Friday's high school football playoff capsules

CLASS AAAAA

HOUSTON COUNTY BEARS

Record: 11-1, beat South Effingham 53-6 in first round; beat Mays 42-40 in second round.

Opponent: at Allatoona, 11-1, seeded first from Region 5-AAAAA; beat Winder-Barrow 52-3 in first round; beat Starr's Mill 30-14 in second round.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Northgate or Kell.

Scouting report: Both teams have battled and beaten teams that contrast their own styles, so there's no huge strategic or schematic issue here. Nobody will be surprised by any speed or size.

The simple things at this point make a difference. Houston County didn't tackle all that well as week ago and make a few mistakes in pass coverage. Allatoona is a sound team that will take better advantage of such things. The Bears also have to drastically cut down on penalties, because the Bucs won't let many of those go unpunished, either.

Then there's an addition big carrot hanging out there: the winner is at home next week, since Kell and Northgate are No. 2 seeds.

CLASS AAA

WESTSIDE SEMINOLES

Record: 9-3, beat Laney 21-12 in first round; beat Sonoraville 43-10 in second round.

Opponent: at Cedar Grove, 10-1-1, seeded second from Region 4-AAA, beat Pierce County 47-0 in first round, beat Oconee County 28-14 in second round.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Westminster-Atlanta or Adairsville.

Scouting report: Sonoraville caught the full brunt of Westside's offense last week, with quarterback Savion Knowlton recording five touchdowns in a romp. Knowlton has 1,856 passing yards and 556 rushing yards, throwing for 24 touchdowns and running for 11 more.

Westside has scored 21 or more points in all but two games this season, with Knowlton missing part or all of the two low-scoring games. Cedar Grove, however, hasn't given up more than 20 points in a game to a team from Georgia all season, with defensive lineman Antwuan Jackson, a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, leading the way.

CLASS AA

FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANE

Record: 11-1, beat Putnam County 51-15 in round; beat Heard County 24-7 in second round.

Opponent: at Benedictine (at Savannah State), 12-0, seeded first from Region 2-AA; beat Metter 63-14 in first round; beat Lovett 41-40 in second round.

Series record/last meeting: Benedictine leads 1-0/Benedictine won 51-7 in 2013.

Next up: Rabun County or Jefferson County.

Scouting report: So much for losing a 3,300-yard and 32-touchdown quarterback from last year, and the offensive line from two years ago, here's Benedictine atop the Class AA mountain.

The Purple Hurricane bring some speed and power with running back JD King (1,928 yards) and quarterback James Graham (1,185 yards) in their run-heavy offense. But road playoff games lead to deficits, and playing Benedictine leads to deficits. Fitzgerald isn't set up well to come back, and it hasn't had to.

As powerful as the Cadets are, they can win close games (47-42 in double-overtime vs. Greater Atlanta Christian to open the season and 41-40 over Lovett last week). If the visitors get off to a good start, this could be an instant classic.

MACON COUNTY BULLDOGS

Record: 10-2, beat Pelham 35-12 in first round; beat Bowdon 41-7 in second round.

Opponent: Pace Academy, 10-2, seeded fourth from Region 6-AA, beat Darlington 31-0 in first round, beat Screven County 27-7 in second round.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Brooks County or Greater Atlanta Christian.

Scouting report: Head coach Dexter Copeland and the Macon County Bulldogs have reeled off eight straight wins since dropping back-to-back games to Perry and Fitzgerald.

The Bulldogs have picked up a pair of easy playoff wins so far, but the stakes get higher with eighth-ranked Pace Academy visiting. Pace is the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AA, but that's only because the Knights lost their tiebreakers in a three-way tie for second with Wesleyan and Lovett.

Still, Pace Academy has given up a fair amount of points at times this season, and Macon County -- led by quarterback K'hari Lane -- can certainly put points on the board.

CLASS A PRIVATE

STRATFORD EAGLES

Record: 8-3, first place in Region 7A-A, second overall in Region 7-A; beat Calvary Day 14-7 in first round.

Seed: 10th.

Opponent: Pinecrest, 10-1, Region 6-A champion, seeded second.

Series record/last meeting: First meeting.

Next up: Aquinas or Christian Heritage.

Scouting report: A little razzle dazzle by Wisconsin-bound Quintez Cephus helped Stratford record a first-round upset at Calvary Day, and now the Eagles take on the No. 2 seed in Class A private.

Stratford ran a reverse to Cephus deep in Calvary Day territory last week, and Cephus went sideline-to-sideline -- and back again -- before scoring what turned out to be an important touchdown. Pinecrest can score a lot of points -- the Paladins have scored at least 19 points in every game this season -- but has given up some points, as well.

CLASS A PUBLIC

JOHNSON COUNTY TROJANS

Record: 7-4, seeded 13th, beat Randolph-Clay 21-8 in first round.

Seed: 13th

Opponent: at Clinch County (7 p.m.), 10-1, seeded second from Region 2-A, seeded fifth.

Series record/last meeting: Clinch County leads 2-0/Clinch County won 53-6 in 2003.

Next up: Marion County or Commerce.

Scouting report: Johnson County got off two a slow offensive start this season with 26 points in the first four games. The defense is on a roll, having surrendered only 16 points during the current four-game winning streak.

The Panthers have their best win total since going 15-0 in 2010, and have had huge offensive games (55 points vs. Berrien, 66 vs. Wilcox County, 67 vs. Lanier County) and won close or fairly close games. The lone loss is 28-12 to defending Class A public runner-up Irwin County in mid-September.