--Five of the remaining eight teams in the Class AAAA playoffs moved up from Class AAA in the offseason. Buford, Cartersville, North Oconee, St. Pius X and Woodward Academy reached the quarterfinals in their first season in Class AAAA.
--Buford and Marist, two longtime perennial state powers, will meet for the first time Friday. Buford has won 37 straight games and won the last two state championships in Class AAA, before moving up to Class AAAA. The Wolves are in the quarterfinals for the 15th straight season. The War Eagles upset defending AAAA champion Griffin last week to advance to the quarterfinals for the third straight season.
--The quarterfinal matchup between North Oconee and Woodward Academy features two of the state’s top running backs. North Oconee’s Kawon Bryant rushed for 171 yards in the Titans’ 14-7 win over Cairo and unofficially has 2,006 on the season. The senior needs one more touchdown to reach 100 for his career. Woodward Academy’s Elijah Holyfield, the son of boxing great Evander Holyfield, has 1,453 yards on the season. The junior is one of the state’s most highly-touted prospects and has offers from Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame among others.
--West Laurens is making its first appearance in the quarterfinals in 20 years. The Raiders are enjoying their first winning season since 2005, but face a St. Pius X team that has won 10 straight games since starting 0-2. The Golden Lions are in the quarterfinals for the seventh time under coach Paul Standard.
--Cartersville freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 2,603 yards and 25 touchdowns, including four touchdown passes in last week’s win over Baldwin. Lawrence will have to contend with a talented Sandy Creek defense that features defensive ends Trent Sellers, a Georgia Tech commit, and Javonte Lain, who is committed to Old Dominion. Sandy Creek has won 72 straight games when holding opponents to 21 points or less. Cartersville has shut out three of its last five opponents.
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