The Georgia high school football playoffs hit the round of 16 this weekend as 112 teams remain in contention for seven state championships that will be played Dec. 11-12 at the Georgia Dome.
Here are is a look at some of the more intriguing players, teams and matchups as the playoffs move toward the quarterfinals.
The favorites: Every No. 1-ranked team is in contention. They are Colquitt County (AAAAAA), Stockbridge (AAAAA), Cartersville (AAAA), Calhoun (AAA), Benedictine (AA) and Prince Avenue Christian (A). All are undefeated. Stockbridge and Prince Avenue have never won state titles.
Top players: Every AJC Super 11 player has a game Friday except Ben Cleveland, whose Stephens County team lost in the first round. Only five from the 2014 group were still playing at this point a year ago. The 2015 class includes Tre Lamar of No. 3 Roswell in AAAAAA, Derrick Brown of No. 3 Lanier in AAAAA, Elijah Holyfield of No. 3 Woodward Academy in AAAA, Antwuan Jackson of No. 3 Cedar Grove in AAA and Charlie Woerner of No. 3 Rabun County in AA.
Cinderellas: Spencer of Columbus, which finished 1-9 a year ago, won its first state-playoff game in GHSA history last week, a 47-34 victory over Washington County. Spencer won four state titles, most recently in 1967, out of the old Georgia Interscholastic Association, the governing body for black schools during segregation. On Friday, Spencer travels to Dawson County, which won its first-ever region title this season. The winner will be in the GHSA quarterfinals for the first time.
Also making history: Drew (opened in 2009) and Sonoraville (2006) won their first-ever playoff games last week. Drew plays South Paulding on Friday, and the winner will be a quarterfinal for the first time. Lanier, despite a 30-4 record over the past three seasons, is still one victory from its first quarterfinal. Lanier is at home against Northgate. Jonesboro can make the quarters for first time since reaching the Class C semifinals in 1949. Jonesboro is at home against Carrollton.
Gone already: Stephenson, ranked No. 2 in AAAAA, was upended by Rome 7-6 last week. Northside-Warner Robins, the 2014 AAAAA champion, lost to Ware County 16-7 and finished 9-2, ending a state-record streak of 10-win seasons at 17. No. 9 Walton in AAAAAA and No. 4 Darlington in AA also were eliminated by unranked teams last week.
Best second-round game: Fourth-ranked Archer plays at seventh-ranked McEachern in a AAAAAA game between 10-1 teams that were ranked No. 1 (Archer) and No. 2 (McEachern) in preseason. Both have seven major Division I recruits, among them AJC Super 11 players Dylan Singleton of Archer and Julian Rochester of McEachern.
Another gem: Fifth-ranked Jefferson travels to second-ranked Blessed Trinity in AAA. Blessed Trinity tied Cedar Grove 13-13 two weeks ago in the Region 4 championship game. Bad weather canceled overtime, and the No. 1 seed was determined by a coin toss. Cedar Grove won the toss and elected to take the No. 2 seed – apparently to avoid Jefferson in the second round. Cedar Grove plays at unranked Region 8 champion Oconee County.
Other top games: Seven others match Top 10 teams. They are No. 10 Valdosta at No. 2 Grayson (AAAAAA), No. 8 Camden County at No. 2 Roswell (AAAAAA), No. 9 Northgate at No. 3 Lanier (AAAAA), No. 5 Mays at No. 4 Houston County (AAAAA), No. 10 Spalding at No. 3 Woodward Academy (AAAA), No. 9 Marist at No. 4 Mary Persons (AAAA) and No. 10 Peach County at No. 1 Calhoun (AAA) and No. 8 Wesleyan at No. 7 Jefferson County (AA).
October 30, 2015 – Norcross, Ga: GAC linebacker Aiden Jarrett (50) and running back Marcus Young (4, center) celebrate their win over Lovett at Greater Atlanta Christian Friday in Norcross, Ga., October 30, 2015. GAC won 34-7. PHOTO / JASON GETZ
