Three area football teams are playing for history, while two more are looking to reclaim their spots in the state semifinals on Friday, as the quarterfinal round of the GHSA playoffs gets underway.
Buford football is gunning for its ninth straight Final Four berth when it travels to take on Thomson on Friday in a game broadcast live on WDUN AM 550.
The Wolves (11-1) have begun their annual elevation, having not allowed a single point since playing for the Region 8-AAAA title on the final week of the regular season. In fact, Buford has outscored three straight opponents by a combined 119-0 and are allowing just 6.25 points per contest.
The Bulldogs (11-1), meanwhile, enter the showdown averaging 44.9 points per game but are also allowing 20 points per contest. Thomson does have a winning tradition, including five state titles (the last in 2002). Its last state quarterfinal appearance came in 2012, but the Bulldogs are trying to rebuild that tradition, coming off a combined record of 7-14 the past two seasons.
Mill Creek is fast building a winning tradition, and the Hawks can continue their ascent on Friday when they play host to Archer in the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals in Hoschton in a game broadcast live on WDUN FM 102.9.
Mill Creek has already matched its deepest ever postseason march, but the Hawks (12-0) want to go at least one step further -- and know that will be tough against an Archer squad coming off a runner-up finish in last year’s Class AAAAAA bracket.
The Tigers (11-1) are only in their sixth season as a program but are already loaded with experienced talent, including receiver Kyle Davis, offensive lineman E.J. Price, amongst a number of other top-rated collegiate prospects. Archer is coming off a razor-thin 24-21 second round defeat of McEachern, while Mill Creek has largely dominated its two first round foes -- though the Tigers will undoubtedly present the Hawks’ toughest test to date.
In Class AAA, Dawson County is also expecting its toughest challenge of 2015 after claiming its first ever quarterfinal berth.
The Tigers (8-3) will play host to Blessed Trinity in a game broadcast on northgeorgiasportslink.com after battling past Spencer in the second round. Dawson County has done it with offense and defense this postseason and will need both at the top of their game to knock off the Titans (11-0-1), who pulled away from Jefferson for a 38-12 win last week. Blessed Trinity reached the state semifinals last season, while Dawson County is looking to continue its historic run.
Rabun County is also one step away from its first ever semifinal contest. The Wildcats (11-1) reached their second ever quarterfinal showdown last week via a 41-7 defeat of Early County and will now hit the road for the first time this postseason when they take on Jefferson County in Louisville.
The Warriors (10-2) are coming off a hardfought 23-21 win over Wesleyan and are also looking for their first ever semifinal appearance.
Meanwhile, Commerce is looking to get back into the Class A Public semifinals for the second straight season.
The Tigers (8-3) travel to face Marion County on Friday. The Eagles (10-1) won a state title just two seasons ago and reached the semifinal round last campaign.
In other words there are five huge games on tap this Friday, and the radio stations of Jacobs Media and AccessWDUN’s Friday Game Night will have all the angles covered. Check back here throughout the week for feature stories and previews leading up to Friday’s showdowns.
STATE QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE FOR AREA TEAMS, NOV. 27
CLASS AAAAAA
Archer at Mill Creek -- Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM
CLASS AAAA
Buford at Thomson -- Radio: WDUN AM 550
CLASS AAA
Blessed Trinity at Dawson County -- Radio: northgeorgiasportslink.com
CLASS AA
Rabun County at Jefferson County
CLASS A Public
Commerce at Marion County
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/351849/five-games-five-state-hopefuls-on-the-line-friday