Even though things get tougher the further you go in the playoffs, none of the five area teams still remaining would give up their spot as they prepare for Friday night’s quarterfinal action.
Region champions Buford and Rabun County both lost coin flips for homefield advantage and will face tough road games, as will Commerce in Class A Public, which takes on No. 1 Marion County.
The Wolves face one of the toughest atmospheres in the state taking on Thomson, while Rabun County travels to Jefferson County looking for its first-ever semifinal berth. The Wildcats lost in 1998 in the their only other quarterfinals appearance. (To watch a video preview of the contest click here.)
Region 7-AAA champion Dawson County, which already has set program marks for wins in a season and a first-ever quarterfinals appearance, entertains Blessed Trinity in Class AAA but could be without two of its top three players, as Tucker Maxwell and Hunter Mitchell battle injury. Both are game-time decisions.
And in what could be the game of the night in the entire state, Mill Creek plays host to Archer in a showdown of Gwinnett County powerhouses. The Hawks are looking for their first-ever semifinals berth.
For a look at all of the night's quarterfinal 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. 27
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
CLASS AAAAAA
Six No. 1 seeds escaped through to the third round, including Mill Creek from 7-AAAAAA, with four facing each other in the third round: Grayson (8-AAAAAA) will take on Westlake (3-AAAAAA) and Colquitt County (1-AAAAAA) playing South Forsyth (6-AAAAAA). ... Archer (No. 2 seed 8-AAAAAA) and Collins Hill (No. 3 seed from 7-AAAAAA) are the only non-region winners to make to the quarterfinals. ... While defenses typically win titles, they will be challenged this week as 6 of the top 8 offensive units advanced to the Elite 8, led by Colquitt County, which is averaging 47.4 ppg. Colquitt has scored 110 points in its first two playoff games. ... Only 5 of the top 9 defenses made it through, paced by Mill Creek, which is allowing just 7.3 ppg. The Hawks have allowed a AAAAAA-low 27 points in the first two rounds. ... Grayson and Roswell are the only teams to have both offense and defense ranked in the top 4 in AAAAAA. ... Colquitt County, the defending AAAAAA state champ, is working on a 27-game win streak.
ARCHER at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- RADIO: WDUN 102.9 FM
-- ARCHER (11-1): No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAAA, defeated McEachern 24-21 in the second round
-- MILL CREEK (12-0): No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA, defeated Newnan 44-14 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Mill Creek is hoping to snap a two-game losing streak in the quarterfinals (2010 and 2012) and make school history with its first-ever trip to the semifinals. ... The No. 1-ranked Hawks defense will be tested this week against the Tigers. Archer Sr. QB Will Bearden had a big game with 213 yards passing last week and scored the game-winning TD last week on a 1-yard run with 35 seconds left. ... It will be a test of wills against a Mill Creek defense that has held three opponents to negative yards rushing vs. an Archer offense that is averaging over 388 yards a game. ... Mill Creek K Brenton King could be a huge weapon. King is 15-of-18 on field goals with a long of 50 on the season. ... The winner will get the Colquitt County-South Forsyth winner next week in the semifinals.
CLASS AAAA
Defenses will be challenged the rest of the way in AAAA. Seven of the top eight offensive teams are still alive and all are averaging well over 30 points a game. ... Also, seven of the eight region champions are still alive. Only Region 2-AAAA champ Mary Persons failed to make it to the quarterfinals, falling to Region 6-AAAA No. 2 seed Marist. ... The top two offensive teams in AAAA will meet when Buford (547, 45.5 ppg) travels to Thomson (539, 44.9 ppg). However, Buford is the top defensive team in AAAA yielding just 75 points (6.2 ppg). ... Woodward Academy plays host to Marist is the first meeting between the two teams since 1995. Marist has won 10 straight in the series and has not lost to the Eagles since 1985. ... Six of the eight teams left also have won state titles. Only Jonesboro and Woodward Academy have not won a championship.
BUFORD at THOMSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Thomson
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- BUFORD (11-1): No. 1 seed from Region 8-AAAA, defeated Worth County 42-0 in second round
-- THOMSON (11-1): No. 1 seed from Region 3-AAAA, defeated Grady 44-21 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: Buford leads series 2-0. The Wolves won 41-7 in 2009. ... Buford is making its 16th consecutive quarterfinals appearance. The Wolves are in the quarterfinals for the 16th consecutive season. The Wolves are 13-2 in the quarterfinals during that span. ... Thomson is looking for its first semifinal appearance since 2002. ... It should be a test of wills when the Bulldogs have the ball.Thomas is averaging over 300 yards rushing a game while Buford is yielding just 50 yards a game on the ground. ... The winner gets the Woodward-Academy-Marist winner next week in the semifinals.
CLASS AAA
The AAA bracket is overloaded on one side. The No. 1 seeds are on one side while two No. 2 seeds, one No. 3 seed, and one No. 4 seed are on the other. ... A compelling matchup could be No. 1 and defending state champion Calhoun taking on Region 8-AAA No. 3 seed Elbert County. The two teams met in the quarterfinals last year with the Yellow Jackets taking just a 19-17 win. The Blue Devils have given up just 15 total points in their first two playoff games. Calhoun needed a late touchdown last week to get by Peach County. ... Region 2-AAA Westside, which takes on Region 4-AAA No. 2 seed Cedar Grove, is one of three No. 4 seeds to advance to the quarterfinals in any classification in 2015.
BLESSED TRINITY at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- BLESSED TRINITY (11-01): No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAA, defeated Jefferson 38-12 in the second round
-- DAWSON COUNTY (9-3): No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAA, defeated Spencer 22-12 in the second round.
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams could be without some of their biggest stars as both teams were hit by injuries in their second round wins. The Tigers lost Sr. WR Tucker Maxwell (quad) and Sr. RB Hunter Mitchell (ankle) in the first half and the offense struggled without them. The defense put in a huge effort to hold off Spencer in the second half. ... The Titans lost QB Conor Davis and RB Milton Shelton in the first quarter but managed to get by the Dragons. ... It is the first-ever quarterfinals appearance for Dawson County, which also established a new mark for wins in a season last week. ... The key matchup will be the Tigers offense, which is averaging 30.1 ppg, against the Titans defense, which is third in AAA allowing just 9.6 ppg on the season. ... The winner gets the Calhoun-Elbert County winner next week in the semifinals.
CLASS AA
Expect points to be scored with the top five offensive teams still alive, led by defending champion Benedictine, which is averaging 46.2 ppg. The Cadets, however, face a tough matchup with Fitzgerald, which is averaging 38.4 ppg and was a semifinalists in 2014. ... If the Cadets win and Rabun County can knock off Jefferson County, it would set up a rematch of last year’s second round showdown. ... Rabun County WR Charlie Woerner, a Georgia-commit, has saved his best for the end of the season. The senior is averaging 200 yards receiving with 6 TDs in the first two rounds. ... Pace Academy is the only the No. 4 seed to advance as six No. 1 seeds pushed through to the quarterfinals.
RABUN COUNTY at JEFFERSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Warrior Field, Louisville
-- RABUN COUNTY (11-1): No. 1 seed from Region 8-AA, defeated Early County 41-7 in the second round
-- JEFFERSON COUNTY (10-2): No. 1 seed from Region 3-AA, defeated Wesleyan 23-21 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... There’s a lot riding on this for the Wildcats. A win would give them the most wins in a season in program history and also vault them into their first-ever semifinals. In 1998 they lost to Taylor County in their only other quarterfinals appearance when they also finished 11-2. ... It will be another interesting matchup with Rabun County the stingiest defense in AA allowing just 89 points (7.4 ppg) while the Warriors are 4th in offense (461, 38.4 ppg). ... The Wildcats offense is 3rd (467, 38.8 ppg) in AA while the Warriors are giving up 18.7 ppg on the season. ... Rabun’s Charlie Woerner had another huge playoff game with 209 yards and four TDs receiving last week. ... The Wildcats will have to find a way to contain Jefferson County QB T.J. Bell, who has passed for 1,738 yards and run for another 1,063 on the season. The winner gets the Benedictine-Fitzgerald winner next week in the semifinals.
CLASS A Public
The whole bracket took a hit last week as four lower seeded teams pulled the upset. ... Commerce (9th seed) has a tough road traveling to No. 1 seed Marion County. But the Eagles struggled to get by No. 16 seed Twiggs County in a narrow 22-20 win AND lost their top running back in Lorenzo Smothers. ... 2014 state runner-up Irwin County (3rd seed) is still alive and will take on 11th seed Trion for a berth in the semifinals. ...
COMMERCE at MARION COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagle Stadium, Buena Vista
-- COMMERCE (8-3): No. 9 seed, defeated No. 8 seed Charlton County 31-29 in the first round
-- MARION COUNTY (10-1): No. 1 seed, defeated Twiggs County 22-20 in the first round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams lost in the semifinals in 2014 while the Eagles won the state title in 2013. ... Lorenzo Smothers, who does a little of everything for the Eagles and has rushed for 1,063 yards and 13 TDs, is out after suffering an injury in last week’s win. However, the Eagles have another major cog in their rushing attack in Mykelle Kelley, who has 1,201 yards and 10 TDs rushing. ... Commerce counters with RBs Cole Chancey (960 yards) and Will Thomas (939 yards). The winner gets the Clinch County-Johnson County winner next week in the semifinals.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/352537/playoffs-area-teams-face-tough-quarterfinal-matchups