This week's GHSA playoff capsules

HOUSTON COUNTY BEARS

Record: 9-1, first place in Region 2-AAAAA.

Opponent: South Effingham, 7-3, fourth place in Region 3-AAAAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Creekview or Mays.

FYI: Houston County has scored 30 or more points in all but three games the past two seasons, all losses (24-20 to Lakeside-Evans, 42-22 to Stockbridge and 24-17 to Jones County).

Scouting report: Putting last week's win over Northside in the rearview mirror is the first key for Houston County. A bonus for the Bears is facing an offense that's more power-oriented and run-oriented, similar in philosophy to Northside. Another advantage Houston County has, and does over most teams, is with depth. The Mustangs will face a powerful offense that's growing in balance and confidence.

NORTHSIDE EAGLES

Record: 9-1, second place in Region 2-AAAAA.

Opponent: Ware County, 8-2, third place in Region 3-AAAAA.

Series record/last meeting: Ware County leads 2-1/Ware County won 35-7 in 2013.

Next up: Rome or Stephenson.

FYI: The last time Northside lost a first-round game was in 2010, when the 10-0 Eagles lost 28-21 at home to Whitewater. Before that, it was 1996.

Scouting report: Northside played well up front last week, but the skill positions on both sides had rough nights, and thus a stunning 21-point loss. Ware County's wing-T is different than what Houston County offered, and discipline on defense is even more important against an offense that has 33 rushing touchdowns in a region certainly competitive with Region 2-AAAAA.

JONES COUNTY GREYHOUNDS

Record: 9-1, third place in Region 2-AAAAA.

Opponent: Glynn Academy, 8-2, second place in Region 3-AAAAA.

Series record/last meeting: Glynn Academy leads 1-0/Glynn Academy won 26-14 in 2012.

Next up: Carver-Atlanta or Dalton.

FYI: The Greyhounds were on a three-game winning streak entering last year's playoffs and reached the quarterfinals. They've won six straight entering this postseason.

Scouting report: The road warriors from Gray have a longer first-round drive than last year's ride to Columbus. Northside played Glynn Academy in the third round last year, so that helps. The Red Devils, interestingly, are 3-2 at home this season yet undefeated on the road. But they do have quarterback Deejay Dallas, who has 787 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

WARNER ROBINS DEMONS

Record: 7-3, fourth place in Region 2-AAAAA.

Opponent: Coffee, 9-1, first place in Region 3-AAAAA.

Series record/last meeting: Coffee leads 4-3/Warner Robins won 35-3 in 2009.

Next up: Creekside or Kell.

FYI:

Scouting report: Coffee is on a roll after several season of mediocrity, following up last year's 10-2 season that ended in the second round with a 45-14 loss to Allatoona, a Northside victim two weeks later. The Demons face a defense that has shut out four opponents and held another one to three points. Warner Robins will have to play a near-perfect game against a first-round opponent that's stronger than Harris County, which nipped Warner Robins a year ago.

CLASS AAAA

MARY PERSONS BULLDOGS

Record: 10-0, first place in Region 2-AAAA.

Opponent: Wayne County, 3-7, fourth place in Region 3-AAAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting

Next up: Pickens or Marist.

FYI: The Bulldogs last won a region title in 1997, and they went 2-1 in the playoffs, opening with a 50-12 pounding of Tattnall County.

Scouting report: Mary Persons picked up some spring in its step with last week's 20-16 win over West Laurens, avenging last year's loss. The visiting Yellow Jackets have some size, but on paper, appear to be figuratively red meat for a Bulldogs team that can run and pass, and has a quality defense, especially up front.

WEST LAURENS RAIDERS

Record: 7-3, second place in Region 2-AAAA.

Opponent: Burke County, 7-3, third place in Region 3-AAAA.

Series record/last meeting: Burke County leads 2-0/Burke County won 42-35 in 2009.

Next up: Ridgeland or St. Pius X.

FYI: The Raiders are still alive as part of their best two-year run (16-7) since going 16-8 in 1994-95.

Scouting report: Forgetting about last week's loss is a key, or the Raiders' season will end against a quality third seed that's in the playoffs despite mourning the midseason death of Roddrick Williams, who collapsed at practice in September and died in October. Despite that, the Bears three losses are by 13, six and seven points. Expect a tight one: The Raiders' losses are by three, seven and four.

UPSON-LEE KNIGHTS

Record: 8-2, third place in Region 2-AAAA.

Opponent: Liberty County, 7-3, second place in Region 3-AAAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Columbia or Cartersville.

FYI: Second-year head coach Tommy Parks is trying to lead the Knights to their first nine-win season since Upson-Lee went 9-3 in 2005.

Scouting report: The Knights have to retain their composure at making their first playoff trip since 2011 if they expect to win their first playoff game since 2005. Liberty County will be hungry as it seeks its first postseason win since 2009. And this is the Panthers' first home playoff game in their history.

VETERANS WARHAWKS

Record: 4-6, fourth place in Region 2-AAAA.

Opponent: Thomson, 9-1, first place in Region 3-AAAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Grady or North Whitfield.

FYI: The Warhawks are in the playoffs for the third time in their six-season history, although, oddly, the past two have been with them going in with losing records.

Scouting report: Veterans' postgame huddle a week ago was mostly one of discussing the end of the season before word came that Howard lost and the Warhawks would keep playing. But consistency and fundamentals have been issues all season. Veterans can beat the defending region champ, and promptly lose three straight. Being flat on the road against a region champ is a recipe for a running clock, but a motivated and focused Veterans team could make it interesting.

CLASS AAA

DODGE COUNTY INDIANS

Record: 10-0; first place in Region 1-AAA.

Opponent: Jackson-Atlanta, 6-4; fourth place in Region 4-AAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Elbert County or Central-Carrollton.

FYI: Dodge County has reached the 10-win mark for the first time since 1999.

Scouting report: Unbeaten Dodge County is set to take on a Jackson-Atlanta team that lost 20-13 to Douglass in the Region 4-AAA third-place crossover game last week. Jackson's speed has caught the eye of Dodge County head coach Rex Hodges, whose team is coming off a 44-0 shutout of Savannah and has allowed 20 or more points just twice this season. The Indians' Kyle Glover has rushed for 868 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Clint Thompson has passed for 595 yards and seven scores.

PEACH COUNTY TROJANS

Record: 8-2; second place in Region 2-AAA.

Opponent: Josey, 6-4; third place in Region 3-AAA.

Series record/last meeting: Josey leads 2-0/Josey won 27-20 in 1995.

Next up: West Hall or Calhoun.

FYI: Peach County is in the playoffs for the 25th straight year, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians website.

Scouting report: Peach County had two weeks to prepare for this game following a bye last week. After focusing on the run for much of the season, the Trojans got its passing game going two weeks ago against Westside, with Antonio Gilbert throwing for 281 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-17 win. Josey, which qualified for the playoffs with a 28-20 win last week over Butler, is a 2-to-1 run-to-pass team, but no Josey rusher has recorded more than 500 yards.

WASHINGTON COUNTY GOLDEN HAWKS

Record: 5-5; second place in Region 3-AAA.

Opponent: Spencer, 7-3; third place in Region 2-AAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Ringgold or Dawson County.

FYI: Washington County won four straight after a 1-5 start.

Scouting report: This Washington County team doesn't have the star power it did a year ago, when it was sending players to Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and Mercer. But the Golden Hawks rebounded nicely in region play after a weak start, and now they face an upstart Spencer team that surprised many in Region 2-AAA and made the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

WESTSIDE SEMINOLES

Record: 7-3; fourth place in Region 2-AAA.

Opponent: at Laney, 8-2; first place in Region 3-AAA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Sonoraville or East Hall.

FYI: Westside has finished at .500 or better in every season of its 18 years of varsity football.

Scouting report: An overtime win over Central kept Westside's all-time unbeaten streak against Bibb County programs alive and wound up putting the Seminoles in the playoffs. Injuries have been a concern for Westside, which was forced to run its offense out of the swinging gate against Peach County after quarterback Savion Knowlton suffered a concussion the week before. Knowlton returned last week, throwing for 326 yards and six touchdowns in a win over Southwest. Laney swept its Region 3-AAA opponents, but it did open the season with a 3-0 loss to Dublin, which failed to make the Class AA playoffs.

CLASS AA

FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANE

Record: 9-1; second place in Region 1-AA.

Opponent: Putnam County, 7-3; third place in Region 4-AA.

Series record/last meeting: Fitzgerald leads 1-0/Fitzgerald won 42-14 in 2010.

Next up: Greene County or Heard County.

FYI: A win over Putnam County would give Fitzgerald 10 or more wins in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Scouting report: People are used to seeing fifth-ranked Fitzgerald in the playoffs, and this year is no exception. The high-scoring team has put up 40 or more points five times this season, and the only loss was by four points to Region 1-A champion Brooks County.

LAMAR COUNTY TROJANS

Record: 7-3; second place in Region 4-AA.

Opponent: Early County, 6-3-1; third place in Region 1-AA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Bremen or Rabun County.

FYI: Lamar County hasn't lost a first-round playoff game since 2010.

Scouting report: A schedule packed with opponents from larger classifications early on was supposed to get Lamar County ready for region play and the playoffs, and it did a fairly good job of doing that. But a 36-22 home loss to Macon County last week that determined the Region 4-AA championship had to be a disappointment, and now the Trojans face a fairly strong Early County team whose only region losses were to the top two teams in Region 1-AA, Brooks County and Fitzgerald.

MACON COUNTY BULLDOGS

Record: 8-2; first place in Region 4-AA.

Opponent: Pelham, 6-4; fourth place in Region 1-AA.

Series record/last meeting: Macon County leads 12-7/Macon County won 38-6 in 1997.

Next up: Bowdon or Union County.

FYI: Dexter Copeland is the fourth Macon County head coach in a row (Bobby Hughes, Matthew Lester, Larry Harold) to take the Bulldogs to the playoffs in his first year as the program's head coach.

Scouting report: Macon County lost head coach Larry Harold to Brunswick and top linebacker Roquan Smith to Georgia, but the Bulldogs didn't lose quarterback K'Hari Lane, who has thrown for 2,468 yards and 24 touchdowns. After early losses to Perry and Fitzgerald, Macon County has won six straight under Copeland, formerly of Twiggs County and Baldwin. Pelham has given up 30 or more points five times this season, but one of those games was a trip to Class AAAAAA power Colquitt County.

NORTHEAST RAIDERS

Record: 2-8; fourth place in Region 4-AA.

Opponent: at Brooks County, 8-2; first place in Region 1-AA.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Washington-Wilkes or Manchester.

FYI: Northeast won its final two games of the regular season after an 0-8 start.

Scouting report: There were just six teams playing a region schedule in Region 4-AA this year, and three of them had records well below the .500 mark. Northeast made the best of its situation, overcoming adversity from early in the season and hanging on to clinch the playoff spot when it stopped a Monticello two-point conversion attempt at the end of the game last week. Sixth-ranked Brooks County, coached by former Southwest head coach Maurice Freeman, has posted three shutouts this season.

PUTNAM COUNTY WAR EAGLES

Record: 7-3; third place in Region 4-AA.

Opponent: at Fitzgerald, 9-1; second place in Region 1-AA.

Series record/last meeting: Fitzgerald leads 1-0/Fitzgerald won 42-14 in 2010.

Next up: Greene County or Heard County.

FYI: Putnam County is making its first playoff appearance since 2011.

Scouting report: Putnam County saw a five-game improvement from last year's win total to this year, and now the War Eagles get to head to Fitzgerald to take on former Lamar County head coach Jason Strickland. Putnam County's statistics aren't eye-popping: Torrance Calhoun leads the team in rushing with 677 yards, while Tyrone Davis has thrown for 802 yards and seven touchdowns.

VIDALIA INDIANS

Record: 7-3; second place in Region 2-AA.

Opponent: Swainsboro, 5-5; third place in Region 3-AA.

Series record/last meeting: Swainsboro leads 35-28-4/Vidalia won 21-0 on Aug. 21.

Next up: Dade County or Greater Atlanta Christian.

FYI: Vidalia has finished at .500 or better every year since 2008.

Scouting report: After losing college prospect Nate McBride to a wrist injury in August, Vidalia had a bit of a rough time in non-region play, losing to West Laurens and McIntosh County Academy. But Vidalia has righted things since then, with the Indians' only loss coming to defending Class AA champion Benedictine. The Indians' top two rushers (Jadarius McLendon and Quintarius Jones) have combined for 1,383 yards. Vidalia has won three straight over Swainsboro, allowing a combined 13 points in those games.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 8:13 PM.