--The Heritage-Catoosa Generals are in the playoffs for the first time in program history. The Generals won only one game the previous two years, but pieced together a 5-5 campaign this regular season under first-year coach E.K. Slaughter and earned the fourth seed out of Region 7-AAAA. Their reward: A first-round road game at No. 1 Buford. The Wolves (10-0) have won 35 straight games and were tested only once all season in a 27-20 win over Class AAAAAA McEachern. Buford outscored Class AAAA opponents 361-32 this season.
--Defending AAAA state champion Griffin rolls into the playoffs on a 25-game winning streak. The Bears, champions of Region 4-AAAA, will host Liberty County, the No. 4 seed out of Region 3-AAAA, in the first round of the playoffs. Buford and Griffin are the only undefeated teams in Class AAAA. The two powerhouses would meet in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, if both advance.
--West Laurens upset No. 7 Mary Persons, 21-14, on Friday to win the Region 2-AAAA title. It’s West Laurens’ second region championship in program history and first since 1996. West Laurens will host Bainbridge, the No. 4 seed out of Region 1-AAAA, in the first round of the state playoffs. Mary Persons did not score an offensive touchdown in the loss to West Laurens and settled for the No. 2 seed out Region 1-AAAA. Mary Persons will host Westover, the No. 3 seed out of Region 1-AAAA, in the first round of the playoffs.
--The Fayette County Tigers are in the state playoffs for only the second time since 1998. Fayette County (4-6), the No. 4 seed out of Region 5-AAAA, will play at St. Pius X in the first round of the playoffs.
--Carrollton, a longtime perennial power, will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1988. The Trojans, under first-year coach Ed Dudley, were shut out in their final two games, losing 16-0 to Sandy Creek in Week 11 and 10-0 to Woodward Academy in Friday’s finale.
