Friday's Middle Georgia GHSA football playoff capsules
HOUSTON COUNTY BEARS
Record: 10-1, beat South Effingham 53-6 in first round.
Opponent: Mays,10-1, second place in Region 6-AAAAA, beat Creekview 31-0 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting.
Next up: Starr's Mill or Allatoona.
Scouting report: Mays quarterback BJ Phillips has passed for 2,175 yards and 28 touchdowns, featuring Randrecous Davis (53 catches, 928 yards and 15 touchdowns). But the Bears will have to keep Phillips -- similar in running ability as Northside's Tobias Oliver -- in check, as well as take on some receivers with good size. Mays know how to play at this level. The Raiders knocked off Jones County in last year's quarterfinals and had a lead over Northside in the Class AAAAA final before the Eagles came back to win. A big crowd at McConnell-Talbert should be in for a treat.
CLASS AAAA
MARY PERSONS BULLDOGS
Record: 11-0, beat Wayne County 14-13 in first round.
Opponent: Marist, 9-2, second place in Region 6-AAAA, beat Pickens 42-17 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting
Next up: Spalding or Woodward Academy.
Scouting report: The Bulldogs are still playing by the skin of their teeth, and won't have any chance to advance if they repeat anything from last week. Marist lost to region champ St. Pius X by 10, the War Eagles' lone loss to a state team. They are on a roll defensive, with two straight shutouts before Pickens scored 17 last week. Only two teams have cracked the 20-point barrier, so the Bulldogs will have to be at peak efficiency on both sides against a program that has a 67.4 winning percentage and two state titles.
WEST LAURENS RAIDERS
Record: 8-3, beat Burke County 31-14 in first round.
Opponent: at St. Pius X, 9-2, first place in Region 6-AAAA, beat Ridgeland 28-19 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: St. Pius X leads 1-0/St. Pius X won 31-13 in 2014.
Next up: Sandy Creek or Bainbridge.
Scouting report: West Laurens is unlikely to be too dazzled by this week's opponent. The Raiders gave the Golden Lions a quality game a year ago in the quarterfinals and enter the second round with confidence. That part has grown with the Raiders continuing to win despite having lost running back Darius Bradford. Greg Covin and Isaiah Morman are getting more snaps, but Covin is a key defender, as well. The teams are similar in philosophy, and this will be a game won up front, although the Raiders may have a slight edge at quarterback with Jalen Mack.
CLASS AAA
DODGE COUNTY INDIANS
Record: 11-0, beat Maynard Jackson 45-3 in first round.
Opponent: Elbert County, 9-2, third place in Region 3-AAA.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting.
Next up: Peach County or Calhoun
Scouting report: Dodge County had little trouble a week ago, and it has been awhile since the Indians had too much trouble. The Blue Devils of former Vidalia head coach Sid Fritts should change that. Elbert County won two playoff games a year ago, and the lone losses this year have been to the teams above it in the region.
WESTSIDE SEMINOLES
Record: 8-3, beat Laney 21-12 in first round.
Opponent: at Sonoraville, 8-3, third place in Region 6-AAA, beat East Hall 49-28 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting.
Next up: Cedar Grove or Oconee County.
Scouting report: This is a battle of fairly young programs, Westside having nine years on Sonoraville, which started in 2006. This is the Phoenix's third winning season in program history, but they reached the playoffs a year ago. Westside's defense has a task against an offense that followed a 38-0 loss to Calhoun with 41, 45, 51 and 49 points. On the other hand, Sonoraville has a few Westside weapons to deal with.
PEACH COUNTY TROJANS
Record: 9-2, beat Josey 42-0 in first round.
Opponent: at Calhoun, 11-0, first place in Region 6-AAA, beat West Hall 34-7 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting.
Next up: Dodge County or Elbert County.
Scouting report: The Trojans turned in a slightly surprising performance a week ago in racking up their third shutout of the season. But now they get the team nobody wants, the defending state champs and on the road. Calhoun's last home loss? By 17-7 to Cartersville in 2008, which was Chad Campbell's second season as head coach at Peach County.
CLASS AA
MACON COUNTY BULLDOGS
Record: 9-2, beat Pelham 35-12 in first round.
Opponent: Bowdon, 6-5, third place in Region 5-AA, beat Union County 56-55 in overtime in first round.
Series record/last meeting: Bowdon leads 1-0/Bowdon won 13-6 in 1992.
Next up: Screven County or Pace Academy
Scouting report: Bowdon may still be winded from last week's mind-blowing game, with 110 points and an overtime, on the road. Another bus ride for the team just west of Carrollton awaits, and Macon County is on a seven-game winning streak, the wins ranging from close (by three over Putnam County and six over Northeast) to blowouts (by 26 over Bleckley County) to in control. The visiting Red Devils started the season 1-4 and turned things around, but this will be their third straight road game, and against a team with talent on both sides.
FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANE
Record: 10-1, beat Putnam County 51-15 in first round.
Opponent: at Heard County, 8-3, first place in Region 5-AA, beat Greene County 45-14 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: Fitzgerald leads 2-0/Fitzgerald won 29-7 in August.
Next up: Lovett or Bendictine.
Scouting report: This will be a game worth riding to, a pair of teams on a roll.
Heard County may be an underdog, but that didn't stop the Braves from starting off last season 1-4 and reaching the quarterfinals, where they lost by one to Fitzgerald rival Brooks County. The Purple Hurricane have a monster running game, led by JD King and James Graham, and they're undefeated on the road this season, just as they were last season.
VIDALIA INDIANS
Record: 8-3, beat Swainsboro 28-0 in first round.
Opponent: at Greater Atlanta Christian, 10-1, first place in Region 6-AA, beat Dade County 27-8 in first round.
Series record/last meeting: Tied at 1-all/Greater Atlanta Christian won 34-22 in 2014.
Next up: Manchester or Brooks County.
Scouting report: Vidalia likes to run as often as possible, and Greater Atlanta Christian does whatever's working. The Spartans are balanced, with 193.5 rushing yards and 199.1 passing yards a game, with quarterback Davis Mills good for 2,112 yards through the air and 364 on the ground. Facing that balance after a long road trip will be a huge test for the Indians, who know what they're getting, since these teams played in last year's quarterfinals.
CLASS A PUBLIC
DOOLY COUNTY BOBCATS
Record: 7-3, second place in Region 4-A.
Seed: 12th.
Opponent: Clinch County, 9-1; second place in Region 2-A, seeded fifth.
Series record/last meeting: Clinch County leads 7-4/Dooly County won 13-12 in 2005.
Next up: Johnson County or Randolph-Clay.
FYI: Dooly County has won five straight after a 2-3 start.
Scouting report: After a two-game stretch in which Dooly County was outscored 100-18 in losses to Turner County and Marion County, Dooly County has come on strong in the second half of the season. Fueled by Florida commitment Antonneous Clayton at defensive end, the Bobcats haven't given up more than 16 points in a game during their winning streak. Clinch County is the highest-seeded at-large team in the field, with its only loss coming to Irwin County. Shannon Young has rushed for 1,248 yards and 14 touchdowns for Clinch County.
JOHNSON COUNTY TROJANS
Record: 6-4, second place in Region 3B-A.
Seed: 13th.
Opponent: Randolph-Clay, 7-3; Region 1-A champion, seeded fourth.
Series record/last meeting: Randolph-Clay leads 1-0/Randolph-Clay won 35-14 in 2004.
Next up: Dooly County or Clinch County.
FYI: Johnson County has won five of its past six games after a 1-3 start.
Scouting report: In terms of power ratings, Johnson County caught a bit of a break. Randolph-Clay finished one spot behind Johnson County in the power ratings, but Randolph-Clay was boosted to the No. 4 seed by virtue of winning the Region 1-A title. Johnson County played a strong non-region schedule, losing to Class AA Dublin and Class A playoff qualifiers Wilkinson County and Calvary Day, but those games gave the Trojans plenty of experience for region play, where they went 3-1 and blanked Savannah Country Day 25-0 in the region crossover two weeks ago. Randolph-Clay, whose offense is paced by running back Justus Millsap (1,269 yards, 15 touchdowns), has won four straight.
TELFAIR COUNTY TROJANS
Record: 5-5, fifth place in Region 2-A.
Seed: 15th.
Opponent: ECI, 9-1; Region 3-A champion, seeded second.
Series record/last meeting: ECI leads 4-0/ECI won 25-9 in 2003.
Next up: Lincoln County or Mount Zion (Carroll County).
FYI: Telfair County is in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Scouting report: Despite losing 46-13 to Clinch County two weeks ago, Telfair County won three of its final five games to reach the playoffs. ECI has won nine straight, topping Savannah Christian 40-20 two weeks ago in the Region 3-A championship game.
TWIGGS COUNTY COBRAS
Record: 4-6, third place in Region 7A-A.
Opponent: Marion County, 9-1; Region 4-A champion, seeded first.
Series record/last meeting: First meeting.
Next up: Charlton County or Commerce.
FYI: Twiggs County is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Scouting report: The only Class A public school team to make the playoffs with a losing record, Twiggs County got on a roll midseason, putting together a three-game winning streak. That, and a later win over Tattnall Square, put first-year head coach Ashley Harden and the Cobras in the playoffs. Ja'mon Height has been a leader in the Cobras' offense, rushing for 1,142 yards and 14 touchdowns. Marion County's only loss came to Class AAAAA Columbus, and opponents have scored no more than 12 points in a game in the Eagles' nine wins. Meanwhile, the Eagles have thrived offensively with two 1,000-yard rushers in Mykelle Kelley and Lorenzo Smothers.
WILKINSON COUNTY WARRIORS
Record: 6-4, fourth place in Region 7A-A.
Seed: 14th.
Opponent: Irwin County, 7-2-1; Region 2-A champion, seeded third.
Series record/last meeting: Irwin County leads 2-0/Irwin County won 41-14 in 2013.
Next up: Turner County or Trion.
FYI: Wilkinson County lost three of its final five games to close the regular season.
Scouting report: Playing in a sub-region full of Macon private schools, Wilkinson County was tested by the likes of Stratford and FPD. Two of the Warriors' three losses in their past five games came to the Eagles and Vikings, while the third came against another playoff qualifier, Twiggs County. Irwin County made it to the Class A public school championship game last year, falling to Hawkinsville, which didn't make the playoffs this year.
CLASS A PRIVATE
FPD VIKINGS
Record: 6-4, second place in Region 7A-A.
Seed: 16th.
Opponent: Prince Avenue Christian, 10-0; Region 8-A champion, seeded first.
Series record/last meeting: Prince Avenue leads 1-0/Prince Avenue won 55-30 in 2014.
Next up: Savannah Christian or Landmark Christian.
FYI: FPD won its final four games to finish at .500 or better for the seventh straight season.
Scouting report: Things did not look good for FPD midway through the season, with the Vikings at 2-4 coming off a loss to non-playoff qualifier Mount de Sales. But FPD refocused down the stretch, upping its offensive output. Running back Dontrez Johnson increased his yardage output during the winning streak, finishing the regular season with 794 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Vikings face a tall task in Prince Avenue Christian, which failed to score at least 40 points just once this season and hasn't allowed an opponent to score more than 14 points.
STRATFORD EAGLES
Record: 7-3, first place in Region 7A-A, second overall in Region 7-A.
Seed: 10th.
Opponent: Calvary Day, 9-1; second place in Region 3A-A, seeded seventh.
Series record/last meeting: Stratford leads 4-3/Stratford won 14-3 in 1987.
Next up: Athens Christian or Pinecrest Academy.
FYI: All of Stratford's previous meetings with Calvary Day came as members of the GISA or predecessor leagues.
Scouting report: Discounting a pair of losses to Class A private No. 3 seed Aquinas and a loss to Class AA playoff qualifier Wesleyan, this has been a solid season for Stratford. The Eagles have scored 41 or more points in each of their wins, led by Wisconsin commitment Quintez Cephus at split end and O'Showen Williams at running back. That offense will be put to the test against Calvary Day, which hasn't allowed more than 14 points in a game and held all but two opponents to single-digit scoring.
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 8:37 PM with the headline "Friday's Middle Georgia GHSA football playoff capsules ."