AAAAA playoff preview: Five facts from each first-round game

Each day this week, we’ll look at the playoff draw for one of the five classifications above Class A, continuing today with Class AAAAA. Here are five interesting facts about each of the 16 games, with an emphasis on playoff history. One team has reached seven quarterfinals, five semifinals and two finals in the past eight years but is playing its first-round game this year on the road. Find out which one below.

Favorite: Northside-Warner Robins

Best draw: Warner Robins

Worst draw: Flowery Branch

Sleeper: Ware County

Best first-round matchup: Tucker at Creekview

Effingham County (6-4) at Northside (10-0)

- Northside-Warner Robins is 13-1 in the first round at home all-time but lost in 2010 to Whitewater in one of the notable upsets of the past decade in the state playoffs. Northside was 10-0 and ranked No. 1 then, and now.

- Northside has won 10 games in a season for the 15th consecutive season, which is a state record. Five of those 10 victories this season came against playoff teams.

- Effingham County has lost six straight first-round games in the playoffs. The school’s last victory came in a 1995 region playoff. The last state-playoff victory came in 1987, when Effingham reached the Class AAAA title game and lost to Morrow.

- Effingham County is 47th in scoring offense (20.4) and 34th in scoring defense (22.9) against a schedule that is ranked 67th among 75 teams in Class AAAAA. Northside is second in scoring (43.9) and first in scoring defense (7.0) against a schedule that is 28th.

- Northside beat Effingham County 49-14 in the first round of the 2002 playoffs in the only previous meeting between these schools.

Creekside (7-3) at Thomas Co. Central (8-2)

- Creekside’s last playoff win came in 2006, a 20-0 victory over Griffin in the second round when Eric Berry was Creekside’s quarterback. Creekside has lost seven consecutive road games in the playoffs, last winning in 1997.

- Thomas County Central set a state record by winning 27 straight home playoff games from 1987 to 2006 (ended by St. Pius in overtime). Thomas Central is 5-3 at home in the playoffs since then but lost the last two, including to Dutchtown 15-0 in the first round last season.

- Thomas County Central won five state titles in the 1990s but has gone no further than the semifinals since 2007.

- Creekside is 36th in scoring offense (24.5) and fifth in scoring defense (9.8) against a schedule that is ranked 56th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Thomas County Central is 13th in scoring offense (34.6) and 15th in scoring defense (15.3) against a schedule that is 11th.

- Creekside beat Thomas County Central 10-6 in the first round of the 2000 playoffs in the only previous meeting between these schools. Creekside was 13-1 that season.

North Paulding (7-3) at Flowery Branch (8-2)

- North Paulding, which opened in 2009, is the youngest school in the AAAAA playoffs. This is North Paulding’s first trip to the playoffs.

- Flowery Branch, which opened in 2002, also was in its fourth season of football (2005) when it made the playoffs for the first time and reached the quarterfinals.

- Flowery Branch is 13-7 in the state playoffs and has made the quarterfinals four times and the semifinals twice.

- North Paulding is seventh in scoring offense (37.0) and 45th in scoring defense (26.7) against a schedule that is ranked 50th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Flowery Branch is 20th in scoring offense (32.6) and 35th in scoring defense (23.3) against a schedule that is third.

- These schools have never met in football. They are the only AAAAA schools 10 years old or less that are playing in the first round.

Tucker (8-2) at Creekview (9-1)

- Creekview is playing a home playoff game for the first time in its history. The school in Canton opened in 2006 and has had winning seasons five of seven years under one coach, Al Morrell. Creekview has played on the road at Eastside in 2008 and Carrollton in 2009, losing both.

- Over the past 10 seasons, Tucker has reached seven quarterfinals, five semifinals and two finals. Tucker won state titles in 2008 and 2011.

- Tucker is 4-1 on the road in the playoffs since 2003. Before that, Tucker didn’t travel well, losing nine of 11 road playoff games.

- Tucker is 17th in scoring offense (33.3) and fifth in scoring defense (9.8) against a schedule that is ranked 16th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Creekview is 11th in scoring offense (36.0) and 14th in scoring defense (15.0) against a schedule that is 73rd.

- These school have never played each other in football.

Lakeside (5-5) at Ware County (9-1)

- Ware County first made the playoffs in 1960 (Class A semifinals) and is 23-24 all-time in postseason games. Ware has lost in two state finals (1961, 2007) but never won a state championship.

- Lakeside of Evans is in the state playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in history. The school, which opened in 1988, did play two postseason games in 1992, but one was a region playoff. Lakeside has not won a true state playoff game on the road.

- Lakeside is 1-5 against state playoff teams. No other AAAAA playoff team has played against more playoff qualifiers.

- Lakeside is 37th in scoring offense (24.4) and 56th in scoring defense (31.2) against a schedule that is ranked 34th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Ware County is 16th in scoring offense (33.6) and second in scoring defense (8.3) against a schedule that is 62nd.

- Ware County leads the series between these schools 3-0, winning most recently 31-6 in 2010. They have never met in the playoffs.

Bainbridge (7-3) at Union Grove (9-1)

- Union Grove is playing its first home playoff game since 2002, when the McDonough school beat Lumpkin County and Washington-Wilkes on the way to the Class AA quarterfinals in its third year of existence.

- Bainbridge has played in postseason games in 20 previous seasons and won a state title in 1983.

- Bainbridge is 2-7 in first-round playoff games since 2002.

- Bainbridge is 28th in scoring offense (26.9) and 24th in scoring defense (18.6) against a schedule that is ranked 26th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Union Grove is 26th in scoring offense (29.1) and 16th in scoring defense (15.4) against a schedule that is 61st.

- These school have never played each other in football.

Clarke Central (5-5) at East Paulding (10-0)

- Clarke Central is 5-5 and in danger of its first losing season since 2005. Current coach Leroy Ryals arrived in 2006.

- East Paulding’s best finish is the Class AAAA semifinals in 2006.

- East Paulding is 6-1 in home playoff games. East’s first home playoff loss came to Warner Robins in the 2011 quarterfinals. Clarke is 1-4 on the road in the playoffs since 2004.

- Clarke Central is 25th in scoring offense (29.4) and 32nd in scoring defense (21.6) against a schedule that is ranked second among 75 teams in AAAAA. East Paulding is fourth in scoring offense (42.5) and fourth in scoring defense (9.0) against a schedule that is 57th.

- East Paulding beat Clarke Central 24-10 in the second round of the AAAA playoffs in 2010. Clarke was 11-0 and ranked No. 2 at the time.

Pope (7-3) at Stephenson (7-2)

- Stephenson has lost in the first round four of the past five seasons, all in the highest classification. Three of those losses came at Hallford Stadium, site of this game.

- Pope has made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons for the first time in history. Pope has two state playoff wins – against Marietta in 2000 and Mays in 2011.

- This is the 12th straight season that Stephenson has made the state playoffs. Stephenson’s best finish was the semifinals in 2005.

- Pope is 49th in scoring offense (20.3) and 27th in scoring defense (19.2) against a schedule that is ranked 37th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Stephenson is 18th in scoring (33.2) and 24th in scoring defense (17.3) against a schedule that is fifth.

- Pope is playing its 25th season of varsity football but has never played a team from DeKalb County or played at Hallford Stadium, site of this game.

Northgate (5-5) at Harris County (6-4)

- Harris County won its first region title this season. The school’s first season of varsity football was in 1956. Harris County is 0-6 all-time in the playoffs, including five first-round losses since 2000. This will be the first state playoff game held at Harris County and second postseason game. Harris hosted a region final in 1976.

- Northgate is 3-6 all-time in the playoffs. Northgate’s best finish was the Class AA quarterfinals in 2000.

- Northgate is 0-5 against playoff teams, 5-0 against non-playoff teams. No other AAAAA playoff contender has more losses to playoff teams than Northgate.

- Northgate is 52nd in scoring offense (19.7) and 19th in scoring defense (16.9) against a schedule that is ranked 13th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Harris County is 30th in scoring offense (25.7) and 37th in scoring defense (24.2) against a schedule that is 33rd.

- Northgate defeated Harris County 35-0 in 2011 and 17-14 in 2010 in the only meeting between these schools. They were members of Region 3-AAAA in those years.

Richmond Hill (8-2) at Warner Robins (8-2)

- Richmond Hill is in the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the only other year in which the Wildcats have played in the postseason.

- Richmond Hill suffered through 14 consecutive losing seasons after a 9-4 finish in 1996 until 2011, when the team went 6-4 under Lyman Guy, who came to the school in 2010.

- Warner Robins is 53-30 in the postseason since its first appearance in 1957. Warner Robins won state titles in 1976, 1981, 1988 and 2004.

- Richmond Hill is ninth in scoring offense (36.3) and second in scoring defense (8.3) against a schedule that is ranked 74th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Warner Robins is fifth in scoring offense (37.8) and 20th in scoring defense (17.1) against a schedule that is 41st.

- These school have never played each other in football.

Southwest DeKalb (7-3) at Kell (9-1)

- Southwest DeKalb is 47-32 in postseason games since making its first appearance in 1959. Southwest has won state titles in 1972 and 1996.

- Kell has made the playoffs each of the past five seasons. Its best finish was the quarterfinals in 2010.

- Kell won its second region title in history this season. The first came in 2010.

- Southwest DeKalb is 50th in scoring offense (20.0) and 12th in scoring defense (14.8) against a schedule that is ranked 23th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Kell is 19th in scoring offense (32.6) and 12th in scoring defense (14.8) against a schedule that is 27th.

- Kell has never played a team from DeKalb County. Southwest DeKalb played at Pebblebrook this year. Southwest has not played a playoff game in Cobb County since a 28-21 victory over McEachern in the first round of the 1995 state playoffs.

Rome (8-2) at Gainesville (7-3)

- Rome is looking for its first playoff victory since reaching the semifinals in 2008, the best finish in school history.

- Gainesville has not missed the playoffs since coach Bruce Miller’s arrival in 2002 and is 8-2 in the first round, 7-0 at home in the first round.

- Gainesville is 61-43 in the postseason since its first appearance in 1951. No other Georgia school has won more playoff games or region titles without a state championship.

- Rome is eighth in scoring offense (36.7) and 47th in scoring defense (28.0) against a schedule that is ranked 53rd among 75 teams in AAAAA. Gainesville is third in scoring offense (43.7) and 33rd in scoring defense (21.9) against a schedule that is seventh.

- Rome and Gainesville have never played. Gainesville did have a playoff rivalry with West Rome in the early 1970s in Class AA. Gainesville won a 1970 quarterfinal and 1972 semifinal against West Rome, whose coach then was Nick Hyder. West Rome beat Gainesville in the 1971 quarterfinals and 1974 semifinals. West Rome merged with East Rome in 1992 to form Rome High.

Lee County (7-3) at Whitewater (9-1)

- Lee County will be looking for its third playoff victory in history. The others came in 1999 and 2005. The school began playing football in 1971.

- Whitewater will be looking for its third playoff victory in history. The others came in 2007 and 2010. This will be Whitewater’s first home playoff game since 2007. The school opened in 2004.

- Whitewater won its first region title in history this year (Region 4).

- These school have never played each other in football. Neither has ventured far from home. Lee County beat a metro Atlanta team for the first time this season (Morrow).

- Lee County is first in scoring offense (45.0) and 38th in scoring defense (25.2) against a schedule that is ranked 65th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Whitewater is 15th in scoring offense (34.3) and 10th in scoring defense (10.0) against a schedule that is 51st.

Jones County (7-3) at Glynn Academy (7-3)

- Glynn Academy has made the playoffs seven of the past eight years. Before that, Glynn had made it only once in 15 years. Glynn is 1-6 in the first round during the recent stretch.

- Glynn Academy won a state championship in 1964. Other schools in this draw that have won state championships are Tucker, Thomas County Central, Southwest DeKalb, Warner Robins, Clarke Central, Bainbridge and Northside.

- Jones County is in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Jones County’s last playoff victory came in 2001. The Greyhounds have won two region playoff games but only that one state-playoff game in the history of the program, which dates to the 1940s.

- Jones County is 23rd in scoring offense (32.0) and 44th in scoring defense (26.5) against a schedule that is ranked 55th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Glynn Academy is 10th in scoring offense (36.2) and eighth in scoring defense (12.1) against a schedule that is 54th.

- These school have never played each other in football.

Sequoyah (7-3) at M.L. King (10-0)

- M.L. King enters the playoffs as a region champion and No. 1 seed for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in six seasons.

- M.L. King has played 11 of its 12 playoff games since 2005 in Hallford Stadium and has a 7-4 record there.

- This will be Sequoyah’s first playoff game since 2008. Sequoyah’s best finish is the AAAAA quarterfinals in 2004, when Sequoyah lost to eventual champion Lowndes.

- Sequoyah is 12th in scoring offense (36.0) and 21st in scoring defense (21.0) against a schedule that is ranked 68th among 75 teams in AAAAA. M.L. King is 21st in scoring offense (32.5) and seventh in scoring defense (10.5) against a schedule that is ninth.

- These schools have never played each other in football. Sequoyah does have a history in DeKalb County, however. The Chiefs came to North DeKalb Stadium in 2001 and beat No. 3-ranked and 10-0 Tucker 17-0 in the first round.

Heritage (8-2) at Allatoona (9-1)

- Heritage of Conyers has made the playoffs for three straight seasons for the first time in its history, which began in 1976. Heritage is 3-5 all-time in the postseason and has never advanced past the second round.

- Allatoona is in the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Its best finish is the AAA quarterfinals last season, when Allatoona lost to eventual champion Burke County 32-28.

- Opened in 2008, Allatoona is playing its fourth full season of varsity football. The only younger school to make the AAAAA playoffs is North Paulding, which opened in 2009.

- Heritage is 33rd in scoring offense (25.0) and ninth in scoring defense (13.7) against a schedule that is ranked 35th among 75 teams in AAAAA. Allatoona is 14th in scoring offense (34.5) and11th in scoring defense (14.7) against a schedule that is 58th.

- These schools have never played each other in football.

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