense is averaging 35.8 ppg while the Carver defense is surrendering 25.6 ppg and has allowed 27 or more five times.
Friday Game Night will keep you in tune with all of these contests and the rest of the area teams in action on Friday. Be sure to check in with us throughout both days and keep up with live scoring on Twitter: @FridayGameNight.
STATE PLAYOFFS 2nd ROUND SCHEDULE FOR Dec. 4
(Games at higher seeded team)
CLASS 6A
Cambridge (R7, S3) at Buford (R8, S1)
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S2) at Marist (R6, S1) -- WDUN AM 550
Hapeville Charter (R6, S2) at Jefferson (R8, S1)
CLASS 3A
Dawson County (R7, S3) at Oconee County (R8, S1)
Carver-Atlanta (R5, S2) at Cherokee Bluff (R7, S1) -- FM 102.9 WDUN
North Hall (R7, S2) at Greater Atlanta Christian (R5, S1) FM 94.5 The Lake
CLASS 2A
Model (R7, S3) at Rabun County (R8, S1)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Gordon Lee (R6, S2) at Commerce (R8, S1)
