The first round in Class AAAAAAA was so predictable that a computer got 15 of 16 games right. The only game that fooled the Maxwell Ratings was Cherokee’s 41-23 win over Region 2 champion Westlake.
As luck would have it, the Cherokee-Westlake game was one that AJC.com's S. Thomas Coleman covered. It was Cherokee's second playoff victory in the past 12 seasons, first since 2016.
That doesn't mean there weren't any good games. North Forsyth beat Brookwood 44-41 after trailing 41-17 and advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Brady Meitz passed for 362 yards and five touchdowns.
Walton and Archer also had close games but never trailed in their three-point victories.
The second round in most cases will have clear-cut favorites, but there will be two games that stand above the rest.
No. 6 Marietta travels to No. 9 Milton, the defending state champion, and No. 3 Colquitt County plays at No. 7 Parkview.
First round (with original projections)
Mill Creek vs. Newton -13 (won 45-13)
Roswell vs. Wheeler -17 (won 31-0)
Marietta vs. Camden Co. -8 (won 41-13)
Milton vs. Central Gwinnett -32 (won 42-7)
Archer vs. Collins Hill -10 (won 31-28)
Westlake vs. Cherokee -4 (lost 41-23)
Colquitt Co. vs. North Cobb -29 (won 35-7)
Parkview vs. West Forsyth -27 (won 35-14)
East Coweta vs. Etowah -15 (won 20-13)
Grayson vs. Mountain View -30 (won 31-0)
Norcross vs. South Forsyth -2 (won 21-0)
Lowndes vs. Hillgrove -38 (won 38-8)
Walton vs. Newnan -4 (won 27-24)
North Gwinnett vs. Shiloh -29 (51-14)
North Forsyth vs. Brookwood -3 (won 44-41)
McEachern vs. North Paulding -34 (won 47-29)
Second round
No. 10 Mill Creek at Roswell
No. 6 Marietta at 9 Milton
Cherokee at No. 8 Archer
No. 3 Colquitt County at No. 7 Parkview
East Coweta at No. 4 Grayson
Norcross at No. 1 Lowndes
Walton at No. 5 North Gwinnett
North Forsyth at No. 2 McEachern
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