Wild atmosphere on tap at Mary Persons
Without even looking at game film, Mary Persons head coach Brian Nelson already was able to identify one common thread between the Bulldogs and their second-round opponent, Marist. It'll be the first home playoff game for Mary Persons past the first round since 1998.
Marist advanced with a 42-17 victory over Pickens.
Both programs have a long-established winning tradition, with each having being crowned state champions in their history. The War Eagles took the title in 2003 and 1989, with the Bulldogs doing so in 1980.
"It'll probably be kind of crazy," Nelson said of the expected atmosphere in Forsyth. "They have a lot of history and tradition, just like we do. Coach (Alan) Chadwick has been there a long time, and they're a really good football team. We're just happy that we get to practice another week and get a chance to play another game."
Marist will be looking for its fourth trip to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs in the past five years, with Mary Persons looking to return for the first time since 2012.
-- Brad Harrison
GISA PLAYOFFS
Windsor moved into the GISA Class AA semifinals Friday with a 66-32 win at Piedmont.
The Knights (9-3) recorded 580 yards of total offense. Marquise Jackson accounted for six touchdowns -- running for three, passing for two, catching one and returning an interception for another.
Windsor travels this Friday to Robert Toombs, a 42-13 winner over Southwest Georgia, for a semifinal contest. The other Class AA semifinal pits Briarwood against Memorial Day.
In Class AAA, Westfield will host Valwood, while John Milledge travels to Deerfield-Windsor.
-- Ron Seibel
GICAA PLAYOFFS
Covenant advanced to the GICAA Division I-AA championship with a 40-3 win over Community Christian.
Cody Farr passed for three touchdowns in the win, while Khristian Tate ran for 150 yards and three scores.
The Rams will host Creekside Christian on Friday in the title game.
In the Division I-A championship, Fullington will travel to Thomas Jefferson. Fullington defeated Skipstone 28-6 in Friday's semifinal.
-- Ron Seibel
NUMBERS
0: Peach County has been a producer of quarterbacks throughout the years. Yet there were the Trojans, winning a playoff game and scoring 42 points without completing a pass.
4: Vidalia has made the postseason four straight seasons, and the Indians have won their first-round game each time. Friday's 28-0 win over Swainsboro was Vidalia's fourth shutout of the season.
14: Including Friday night, Houston County has played five teams that made the playoffs. The Bears have given up an average of 14 points to those teams, Jones County (24) the only one to score more than 14 against Houston County.
53: Westfield ran the ball more than four dozen times against Brookwood. That was more rushes than total plays for, among other teams Friday night in Middle Georgia games, Loganville Christian (35 plays), John Milledge, Josey and Laney (49), Dodge County (48), Jackson-Atlanta and Wayne County (44), Glynn Academy (41) and Peach County (33).
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Wild atmosphere on tap at Mary Persons ."