Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports

By CHIP SAYE
For the AJC

The road was particularly harsh for the lower-seeded teams in the first round of the playoffs last weekend. Fourth-seeded teams won only three of 40 games, down from eight in 2008 and the average of six over the previous five seasons. No. 3 seeds fared slightly better, winning 10 of 40, giving home teams a 67-13 record for the week.

Now we look to Round 2, where the competition gets tougher, and the picks get more difficult. Here are some of the stories worth watching in tonight’s games:

Region 1-AA is 4-0: Fitzgerald, Thomasville, Brooks County and Cook swept their Region 4-AA opponents last week, making 1-AA the only region in the state to go 4-0 in the first round. Things aren’t likely to go as well tonight. Fitzgerald should take care of Swainsboro to advance to the quarterfinals, but Thomasville (vs. Jefferson County), Brooks County (vs. Charlton County) and Cook (vs. Appling County) all have their work cut out for them. I expect all three to …

Continue reading The Georgia High School Football Daily’s Weekend Predictions: Who’s winning and losing in Playoffs Second Round »

Swainsboro at Fitzgerald
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jaycee Stadium, Fitzgerald
Records, rankings: Swainsboro is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AA and ranked No. 8; Fitzgerald is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 1-AA and ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: Swainsboro won 6-0 in the 2000 Class AAA championship game.
Three things to know:
1. Fitzgerald’s leading rusher is Nic Williams (904 yards, 109 carries, 17 touchdowns), and the next three in rushing each average more than 10.0 yards per carry. They are Trenton Pruitt (66-727), Latravious Stewart (54-633) and Tevin Stewart-Gaulden (19-261).
2. Swainsboro quarterback Malcolm Eady has rushed for 1,273 yards and 14 touchdowns and passed for 1,228 yards and 13 touchdowns.
3. Swainsboro is allowing 8.1.points per game (second-best in AA) while Fitzgerald is allowing 8.2 (third-best).
Winner plays: Westminster-Callaway winner

Westminster at Callaway
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Callaway Stadium, LaGrange
Records, rankings: …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AA Playoff Preview »

Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell

It’s the second round of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will try to blog live and take your questions about high school football and related topics.

We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep it clean, and POST IT HERE.

Michael Carvell’s Video Spotlight: Greenville High Coach Jeremy Williams

CLICK: MORE VIDEO with the AJC’s Michael Carvell on Georgia high school football

PHOTOS: WHO’LL ADVANCE? Vote for each bracket’s best — AAAAA | AAAA-AAA | AA-A

GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A

PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see the Round Two results.

Here are the second round playoff games you can find stories and photos from later tonight on ajc.com…

M.L. King vs. Newnan
Roswell vs. Grayson
Wilcox Co. vs. Greenville
South …

Continue reading Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football second round playoff scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE! »

Washington County at Peach County
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Anderson Stadium, Fort Valley
Records, rankings: Washington County is 10-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AAA and ranked No. 9; Peach County is 11-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 1-AAA and ranked No. 3.
Last meeting: Peach County won 43-29 in the 2006 semifinals.
Three things to know:
1. Peach County quarterback Patrick Taylor has completed 66 percent of his passes and thrown for more than 2,000 yards in a balanced offense.
2. Washington County completed only two passes in a 28-21 victory against Troup, but Montravious “Whistle” Gladdin had 201 yards rushing and Darius Stephens had 145.
3. Peach County leads the series between these Middle Georgia schools 9-0-2 and has averaged more than 40 points per game in their past four meetings dating to 1999.
Winner plays: North Hall-St. Pius winner

North Hall at St. Pius
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, George B. Maloof Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: North Hall is 9-2, the …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AAA 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 …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AAAA 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. …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AAAAA Playoff Preview »

I can’t remember a better second round in the highest classification.

Lowndes-Camden County goes without saying. Playing a tougher schedule week in, week out, will help Lowndes, so I’m picking the Vikes on the road. I know Camden beat Northside last season in the same second round, but that was when Camden was the better team. This year, Lowndes is the better team.

Other amazin’ games in AAAAA –

MLK vs. Newnan (Mack Brown vs. Alec Ogletree)

Woodstock at North Gwinnett (I like both these teams a long and think either could’ve made the semis with another draw)

Roswell at Grayson (Is Pemberton hurt? How is Champaign? Good upset pick game here. Cool story about the backup QB at Roswell throwing the winning TD pass in OT. Who will cover Chris Boyd?)

South Gwinnett at Lassiter (Can anybody stop Hutson Mason?)

Colquitt County at Stephenson (Good news for Jags is that they get to see the spread offense before having to face Lassiter. Bad news is that they might not live to …

Continue reading Lowndes-Camden headlines a loaded second round »

By CHIP SAYE
For the AJC

Life in the playoffs isn’t easy for a No. 4 seed. It isn’t supposed to be.

Most of the 40 fourth-place teams that begin the playoffs tonight had to win a crucial game last week just to qualify for the postseason. All of them will be on the road this weekend, and all will face a region champion.

But there is reason for hope. Eight fourth-place teams won first-round games last year, including three each in Class AAAAA (Coffee, Woodstock and Lassiter) and AAAA (Hillgrove, Cedar Shoals and Mt. Zion-Jonesboro). And three of those teams went on to win in the second round, as well. Over the past five seasons, about six No. 4 seeds have won their first-round games each year. I’m picking only one this year, so I’ll probably be wrong on five or six of the 1 vs. 4 matchups.

Here’s a look at the one No. 4 seed I’m predicting will win, plus a few more that I think have a good chance.

Cook (at Northeast-Macon): The Hornets have been here before. Last …

Continue reading The Georgia High School Football Daily’s Weekend Predictions: Who’s winning and losing in Playoffs First Round »

Each day this week, we’ll look at the playoff draw for one of the five classifications, resuming today with Class AA. Here are five interesting facts about each of the 16 games, with an emphasis on playoff history.

Which coach just won a region title with his eighth different school? Find out below.

Favorite: Calhoun
Best draw: Charlton County
Worst draw: Jefferson
Sleeper: Charlton County
Best first-round matchup: Chattooga (9-1) at Lovett (9-1)

Greene County (4-6) at Fitzgerald (10-0)
- Greene County coach Charlie Winslette has won state championships at two schools in Georgia (Greene-Taliaferro and West Rome).
- Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt has won state championships at two schools in Florida (University Christian and Union County).
- Greene County is one of three playoff teams with a losing record. Social Circle and Warren County are the others.
- This is the third time in Pruitt’s six years that Fitzgerald has entered the state playoffs 10-0. Neither of the others made …

Continue reading Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Class AA Playoff Preview »

Chat with the AJC’s Michael Carvell every Friday night

It’s the first round of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS. AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell will try to blog live and take your questions about high school football and related topics.

We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep it clean, and POST IT HERE.

Michael Carvell’s Video Spotlight: Greenville High Coach Jeremy Williams

MORE VIDEO with the AJC’s Michael Carvell on Georgia high school football: CLICK HERE!

PLAYOFFS RESULTS: Click here for first round scores and second round matchups

GHSA BRACKETS: AAAAA | AAAA | AAA | AA | A

Here are the first round playoff games you can find stories and photos from later tonight on ajc.com…

Northwest Whitfield vs. Southwest DeKalb
Collins Hill vs. Roswell
Brookwood vs. McEachern
Pelham vs. Greenville

Don’t forget to check …

Continue reading Free-For-All Forum: Georgia high school football first round playoff scores, updates, photos and chat – LIVE! »