The second-round of the Class AAA state high school football playoffs feature two games between ranked opponents, three ranked programs trying to continue their runs against unranked teams and one game between two unranked teams.
Let's take a look at four feature games:
Region 5, No. 3 seed (No. 10-ranked) Westminster at Region 7, No. 3 seed (No. 6-ranked) Greater Atlanta Christian
-- If there is a game with a heightened sense of rivalry and a buildup between two programs that might not like each other too much, it's this matchup. The back-story: Westminster quarterback Parks Harber, a UGA baseball commitment, had his say against GAC in a baseball playoff series last year when he hit five home runs. The performance, and GAC's response – brushing Harber back or hitting him by pitches – caused a "dust up," if you will. On Aug. 24 this season, Harber helped lead the Wildcats to a 22-21 victory at GAC in come-from-behind fashion after being behind 21-10 entering the fourth quarter. Harber, who has passed for 1,994 yards, led Westminster past Jefferson 35-7 last week. GAC, which defeated North Murray 49-17 in the first round, is led by Josh Rose and Jackson Hardy, who have played in all 11 games this year. Rose is 83-of-156 passing for 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hardy has passed for 788 yards and 10 touchdowns on 52-of-94 passing. Ty James, Class AAA's leading receiver, has caught 46 passes for 999 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The pick: Westminster advances.
Region 7, No. 2 seed (No. 7-ranked) Dawson County at Region 8, No. 1 seed (No. 3-ranked) Monroe Area
-- Two productive rushing programs will clash when Dawson County, which averages 347 rushing yards, travels to Monroe Area, which averages 358. Monroe Area quarterback Chandler Byron has had a hand in 47 touchdowns this season including a 66-yard run in Monroe's victory over Pace in the first round. Byron, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior, has rushed for 33 touchdowns with 2,371 yards on 216 carries. Jakia Thompson, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior back, crossed the 1,000-yard mark last week and has rushed for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 115 carries. Dawson County quarterback Sevaughn Clark has rushed for 861 yards on 145 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns. Clark is second behind Ahmad Kamara, who has rushed for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns on 128 carries. Clark has passed for nine touchdowns and 917 yards on 71-of-122 passing. Dawson County earned the second-round berth with a 44-22 victory against Haralson County. Monroe Area sent Pace Academy home, 38-22, in the first round.
My Pick: Monroe Area advances.
Region 4 No. 3 seed Jackson at Region 2 No. 1 seed (No. 9-ranked) Pierce County
-- The last time the two programs met was in the first round in 2014 when Pierce County, under head coach Sean Pender, took a 49-21 victory. Pender left for Brunswick after the 2016 season, and in just two years, Jason Strickland has led Pierce to 16 victories and six losses -- with all the losses coming last season. The undefeated Bears are led by 6-foot-1, 165-pound sophomore quarterback Jermaine Brewton, who has completed 95 of 141 passes for 1,475 yards and 20 touchdowns, with just four interceptions. John Jones, a 5-10, 170-pound senior, has rushed for 1,367 yards and 21 touchdowns. Pierce defeated Windsor Forest 49-21 in the first round. Jackson moved past Monroe 33-6 to earn its second-round berth.
My pick: Pierce County advances.
Region 5, No. 2 seed Lovett at Region 6, No. 1 seed (No. 1-ranked) Calhoun
-- Calhoun has been at the top of the AAA rankings all season and for good reason. The Yellow Jackets have destroyed their competition beginning with Ridgeland in the MetroPCS Corky Kell Classic at Rome's Barron Stadium in August to the 55-17 victory against Fannin County last week. In between, Calhoun shut out four opponents, scored at least 50 points five times and 61 points once while capturing a state-record 18 consecutive region championships. It would be a shame if someone were to ruin the party, but if there is a bracket-shattering team lurking, Lovett is it. Lovett is battle-tested and the strength of its opening schedule forced the Lions to a 1-3 start. In 'put up or shut up' fashion, Lovett traveled to GAC and Class AAAA then-No. 2 Marist in back-to-back weeks before a victory over B.E.S.T. Academy (43-0) in Week 3 at home. Then another road loss, this time to Class AAAA power (then-No.3) Mary Persons (58-21). Since entering region play, Lovett dropped two just games, to Cedar Grove (45-0) and Pace Academy (17-13), before it upended Westminster in its final regular season game which captured the No. 2 seed from the region. Quarterback Blaine McAllister led Lovett through the first round victory over Morgan County (40-7), passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns. K.J. Wallace, a Notre Dame commitment and four-star cornerback, also plays wide receiver and has 1,074 all-purpose yards. Nick Jackson, a Virginia commitment, plays tight end and linebacker and leads in tackles with 61. Calhoun quarterback Gavin Gray has passed for 1,998 yards.
My pick: Calhoun advances.
Here's the rest of the second-round schedule:
-- Region 4, No. 2 seed Westside-Macon at Region 3, No. 1 seed (No. 5-ranked) Benedictine
My pick: Benedictine advances.
-- Region 7, No. 3 seed North Hall at Region 5, No. 1 seed (No. 2-ranked) Cedar Grove
My pick: Cedar Grove advances.
-- Region 2, No. 3 seed Liberty County at Region 4, No. 1 seed (No. 4-ranked) Peach County
My pick: Peach County advances.
-- Region 4, No. 4 seed Pike County at Region 3, No. 3 seed Jenkins
My pick: Pike County advances.
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