Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AAAA Playoff Preview

Richmond Academy at Thomas Co. Central
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jackets’ Nest, Thomasville
Records, rankings: Richmond Academy is 8-3, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAAA and unranked; Thomas County Central is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 1-AAAA and ranked No. 5.
Last meeting: Thomas County Central won 35-14 in the 1993 first round.
Three things to know:
1. Thomas Central prefers to run, but Eric Dodson threw for 188 yards in last week’s 15-8 victory over Alcovy.
2. Richmond Academy has its most victories in a season since 1987 and its first state-playoff win since 1970.
3. Mar-Qon Medlock, who has missed time this season while injured, threw for more than 200 yards in last week’s come-from-behind victory over Glynn Academy.
Winner plays: Tucker-Sandy Creek winner

Tucker at Sandy Creek
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Battlefield, Tyrone
Records, rankings: Tucker is 9-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAAA and ranked No. 10; Sandy Creek is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-AAAA and ranked No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Tucker is the defending champion in AAAA.
2. Rajion Neal, who has committed to Mississippi State, is a 1,000-yard rusher and the top running back on his half of the AAAA draw.
3. Sandy Creek has won 10 games for the fourth time in seven seasons but has never advanced past the second round in four tries.
Winner plays: Richmond Academy-Thomas County Central winner

Ware County at Griffin
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Griffin
Records, rankings: Ware County is 6-5, the No. 2 seed from Region 2-AAAA and unraked; Griffin is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAAA and ranked No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Griffin runs what coach Steven Devoursney calls a spread wing hybrid offense that averages 7.0 yards per play. Quarterback Marcus Waller has thrown for nearly 1,200 yards and rushed for 600 yards.
2. Ware County’s coach is Ed Dudley, who led Walton of Cobb County to a Region 6-AAAAA title last season.
3. The last time that Griffin was 11-0 was 2006, but the Bears were seeded second to Northside, which also was 11-0. That put Griffin on the road in the second round, and the Bears lost 20-0 to Creekside, which was led by Eric Berry, now an All-America safety at Tennessee.
Winner plays: Marist-Apalachee winner

Marist at Apalachee
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, R. Harold Harrison Stadium, Winder
Records, rankings: Marist is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAAA and ranked No. 7; Apalachee is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 8-AAAAA and ranked No. 6.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Marist has won 27 consecutive home playoff games but lost six of eight road (non-neutral) playoff games this decade.
2. Apalachee is called the “Cardiac Cats” on its football Web site. The team has won two overtime games and another game by one point.
3. Both are running teams with a feature back that’s closing in on 1,000 yards. For Marist, which runs the wishbone, it’s Matt Connors. For Apalachee, which runs a Wing-T, it’s Jon Lee.
Winner plays: Ware County-Griffin winner

Rockdale County at Hiram
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hiram Stadium, Hiram
Records, rankings: Rockdale County is 8-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAA and unranked; Hiram is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 7-AAAA and ranked No. 4.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. Hiram is in the second round of the playoffs for the first time in the program’s 10-year history. The Hornets lost in the first round in their previous three playoff appearances.
2. Rockdale County is one of the hottest teams in Class AAAA, winning seven consecutive games after a 1-3 start.
3. Hiram’s offense is led by Charlie Sashington, who rushed for 121 yards in the Hornets’ subregion-clinching victory against Sprayberry and 143 yards in the region championship game against Dalton. He was injured in the playoff victory against Chamblee but is expected to play.
Winner plays: Westside, Macon-Lakeside, Evans winner

Westside, Macon at Lakeside, Evans
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Panther Stadium, Evans
Records, rankings: Westside is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-AAAA and ranked No. 8; Lakeside is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-AAAA and unranked.
Last meeting: Lakeside won 26-15 in 1999.
Three things to know:
1. Lakeside, which started its program in 1998, is making its fourth appearance in the state playoffs and its first since 2000. The Panthers had never won a state playoff game until beating Statesboro last week.
2. Lakeside has one of the state’s best defenses, giving up just 3.5 points per game. The Panthers have seven shutouts, including four in a row.
3. Lakeside’s victory in the teams’ last meeting, 26-15 in 1999, cost Westside a playoff berth, but the Seminoles responded with four consecutive 10-win seasons.
Winner plays: Rockdale County-Hiram winner

Clarke Central at Southwest DeKalb
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Panthersville Stadium, Decatur
Records, rankings: Clarke Central is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAA and unranked; Southwest DeKalb is 10-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 6-AAAA and ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: Southwest DeKalb won 44-21 in the 1995 quarterfinals.
Three things to know:
1. These teams met five times in the quarterfinals or semifinals from 1977-1995, but they haven’t played each other in 14 years. Clarke Central, which is in the second round for the first time since 1997, leads the series 5-2.
2. Southwest DeKalb is allowing just 7.4 points per game and has given up a touchdown or less in eight of its 11 games.
3. Clarke Central allows 15.1 points per game. The 28 points scored by Mays last week were the most the Gladiators have given up in a game this season.
Winner plays: North Clayton-Brunswick winner

North Clayton at Brunswick
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Glynn County Stadium, Brunswick
Records, rankings: North Clayton is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 4-AAAA and ranked No. 9; Brunswick is 8-3, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-AAAA and unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Three things to know:
1. North Clayton is led by running back Clarence Jackson, who has rushed for 1,678 yards this season, including 143 in the Eagles’ victory against Bainbridge last week.
2. Brunswick is trying to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1999, when it reached the championship game and lost to Lowndes 17-0.
3. North Clayton has reached the quarterfinals just once since 1963. The Eagles lost to Carrollton 35-21 in the 1997 quarters.
Winner plays: Clarke Central-Southwest DeKalb winner

Georgia High School Football Daily is a free email newsletter. CLICK to join the mailing list