R5 T2 Sandy Creek at R3 T1 Wayne County
Sandy Creek has advanced to the quarterfinals five straight seasons and used a 23-14 victory over Columbia last week to stamp its seventh consecutive 10-win season. Wayne County will look to stop Ole Miss-commit Eric Swinney, who has led Sandy Creek with 1,587 rushing yards this year. Wayne County’s offense is led by Anfernee Jordan, who took 24 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns a 14-6 victory over Eagle’s Landing in the first round.
R2 T3 Baldwin at R7 T1 Cartersville
Former Mays defensive coordinator Lee Hannah led Baldwin to its first playoff victory since 2010 last week as the Braves topped Worth County 17-7. Baldwin will face Cartersville for the first time in school history and will aim to snap the Purple Hurricanes’ 9-game winning streak. Cartersville is also led by a first-year head coach. Joey King was Class AAAA runner-up Carrollton’s offensive coordinator last season and he has helped Trevor Lawrence have a breakout season as Cartersville’s staring quarterback . Lawrence has completed 136-of-212 passes this season for 2,386 yards and 21 touchdowns.
R6 T2 Marist at R4 T1 Griffin
Marist faces another difficult opponent after stamping a 30-13 win over Whitewater in the first round. The 10-1 War Eagles will visit the defending Class AAAA champs Griffin, which topped Liberty County 46-12 last week. Marist pounded the football for 357 rushing yards against Whitewater and Griffin used its mix of passing and running the football to light up the scoreboard in its first round victory. The Bears’ sophomore quarterback Tylan Morton finished with 297 passing yards, while running back Malik Miller took 31 carries for 203 yards and four touchdowns.
R2 T2 Mary Persons at R8 T1 Buford
Buford enters the matchup riding a state-best 36-game win streak and will face a Mary Persons team that sits at 9-2 and could clinch a 10-win season for the third straight year with a victory. Mary Person’s shutout Westover 14-0 in the first round and Buford also posted a shutout with its 63-0 drubbing of Southeast Whitfield.
R4 T2 Eastside at R6 T1 St. Pius
St. Pius has won its last nine games and dominated Fayette County 24-0 in the opening round. The Golden Lions only threw the ball twice in their win over Fayette County and rushed for 323 yards. The sophomore duo of quarterback Austin Holloway and receiver Josh Sims lead Eastside, which opened the playoffs with a 35-34 double-overtime victory over Thomson.
R8 T3 Stephens County at R2 T1 West Laurens
West Laurens’ win over Mary Persons in the Region 2 championship game showed what type of talent is on this year’s team and the Raiders followed it with a 23-17 overtime victory over Bainbridge in the first round. The victory marked West Laurens first playoff win in 20 years. Stephens County lost its last two games of the regular season to North Oconee (21-14) and Buford (56-0) but opened the playoffs with a bang, defeating host Pickens 42-14.
R3 T2 Burke County at R5 T1 Woodward Academy
Burke County has advanced to the quarterfinals the last four seasons and claimed the Class AAA state championship in 2011. Dual-threat quarterback Caleeb Roberson leads the Bears and he rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns while completing 10-of-16 passes for 113 yards in last week’s 42-14 win over Locust Grove. Woodward Academy has not made the quarterfinals since 1999 but come in heavily favored thanks to junior running back Elijah Holyfield. The four-star back has rushed for 28 touchdowns and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
R8 T2 North Oconee at R1 T1 Cairo
North Oconee will travel 250 miles south to Cairo for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Kawon Bryant leads North Oconee and rushed for 360 yards and five touchdowns in the Titans’ 49-6 victory over Gilmer in the first round. Cairo topped Veterans 24-7 in the first round and will look to match the running ability of Bryant with its star ball carrier Jeremiah Hill. The running back/linebacker rushed for 198 yards off 22 carries last week and has accounted for 20 rushing touchdowns this season.
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