Jeff Hart

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.

Florida senior safety Tony Joiner could be reinstated as a team captain before Saturday's home finale against rival Florida State.

Georgia Tech never needs extra motivation when playing Georgia, and yet this week there is more driving the players, especially the seniors, than the desire to claim state supremacy. Georgia Tech seniors have been receiving calls and text messages from former teammates with a simple request: Please beat Georgia.

When the play begins, Rennie Curran is usually looking up. At the linemen trying to block him. At the running backs attempting to get past him. Then he brings them all down to size. Georgia's freshman linebacker has been a tackling machine for the sixth-ranked Bulldogs, defying those who thought he wasn't big enough.

Phillip Fulmer isn't ready to do what Lloyd Carr did. The Tennessee coach wants to put the Volunteers on top one more time before he's through.