AAAA second-round capsules: Kell faces big test vs. Flowery Branch

Griffin at Statesboro

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Womack Field, Statesboro

Records, rankings: Griffin is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAAA and ranked No. 10; Statesboro is 9-2, the No. 1 seed from 2-AAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: Statesboro won 7-0 in the 2005 Class AAAA semifinals.

Three things to know: 1. These are traditionally the best programs from regions 2 and 3, which were a combined 8-0 in the first round. Both schools have won 11 GHSA region titles. 2. Griffin’s go-to back is Wontavious Washington (1,381 yards, 15 TDs). DE Xzavier Dickson has 17 sacks. 3. Statesboro came from 21-7 down to beat Tri-Cities 24-21 in the first round. Statesboro tied the game on a touchdown with 2:48 left, recovered a fumble and got a 27-yard field goal from Caleb Brown with 7 seconds left to win.

Winner plays: Flowery Branch/Kell winner

Flowery Branch at Kell

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, C.J. Kell Stadium, Marietta

Records, rankings: Flowery Branch is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAA and ranked No. 8; Kell is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAA and ranked No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Flowery Branch’s headline-makers are QB Austin Brown (163-of-251 passing for 2,447 yards, 24 TDs), RB Jeremy Haley (1,403 yards rushing, 18 TDs) and WR Logan Conley (54 receptions, 1,026 yards, 12 TDs) 2. Kell FB/RB Brian Randolph is a state player-of-the-year candidate. He has 135 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He’s scored 19 touchdowns on offense with 806 yards rushing and 386 receiving. 3. Kell was 6-5 in Class AAAAA last season, and Flowery Branch was 10-4 in AAA. One moved up and the other down in reclassification.

Winner plays: Griffin/Statesboro winner

Glynn Academy at Dutchtown

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bulldogs Stadium, Hampton

Records, rankings: Glynn Academy is 8-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 2-AAAA and unranked; Dutchtown is 10-1, the No. 3 seed from 3-AAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Both teams upset ranked opponents on the road in the first round. Glynn Academy defeated previously unbeaten Lovejoy 7-6, and Dutchtown beat Thomas County Central 15-0. 2. In Glynn Academy’s victory – the Brunswick school’s first state-playoff win since 1968 – Glynn had only 87 yards of total offense, all on the ground. Glynn LB/FB James Dean blocked an extra point and a field goal in the fourth quarter. 3. Dutchtown PK Ryan Kay scored all 15 of his team’s points in the victory over Thomas Central on field goals of 24, 30, 42, 51 and 56 yards. Dutchtown held Thomas Central to 31 yards rushing.

Winner plays: Marist/Chattahoochee winner

Marist at Chattahoochee

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Arena, Johns Creek

Records, rankings: Marist is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAAA and unranked; Chattahoochee is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAAA and ranked No. 5.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Chattahoochee QB Tim Byerly is a state player-of-the year candidate. He has completed 105 of 146 passes for 1,854 yards and 26 touchdowns with only one interception. He has rushed for 1,117 yards and 17 touchdowns. 2. Marist’s offense was held without a touchdown in back-to-back games against Lakeside and Dunwoody in midseason. Marist has attempted only 98 passes this season, and QB Andy Perez is the leading rusher with 591 yards. 3. Chattahoochee has scored at least 31 points in every game and at least 42 in each of the last nine. Marist has not allowed more than 20 points in regulation in any game this season. Marist lost to Tucker 31-24 in double-overtime to settle a 17-17 regulation tie.

Winner plays: Glynn Academy/Dutchtown winner

Hiram at Tucker

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Adams Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Hiram is 9-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAAA and unranked; Tucker is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 6-AAAA and ranked No. 3.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. It’s no secret that Tucker relies on its running game. The Tigers rush for 306 yards per game and pass for 62 and average 46.2 points. Bashr Coles (952 yards rushing) and N’Quan Maggett (790) have combined to score 35 rushing touchdowns. 2. Hiram, which runs a Wing-T led by QB Jared McClain and running backs Trey Wesley (964 yards in the regular season), Javon Simon and Charlie Sashington, averages 32 points per game. 3. Hiram fell behind 7-0 four minutes into its first-round game against Lambert but took advantage of six Longhorns turnovers to win 35-10 and advance to the second round for the second consecutive year.

Winner plays: Whitewater/Ware County winner

Whitewater at Ware County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Waycross

Records, rankings: Whitewater is 9-2 and the No. 4 seed from Region 3-AAAA; Ware County is 9-2 and the No. 3 seed from 2-AAAA. Neither team is ranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Whitewater pulled off the upset of the first round, taking a 28-0 first-quarter lead and holding on for a 28-21 victory against top-ranked Northside of Warner Robins. Josh Clemons ran for 200 yards and scored three touchdowns, according to the Macon Telegraph, and the Wildcats held Northside to 48 yards rushing. 2. Ware County’s Zack Griffin kicked five field goals (31, 37, 32, 35 and 38 yards) last week in the Gators’ 22-12 victory against North Clayton. 3. Whitewater, which began playing football in 2004, is in the second round for the second time in school history. The 2007 team lost in the second round to Thomas County Central 35-28. Ware County is in the second round for the fourth consecutive season.

Winner plays: Hiram/Tucker winner

East Paulding at Clarke Central

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Billy Henderson Stadium, Athens

Records, rankings: East Paulding is 9-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAA and unranked; Clarke Central is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAAA and ranked No. 2.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Clarke Central was held to 42 yards rushing in its 52-31 victory against Mays in the first round, but quarterback Martay Mattox passed for 204 yards and three touchdowns. The Gladiators led 28-0 at halftime. 2. East Paulding’s Kamani Thomas rushed for 150 yards and had touchdown runs of 21 and 58 yards in the Raiders’ 35-0 victory against Rome last week. Thomas scored on the third play of the game to give the Raiders the lead for good. 3. Clarke Central, which played in seven state championship games from 1977-1992, is 5-1 in the playoffs over the past two seasons after going from 1998 to 2008 without winning a playoff game.

Winner plays: Brunswick/Starr’s Mill winner

Brunswick at Starr’s Mill

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Panther Stadium, Fayetteville

Records, rankings: Brunswick is 8-3, the No. 2 seed from Region 2-AAAA and unranked; Starr’s Mill is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from 3-AAAA and ranked No. 6.

Last meeting: Starr’s Mill won 45-14 in the first round of the 2005 Class AAAAA playoffs.

Three things to know: 1. Brunswick has a balanced offense, led by quarterback Chris Anderson, that has 2,479 rushing yards and 2,003 passing yards this season. Anderson has passed for 1,783 yards and is the leading rusher with 950 yards on 187 carries. 2. Starr’s Mill is 11-0 for the first time since 2000, its third varsity season, when the Panthers reached the Class AAAAA semifinals before losing to Harrison 31-24 at the Georgia Dome. 3. Starr’s Mill wide receiver Jeffrey Greene, a Georgia Tech commitment, left the Panthers’ 42-9 victory against Hardaway last week with an injured ankle. According to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Starr’s Mill believed the injury was a sprain but would not know his status until closer to game time.

Winner plays: East Paulding/Clarke Central winner

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