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Class AAAA
South Effingham at Westover
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany
Records, rankings: South Effingham is 7-4, the No. 4 seed from Region 3-AAAA and unranked; Westover is 8-3, the No. 2 seed from 1-AAAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. South Effingham won its first playoff game in its 17-season history last week with a 43-33 victory over Westside of Macon. The Mustangs also were one of only four No. 4 seeds to advance to the second round. The other 36 lost. 2. South Effingham's top player is 1,000-yard rusher Josh Mercer, who is committed to N.C. State. He scored three touchdowns last week, and QB Brandon James threw three TD passes. 3. Westover RB Shannon Saunders rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns in Westover's 26-21 victory over sixth-ranked Jonesboro in the first round. It was a rematch of a regular-season game. Each time, Westover led 12-8 at halftime. But Jonesboro won the first one 34-12. It was Westover's first home game in the state playoffs.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Westover by 7
Winner plays: Grady/Monroe Area winner
Grady at Monroe Area
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Legion Field, Monroe
Records, rankings: Grady is 9-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAAA and unranked; Monroe Area is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. With his team trailing 14-13, Monroe Area QB Stanton Truitt scored on a 33-yard run with 1:47 left in a 21-14 victory over Shaw in the first round. Shaw had failed on a fourth-and-1 at the Monroe Area 41-yard line before the winning drive. 2. Hakeem Todd rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown for Grady in a 27-17 road victory over River Ridge last week. Grady blocked a punt and forced three turnovers in the first half in route to a 21-7 lead. 3. Region 8 champion Monroe Area is the leader of a top quarter of the draw that now includes no ranked teams. One will make the semifinals. Only Grady has been that far before (1953, 2005).
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Grady by 1
Winner plays: South Effingham/Westover winner
Monroe at Burke County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Bear Den, Waynesboro
Records, rankings: Monroe is 8-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAA and unranked; Burke County is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 3-AAAA and ranked No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Monroe QB Charles Stafford was 18-of-30 passing for 315 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-17 victory over fifth-ranked Griffin last week. 2. Burke County QB Donquell Green scored four touchdowns, one on a 98-yard kickoff return, threw a TD pass and intercepted a pass in a 35-7 first-round victory over Perry. Green has rushed for 1,600 yards and passed for 1,058. 3. Monroe's Region 1 was a big winner in the first round. No. 3 seed Westover also beat a ranked team, Jonesboro, 26-21. This is the first time that two of Dougherty County's four schools have advanced to the round of 16 since 2007, when Westover and Monroe also did it. It has happened only four times since 1990, when the GHSA expanded the playoffs to 16 teams.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Burke County by 14
Winner plays: Dalton/Sandy Creek winner
Dalton at Sandy Creek
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Battlefield, Tyrone
Records, rankings: Dalton is 8-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAAA and unranked; Sandy Creek is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAA and ranked No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Dalton won its first playoff game since 2005 last week in the 17-14 victory over Carver of Atlanta. Daniel Palacios made a 30-yard field goal to break a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter. It also was Dalton's first road playoff win since 1992. 2. Sandy Creek RB Delvin Weems rushed for 221 yards and RB Eric Swinney ran for 145 in a 55-0 victory over Eastside that ended with a running clock. Sandy Creek had 669 yards in total offense. 3. Sandy Creek's .946 winning percentage (53-3) over the past five seasons is the best in Georgia. Buford's two forfeited victories conspired to move Sandy Creek to the top. Sandy Creek also has won 13 of its last 14 playoff games.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Sandy Creek by 30
Winner plays: Monroe/Burke County winner
Mary Persons at Cairo
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, West Thomas Stadium, Cairo
Records, rankings: Mary Persons is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 2-AAAA and unranked; Cairo is 9-2, the No. 1 seed from 1-AAAA and ranked No. 7.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Cairo's Tom Fallaw got his 100th victory as a coach in the 24-13 win over Riverdale in the first round. Cairo struggled on offense against the No. 4 seed and didn't lead until P.J. Davis's 45-yard run in the third quarter. 2. Mary Persons RB Nick Davis rushed for 163 yards on 28 carries in a 40-14 victory over Statesboro. It was Mary Persons' first home playoff game since 2003. 3. Cairo is one of five teams that can make the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive time this season. The others are Buford, Carver, Grayson and Lincoln County. Mary Persons has made 15 quarterfinals, but none since 1998.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Cairo by 9
Winner plays: LaGrange/Ridgeland winner
LaGrange at Ridgeland
When, where:7:30 p.m. Friday, Bowers and Painter Field, Rossville
Records, rankings: LaGrange is 6-5, the No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAAA and unranked; Ridgeland is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAAA and ranked No. 9.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Ridgeland's best player is DB/WR Vonn Bell, one of only five Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 players who survived the first round. But Ridgeland has other good players. RB Darrell Bridges rushed for 202 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries in a 45-21 victory over Washington last week. 2. LaGrange's defense scored three touchdowns in a 59-46 victory over Chestatee in the first round. Demoton Boyd scored two of them on interceptions returns and also scored on a 62-yard run from scrimmage. DL Joe Sanders, who has committed to Tennessee, returned a fumble for a touchdown. 3. LaGrange broke a school record for points in a playoff game against Chestatee. The win also broke LaGrange's four-game losing streak in the playoffs, the longest in school history. LaGrange is 55-27-1 all-time in the playoffs. LaGrange also averted a third consecutive losing season, which has not happened since 1965-67.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Ridgeland by 21
Winner plays: Mary Persons/Cairo winner
Wayne County at Stockbridge
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Stockbridge
Records, rankings: Wayne County is 6-4-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAAA and unranked; Stockbridge is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 4-AAAA and ranked No. 4.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Stockbridge, which started football in 1964, achieved a 10-win season for the first time and its second playoff victory in history with the 27-14 victory over Worth County last week. QB Trenton Earl passed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. 2. Wayne County got its first playoff victory in 16 years in a 35-14 win over Baldwin. That came in the third season under coach Jody Grooms. His previous coaching job was at Lakeside of Evans, where in 2009 he led that school to its first playoff victory in 17 years. That also came in Grooms' third season. 3. Stockbridge is trying to make its first quarterfinal in history. Wayne County is trying to make its first since 1993 and fifth overall.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Stockbridge by 11
Winner plays: Carrollton/Marist winner
Carrollton at Marist
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Carrollton is 8-3, the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAA and ranked No. 10; Marist is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 6-AAAA and ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: Carrollton won 43-6 in a 1993 Region 5-AAA playoff game.
Three things to know: 1. Carrollton RB Trey Chivers leads his team in yards rushing (790) and receiving (417) and had 166 total yards and touchdowns rushing and receiving in a 40-7 victory over Stephens County in the first round. 2. Marist QB Myles Willis, who has committed to Boston College, rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and was 6-of-9 passing for 79 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-0 first-round victory over Gilmer. Steven Morris had three sacks. 3. No other AAAA game matches teams with this much tradition. Carrollton last missed the playoffs in 1987. Marist last missed in 1982. One or the other has made the quarterfinals for 22 of the past 25 years, missing only in 1995, 2001 and 2010. Carrollton has won seven state titles and played in the finals of four others. The two schools have played in 22 state championship games. Carrollton has won seven state titles, Marist two.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Marist by 3
Winner plays: Wayne County/Stockbridge winner
Class AAA
Rockmart at Carver (Columbus)
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Columbus
Records, rankings: Rockmart is 6-5, the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAA and unranked; Carver is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 2-AAA and ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. QB Torrance McGee overcame three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and passed for 170 yards and two touchdowns and scored a touchdown in a 42-21 victory over Dodge County in the first round. Caver led 35-6 in the second quarter. 2. Rockmart won its first playoff game since 1988 in a 34-33 victory over Appling County last week. It was Rockmart's first road win in the playoffs since beating Valdosta 52-21 in the 1950 Class A championship game. QB Julian Welch's 8-yard run with 2:19 left was the game-winner. 3. Carver is one victory from its sixth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals. The only other schools that can achieve that this season are Buford, Cairo, Grayson and Lincoln County. Cairo had made only one other quarterfinal in its history before the current streak started.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Carver by 31
Winner plays: Buford/North Oconee winner
Buford at North Oconee
When, where:7:30 p.m. Friday, Titan Stadium, Bogart
Records, rankings: Buford is 8-3, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA and ranked No. 3; North Oconee is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAA and ranked No. 8.
Last meeting: Buford won 44-7 in the second round of the 2008 Class AA playoffs.
Three things to know: 1. Buford RB Zavior Hoxie rushed for 109 yards and QB Montgomery VanGorder had three TD passes in a 41-27 victory over Cedar Grove in the first round. Buford had 470 yards in total offense. Cedar Grove QB Johnathon McCrary was 305 yards short of the state record for career passing yards. He was held to about 200 yards. 2. Sophomore RB Kawon Bryant rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns in North Oconee's 37-14 victory over Ringgold last week. North Oconee QB Nick Colvin, a preseason all-state pick, and DB John Jarrard left the game with first-half injuries and did not return. 3. Buford is 12-0 in second-round games since 2000, winning by an average of 39-10. North Oconee is 0-3 in the second round, all over the past five seasons.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Buford by 5
Winner plays: Rockmart/Carver winner
Johnson (Savannah) at Thomson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Brickyard, Thomson
Records, rankings: Johnson is 5-6, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAA and unranked; Thomson is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 3-AAA and ranked No. 1.
Last meeting: Thomson won 20-6 in the 1977 regular season.
Three things to know: 1. Thomson QB Chris Tutt was injured on the first play of the game and didn't return in a 27-3 victory over Jackson last week. RB Chris Jordan rushed for 121 yards on 13 carries, and William Bussey returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown. Jackson had three yards rushing. 2. Johnson QB Shyheim Roberts threw five TD passes in a 32-23 victory over Chapel Hill in the first round. Three were longer than 50 yards, including a 67-yarder on Johnson's first play from scrimmage. Johnson led 25-23 with 2:18 left when RB Corbin Mitchell scored on a 43-yard run to seal it. 3. Johnson's victory was the Savannah school's first in a state playoff game. Johnson, which began playing football in the 1950s, did win a region playoff game in 1992 over Savannah and played in a state championship game in 1963 in the Georgia Interscholastic Association. But there were no playoffs leading up to the '63 title game, which Johnson lost 39-7 to South Fulton.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Thomson by 39
Winner plays: Blessed Trinity/Cartersville winner
Blessed Trinity at Cartersville
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Weinman Stadium, Cartersville
Records, rankings: Blessed Trinity is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAA and ranked No. 9; Cartersville is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAA and ranked No. 6.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Junior QB Brooks Barden threw six touchdowns, passed for 218 yards and had more than 100 yards rushing in Cartersville's 56-21 victory over Jackson County last week. 2. QB Spencer McManes threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns in Blessed Trinity's 35-14 victory over White County. Blessed Trinity had beaten White County only 21-19 in a regular-season meeting that came down to a two-point conversion stop. 3. Cartersville is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the 11th time, first since 2004. Cartersville is 0-3 in second-round games since then. Blessed Trinity, which started football in 2001, has never advanced the second round. The Titans lost to Lamar County 28-14 last season in their only other second-round appearance.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Cartersville by 10
Winner plays: Johnson/Thomson winner
Peach County at Pierce County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bearville Stadium, Blackshear
Records, rankings: Peach County is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from 2-AAA and ranked No. 5; Pierce County is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 1-AAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Pierce County beat Central of Carrollton 33-27 in the first round after trailing 27-14 with 2:11 left, when Central still had the ball. LB Deshaves Hagan forced a bad pitch, and DB Darius Foreman ran it 65 yards for a touchdown. Pierce got the ball back with a minute left and drove 60 yards for the tying touchdown, a sneak by QB Tyler Harris. Pierce's extra point was blocked. But Pierce stopped Central in overtime, and RB Josh Henderson scored on a 15-yard sweep to win it. For more on Pierce's comeback, read this ajc.com story. 2. Peach County QB Greg Williams threw for 162 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 victory over Jefferson County in the first round. Pierce County, which had two punts blocked last week, will notice that Peach blocked a punt against Jefferson County and returned the loose ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put away what had been a close game. 3. Pierce County's victory over Central was the school's first playoff win since 2002, when Pierce made the quarterfinals for only the second time in history. The other was in 1982. Peach County will make the quarterfinals for the eighth time in 10 seasons with a win.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Peach County by 17
Winner plays: Morgan County/North Hall winner
Morgan County at North Hall
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Brickyard, Gainesville
Records, rankings: Morgan County is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAA and unranked; North Hall is 9-2, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. North Hall RB Kevin Christmas rushed for 142 yards, part of North Hall's 388 yards in total offense, in a 38-7 victory over Woodward Academy last week. The margin of victory was vindication for those who felt North Hall was overlooked in the rankings this season. Woodward had spent four weeks in the Top 10 while North Hall spent two. 2. Morgan County held on to its 24-21 victory over Gordon Central last week when Carter Shultz, Michael Gray and Stewart Spence forced a fumble at the Morgan 2-yard line with 0.4 seconds left. Morgan County broke a four-game losing streak in first-round games. HB Michael Gray and FB Marquis Benton each passed 1,000 yards rushing on the season. 3. North Hall is trying to reach its first quarterfinal since 2007, third in history, all since 2004. That's also the last time that North Hall lost a playoff game at home. The Trojans are 7-0 at home in the playoffs since. Morgan County needs a win to make its first quarterfinal since 1992.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: North Hall by 12
Winner plays: Peach County/Pierce County winner
Washington County at Callaway
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Callaway Stadium, LaGrange
Records, rankings: Washington County is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAA and ranked No. 4; Callaway is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from 4-AAA and ranked No. 10.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Washington County QB William Walker threw six TD passes in the first half of a 55-7 victory over Pike County in the first round. Those were the only passes that he completed in the game. They totaled 188 yards. Washington County also had two backs with more than 100 yards rushing in Melvin Hill (113) and Jukilo Johnson (105). 2. Callaway won its 10th consecutive game in a 49-7 victory over Tattnall County last week. QB Tez Parks threw a TD pass and had two TD runs, one of 56 yards. Callaway scored six touchdowns - all of 20 yards or longer - in the second and third quarters. 3. Both teams have suffered their only losses to undefeated teams. Callaway lost its opener 43-37 to Heard County. Washington County lost 28-14 to Thomson.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Washington County by 16
Winner plays: Hart County/St. Pius winner
Hart County at St. Pius
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, George B. Maloof Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Hart County is 6-5, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAA and unranked; St. Pius is 9-2, the No. 1 seed from 6-AAA and ranked No. 7.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. St. Pius beat Dawson County 72-28 in the first round. The 72 points were the most in St. Pius history and third-most in GHSA playoff history. Three St. Pius backs went over 100 yards rushing in QB Jack Spear (148), RB Ryan Braswell (127 with four touchdowns) and Branden Mitchell (104). 2. Hart County won its first playoff game since 2006 after four first-round losses by beating Adairsville 32-11. The victory also prevented a losing season, which would have been the school's first since 1991. 3. St. Pius and Hart County have two common opponents. St. Pius beat North Oconee 50-14 and Blessed Trinity 24-17. Hart lost to North Oconee 42-14 and Blessed Trinity 24-10.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: St. Pius by 23
Winner plays: Washington County/Callaway winner
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