Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AAAAA Playoff Preview

Union Grove at Northside, Warner Robins
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins
Records, rankings: Union Grove is 9-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 2-AAAAA and unranked; Northside is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 1-AAAAA and ranked No. 7.
Last meeting: Northside won 24-7 in the 2008 first round.
Three things to know:
1. Northside rushed for 246 yards and held Chapel Hill to minus-14 yards rushing in a 35-14 victory last week, according to the Macon Telegraph.
2. Northside held Chapel Hill to negative yards rushing in a 35-14 victory last week.
3. Union Grove operated primarily from a wildcat formation in its 47-20 victory over Windsor Forest because quarterback Ty Moore was injured last week in practice.
Winner plays: Brookwood-Peachtree Ridge winner

Brookwood at Peachtree Ridge
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lions Den, Suwanee
Records, rankings: Brookwood is 6-5, the No. 4 seed from Region 8-AAAAA and unranked; Peachtree Ridge is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAAAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Brookwood, the only No. 4 seed in Class AAAAA to advance in the first round, had to win its regular-season finale against arch-rival Parkview to make the playoffs and avert its first losing season since 1986.
2. Peachtree Ridge quarterback Nick Lombardo has battled injuries for the past month and didn’t start in the 14-7 victory over Kell but entered the game in the second quarter.
3. Peachtree Ridge’s Brad Roby starts at receiver and defensive back and has scored touchdowns rushing (one) and receiving (four) and returning kickoffs (one), punts (two), interceptions (one) and fumbles (one).
Winner plays: Union Grove-Northside winner

M.L. King at Newnan
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Drake Stadium, Newnan
Records, rankings: M.L. King is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 2-AAAAA and unranked; Newnan is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAAAA and ranked No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. M.L. King running back Mack Brown, who has committed to Florida, has been ranked the No. 1 prospect in the state by ESPN.
2. Newnan safety Alec Ogletree, who has committed to Georgia, has been ranked the No. 1 prospect in the state by Scout.com.
3. Newnan’s defense is rated No. 1 in AAAAA in scoring defense (4.5 points per game); M.L. King’s defense is No. 3 (6.4).
Winner plays: Roswell-Grayson winner

Roswell at Grayson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Grayson Community Stadium, Grayson
Records, rankings: Roswell is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and unranked; Grayson is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 8-AAAAA and ranked No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Grayson’s Ean Pemberton, a preseason all-state running back, barely played in the second half in the 21-14 victory over Marietta last week because of a shoulder injury, and defensive end Joe Champaign, who has committed to Navy, played only a few plays returning from an injured knee.
2. Roswell’s starting quarterback quit the team last week, and backup J.P. Douglas completed 12 of 20 attempts for 201 yards and threw the winning touchdown pass in the 30-27 overtime victory over Collins Hill.
3. Grayson has four players on defense who have committed to Division I-A schools.
Winner plays: M.L. King-Newnan winner

Woodstock at North Gwinnett
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee
Records, rankings: Woodstock is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAAA and ranked No. 10; North Gwinnett is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAAAA and ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Woodstock’s defense allows 9.4 points per game, the sixth-best total in Class AAAAA, and held Dacula to 35 yards rushing last week.
2. North Gwinnett got touchdowns on a kickoff return and a blocked punt in its victory against Centennial in the first round.
3. Woodstock had never won a playoff game before last season, but a victory against North Gwinnett would give the Wolverines back-to-back appearances in the quarterfinals.
Winner plays: Lowndes-Camden County winner

Lowndes at Camden County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Chris Gilman Stadium, Kingsland
Records, rankings: Lowndes is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-AAAAA and ranked No. 4; Camden County is 9-2, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-AAAAA and ranked No. 8.
Last meeting: Lowndes won 10-0 in the 2007 semifinals.
Three things to know:
1. The past two meetings between these teams were in the semifinals at the Georgia Dome, with Lowndes winning by shutout both times, 10-0 in 2007 and 30-0 in 2004.
2. This game features Class AAAAA’s top two offenses. Lowndes is averaging 44.8 points per game, while Camden County is at 43.5.
3. These teams have combined to win five of the past six Class AAAAA championships. Lowndes won titles in 2004, 2005 and 2007; Camden County was champion in 2003 and 2008.
Winner plays: Woodstock-North Gwinnett winner

South Gwinnett at Lassiter
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Frank Fillman Stadium, Marietta
Records, rankings: South Gwinnett is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAA and unranked; Lassiter is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and ranked No. 9.
Last meeting: South Gwinnett won 27-0 in 2003.
Three things to know:
1. Lassiter quarterback Hutson Mason broke the state record for passing yards in a season on Friday when his 445 yards against North Forsyth put him at 3,714 for the year.
2. South Gwinnett led Etowah 31-14 in the second half of their first-round game but had to hold on until the final seconds for a 31-28 victory.
3. Lassiter has never reached the state quarterfinals. South Gwinnett is seeking its fourth trip overall and its first since 2004.
Winner plays: Colquitt County-Stephenson winner

Colquitt County at Stephenson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hallford Stadium, Clarkston
Records, rankings: Colquitt County is 9-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAAA and unranked; Stephenson is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-AAAAA and ranked No. 5.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Colquitt County had its second-lowest scoring output of the year in its 10-0 victory against Westlake last week. The Packers had 105 yards in penalties, went 0-for-11 on third-down opportunities, and scored their only touchdown after recovering a fumble on the Westlake 15, according to the Moultrie Observer.
2. Stephenson has the second-best defense in Class AAAAA, allowing 5.4 points per game with four shutouts.
3. Stephenson’s Raymond Sanders, one of the top rushers in DeKalb County, had 172 yards in the first half and sat out the final two quarters in the Jaguars’ 44-0 victory against Bradwell Institute last week.
Winner plays: South Gwinnett-Lassiter winner

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