AAAAA powers meet in round of 16

For the state high school football playoffs round of 16, Camden County versus Northside-Warner Robins is as sweet as it gets.

Since the Georgia state playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1990 (and then to 32 in 1996), the Camden-Northside game will mark the first time that top-five teams have met in the round of 16 in the highest classification.

Camden, 11-0 and ranked No. 2, has won more games (104) than any other school this decade in Class AAAAA and was state champion in 2003.

Northside, 10-1 and ranked No. 5, has won 40 of its last 41 games. That covers Class AAAA titles in 2006 and 2007.

Northside’s only loss is to Lowndes, ranked No. 1. That made Northside the No. 2 seed in Region 1-AAAAA. Region champions cannot play each other until the quarterfinals.

Northside beat Camden in 1992 and 1999, the only times they’ve played. Friday’s game will be played at Camden.

The round of 16 has features games between top-five teams 15 times since 1990 — including No. 1 LaGrange vs. No. 2 Peach County in Class AAA in 2006 — just never in the highest class.

Eight other games this week match top-10 teams.

North Clayton, No. 9 in AAAA, can become the first Clayton County school to make the quarterfinals since Mount Zion in 2000. The Eagles are at home against No. 5 Statesboro.

Henry County, No. 4 in AA, can make the quarters for the first time in 54-year school history by beating No. 4 Fitzgerald at home.

Emanuel County Institute, No. 1 in A, is at home against No. 7 Clinch County in a rematch of last year’s Dome semifinal won by ECI.

The other games between ranked teams are No. 6 Sequoyah at No. 3 Marist (AAAA); No. 8 LaGrange at No. 10 Jackson (AAA); No. 6 Pepperell at No. 8 Callaway (AA); No. 3 Savannah Christian at No. 9 Miller County (A); and No. 6 Turner County at No. 5 Brookstone (A).