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closeColquitt County (8-1) at Northside (8-1)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Northside leads 1-0
Last year: Northside won 31-7
Key Packers: QB Tyler Brown; RB Tevin King; WR Quin Roberson
Key Eagles: DB Brison Williams, Sr.; DB Brandon Brown, Sr.; RB Shaquille O’Neill, Jr.
Scouting report: Last week’s loss to Warner Robins hurts, but Northside can still clinch the GHSA Region 1-AAAAA championship with a win over the Packers. The Packers have seen a complete turnaround in the second year of head coach Rush Propst. They have won eight games for the first time since 2001. Colquitt County passes the ball more than any other team in 1-AAAAA. The Eagles can disrupt the offense by pressuring Brown.
Prediction: Northside
Warner Robins (6-3) at Lowndes (8-1)
Time: 8 p.m.
Series history: Lowndes leads 11-8
Last year: Lowndes won 35-14
Key Demons: DT Jeffrey Whitaker, Sr.; DT Andrew Lauritsen, Sr.; RB Jonathan Jackson, Sr.
Key Vikings: RB Khary Franklin, Sr.; LB Telvin Smith, Sr.; OL Ed Christian, Sr.
Scouting report: The Demons had their biggest win of the season, but they will likely need to also beat Lowndes — unless Houston County can upset Valdosta — to reach the playoffs. The Vikings have been like a team possessed following their loss to Northside earlier in the season. They have outscored opponents 155-22 in the three games since the defeat. Both teams run the wing-T, but Warner Robins has a little more variety in its attack.
Prediction: Lowndes
Thomasville (7-2) at Fitzgerald (9-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Thomasville leads 6-5
Last year: Thomasville won 21-15
Key Bulldogs: DB Fred Holton, Sr.
Key Purple Hurricane: RB Trenton Pruitt, Sr.; FB Nick Williams, Sr.; QB Caleb Nobles, Jr.
Scouting report: Thomasville lost two games early, but the losses were to defending AAA champ Cairo and Colquitt County, which is 8-1 and a playoff team from competitive 1-AAAAA. The Bulldogs have wins over Brooks County and Thomas County Central, which has won 1-AAAA. They also have allowed more than 10 points only once in their past seven games. The Purple Hurricane haven’t allowed more than 18 points this season, and they have held six opponents to seven points or less. Holton is committed to Georgia Tech.
Prediction: Fitzgerald
Stratford (4-6) at Pinewood Christian (5-5)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Stratford leads 11-3
Earlier this year: Stratford won 31-14
Key Eagles: RB Marquez Lemon, Jr.; WR Christopher Geeslin, Sr.; OL/DL Matthew Waldorf, Sr.
Scouting report: The Eagles already have an impressive road victory over the Patriots this season. Stratford actually has a favorable playoff draw even though it finished last in 2-AAA. Lemon got loose for 233 rushing yards last week. If that’s a sign of things to come, then the Eagles could be a tough out.
Prediction: Stratford
Greene County (4-5) at Northeast (6-3)
Time/Place: 7:30 p.m./Thompson Stadium
Series history: Northeast leads 1-0
Last year: Northeast won 51-7
Key Tigers: QB William Leslie; WR J.R. Andrews; RB Doug Jones
Key Raiders: QB Mike Palmer, Sr.; RB Calvinaugh Mitchell, Soph.; RB Curtis Whisby, Soph.
Scouting report: Greene County clinches a playoff spot with a win, while Northeast can tie for first in 4-AA with a win. The Raiders are one of the hottest teams in the region after winning five of their past six games. The most recent win came against Putnam County, which was previously undefeated in the region. The Tigers will have to shut down Palmer to win.
Prediction: Northeast
Jefferson County (9-0) at Dublin (7-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Dublin leads 2-0
Last year: Dublin won 13-12
Key Warriors: ATH B.J. Bostic, Sr.; QB Chester Stone, Jr.
Key Irish: DL Emanuel Gilmore, Sr.; RB Cedric O’Neal, Soph.; RB Josh Jordan, Sr.
Scouting report: Dublin has won two straight over the Warriors, including a win in the second round of the playoffs in 2007. An Irish win last year clinched a region championship. But these are different teams, and Jefferson County will be a significant favorite tonight. A loss by Dublin drops it to the No. 4 seed and a probable road trip to Charlton County in the first round. The Irish will have to slow down Bostic, a Georgia Tech commitment, to win. He will line up all over the field, so Dublin has to keep tabs on him.
Prediction: Dublin
Upson-Lee (2-7) at Jones County (5-4)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Upson-Lee leads 5-0
Last year: Upson-Lee won 7-0
Key Knights: TE/LB Logan Winkles; RB Melvin Ferguson; QB Tay Matthews
Key Greyhounds: RB Terrance Gore, Sr.; LB Chase Lundy, Sr.; DL Oscar Simmons, Sr.
Scouting report: The Knights have played much better in recent weeks. The Greyhounds can enter into a three-way tie for the final playoff spot with a win and a loss by Hardaway (playing Westside) and Bainbridge (playing Thomas County Central). Jones County would play a Monday playoff against three teams in that scenario. The Greyhounds have been living on the edge the past few weeks in close victories. But even without a playoff spot, Jones County could still clinch its first winning season since 2001 with a win.
Prediction: Jones County
Howard (2-7) vs. Southwest (4-5)
Time/Place: 7:30 p.m./Henderson Stadium
Series history: Southwest leads 1-0
Last year: Southwest won 42-10
Key Huskies: RB Aarion Palmer, Sr.; LB Cartellis Smith, Sr.; QB Javaris Kelly, Soph.
Key Patriots: DB Andre Jefferson, Sr.; OL Albert Clark, Sr.; WR Ethan Reynolds, Sr.
Scouting report: Southwest needs a win over Howard and some help to make the playoffs. The Patriots will get in with that win and losses by Central and Greene County because they have the best winning percentage against Class AA schools thanks to a regular season win over Albany. The Huskies will look to end their second season on a high note by spoiling their county rival’s playoff chances and losses by Central and Greene County.
Prediction: Southwest
Peach County (9-0) at Crisp County (5-4)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Peach County leads 9-7
Last year: Peach County won 38-7
Key Trojans: QB Patrick Taylor, Sr.; WR Lamar Zanders, Sr.; LB Kelcey Lewis, Sr.
Key Cougars: LB Tommy Sanders, Sr.; RB James Waters, Sr.; DL Otis Ray, Sr.
Scouting report: The Trojans have outscored the Cougars 76-7 during the past two seasons. Peach County has already clinched a region championship, but the Trojans can earn their first undefeated regular season since 1997. The Cougars can’t make the playoffs even with a win because they lose a tiebreaker to both Worth County and Monroe.
Prediction: Peach County
South Atlanta (0-9) at Rutland (1-8)
Time/Place: 7:30 p.m./Ed DeFore Sports Complex
Series history: Rutland leads 1-0
Last year: Rutland won 34-20
Key Hurricanes: RB Jarkeemy Stanford; WR Chris Caldwell; LB Richard Cherry
Scouting report: The Hurricanes had a good shot to pick up their second win but couldn’t come up with enough offense in a 6-0 loss to Jackson-Atlanta last week. This week, they get winless South Atlanta in a game that will decide last place in the region. The Hornets have scored more than 10 points twice in nine games.
Prediction: Rutland
Mount de Sales (4-6) at Gatewood (7-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Mount de Sales leads 3-0
Last meeting: 1995, Mount de Sales won 40-0
Key Cavaliers: QB Bradley Smith, Jr.; WR Josh Abrams, Soph.; RB Chris Swain, Jr.
Key Gators: RB Lanier Bonner, Sr.; RB Gregory Manley, Sr.; LB Rob Knight, Sr.
Scouting report: The Cavaliers have shown some explosiveness on offense with Smith under center and Abrams at receiver. Swain and fellow running back Jamiah Walker have been solid in the backfield. Gatewood has success on the ground with Bonner, Manley and Hunter Harrison.
Prediction: Mount de Sales
John Milledge (0-9) at Tattnall (8-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: Tattnall leads 16-6
Earlier this year: Tattnall won 38-0
Key JMA Trojans: WR Johnny Pittman, Sr.; RB Josh Hartzell, Sr.
Key TSA Trojans: LB Hank Avery, Sr.; RB John Rader, Soph.; RB Andrew Layson, Soph.
Scouting report: Tattnall shouldn’t have much of a struggle against John Milledge. It already beat JMA once this season, and JMA has continued to struggle the rest of the way. Tattnall will probably just keep to the ground and not do too much fancy in preparation with next week’s potential showdown with Westfield.
Prediction: Tattnall
Trinity Christian (1-9) at FPD (8-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: FPD leads 4-0
Earlier this year: FPD won 63-0
Key Crusader: QB James Hobbs
Key Vikings: QB Ryan Smith, Sr.; LB Kyle McCallum, Sr.; FB/LB Nick Mullis, Sr.
Scouting report: The Vikings, much like Tattnall, will try to go out tonight and put up some points early and coast the rest of the way. FPD scored 63 points the last time these teams played, but the Vikings will probably give most of their starters some rest tonight if they take a big lead, particularly with defending champ Deerfield-Windsor looming in the second round.
Prediction: FPD
Holy Spirit Prep (7-2) at Westfield (9-1)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: First meeting
Key Cougars: QB Curtis Johnson; WR-CB Tre Blanchard; RB ALex Galvez
Key Hornets: RB-DB John Lee; LB Andrew Peake; QB-DB Wesley Rust
Scouting report: Holy Spirit Prep enters the playoffs with little momentum. The Cougars lost two of their final three, and by 29-0 to George Walton and 31-7 to rival Pinecrest Academy. The school of only six years in north Atlanta reached the quarterfinals last season after moving up from Class AA. One win this season came against a home-school team and doesn’t count in HSP’s record. Westfield followed its loss to Deerfield-Windsor with a sluggish 14-7 win over Southland, but the Hornets should be ready to go for the postseason.
Prediction: Westfield
Burke County (6-3) vs. West Laurens (5-4)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series history: West Laurens leads 1-0
Last meeting: West Laurens beat Burke County 40-15
Key Bears: QB Terrell Brigham, Sr.; WR Keon Lewis, Sr.; LB/TE Tavaris Washington, Jr.
Key Raiders: RB Rodney O’Neal, Jr.; OL Drew Morris, Sr.; WR/DB Trell Showers, Sr.; RB Demetrius Green
Scouting report: With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the Raiders host a struggling Burke County team tonight. The Bears enter the game having lost three of past last five games, including an overtime thriller to Liberty County three weeks ago. A win and West Laurens will reach the postseason for the first time since 2005. But don’t expect Burke County to play lightly. With Brigham sparking a strong offensive attack, the Raiders defense will be in for a full four-quarter challenge.
Prediction: West Laurens
7:30 p.m.
Covenant (4-5) at Thomas Jefferson (6-2)
Taylor County (5-4) at Stewart County (0-8)
Perry (1-8) at Dougherty (3-6)
Heard County (5-4) at Crawford County (2-7)
Twiggs County (8-1) at Dooly County (5-4)
Vidalia (6-3) at Bleckley County (3-6)
North Paulding (4-5) at GMC (3-6)
Jackson-Atlanta (2-6) at Mary Persons (6-3)
Manchester (7-2) at Lamar County (6-3)
Hancock Central (1-8) at Wilkinson County (7-2)
East Laurens (2-7) at Dodge County (4-5)
Hawkinsville (5-4) at Turner County (1-8)
Baldwin (7-2) at Thomson (2-7)
Swainsboro (8-1) at Toombs County (2-7)
Richmond Hill (3-6) at Washington County (8-1)
John Hancock (0-9) at Bethesda Day (1-7)
Monticello (2-7) at Henry County (6-3)
Savannah Country Day (4-5) at Johnson County (8-1)
Treutlen (7-2) at Claxton (6-3)
Bryan County (1-8) at Montgomery County (3-6)
Wheeler County (1-8) at Telfair County (2-7)
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