Time to take a closer look at the eight teams left in the playoffs:
PRIVATE
Left Bracket
No. 1 Athens Academy (12-0) vs. No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian (11-1) Last Meeting: Athens Academy won 31-27 on September 28.
All Time Series: 7-7
No. 1 Athens Academy (12-0) Regular Season: 10-0, Region 8 champions Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 16 Mount Vernon Presbyterian 27-13 in Round Two; Beat No. 8 Calvary Day 25-19 in quarterfinals Head Coach: Josh Alexander, fifth season, 43-6 Top Playmakers: RB/LB Len'Neth Williams (6-2, 225), Sr.; WR/DB Deion Colzie (6-2, 185), So. Fun Fact: The Spartans have had one AJC Super 11 player in the history of the program: QB Joe Tereshinski (2001) who went on to play at UGA.
No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian (11-1) Regular Season: 9-1, Second in Region 8-Division A Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 13 Wesleyan 42-27 in Round Two; Beat No. 5 North Cobb Christian 48-20 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Greg Vandagriff, fourth season, 34-4 Top Playmakers: QB Brock Vandagriff (6-3, 200), So.; WR/DB Mack Simmons (5-11, 170), Sr.; WR/DB Christian Parrish (6-0, 200), Sr.; LB/TE Davis Ridings (6-0, 210), So. Fun Fact: In just 13 seasons of varsity football, the Wolverines have won 10 or more games seven times, all coming in the last eight years.
Right Bracket
No. 2 Savannah Christian (11-1) vs. No. 3 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (11-1) Last Meeting: ELCA won 54-0 in Round Two of the 2017 state playoffs. All Time Series: ELCA leads 2-0
No. 2 Savannah Christian (11-1) Regular Season: 9-1, Region 3 champions Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 18 Hebron Christian 14-7 in Round Two; Beat No. 7 Fellowship Christian 35-14 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Baker Woodward, first season, 11-1 Top Playmakers: QB Spencer Robicheaux (5-10, 155), So.; RB/DB Marquell Brown (5-8, 160), Jr.; RB/DB Nate Moon (5-10, 175), Jr.; WR/DB Omar Burroughs (5-10, 160), So.; RB/LB Jay Hagen (5-10, 180), Sr. Bit of History: The Raiders won the last combined Class A state title in 2011, when they defeated Landmark Christian 20-3. The next season, public and private schools split in the playoffs.
No. 3 Eagle's Landing Christian Regular Season: 9-1, Region 5 champions Road to the Semis: First Round bye; Beat No. 14 Trinity Christian 48-14 in Round Two; Beat No. 6 Darlington 42-6 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Jonathan Gess, 13th season, 129-27 Top Playmakers: RB Keaton Mitchell (5-10, 180), Jr.; QB Brayden Rush (6-0, 185), Sr.; DE Jeremy Butler (6-3, 220), Jr.; LB Johnathan Youngblood (6-0, 210) Bit of History: The Chargers have now won nine consecutive region championships to go along with three straight state titles.
PUBLIC
Left Bracket
No. 1 Irwin County (12-0) vs. No. 4 Pelham (12-0) Last Meeting: Irwin County won 48-13 on November 12, 1999.
All Time Series: Irwin County leads 6-0
No. 1 Irwin County (12-0)
Regular Season: 10-0, Region 2 champions Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No 16 Miller County 41-0 in the second round; Beat No. 9 Commerce 26-23 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Buddy Nobles, fifth season, 53-12 Top Playmakers: LB/RB DJ Lundy (6-0, 225), Jr.; LB/RB Jamal Paulk (5-8, 160), Jr.; QB Zach Smith (5-11, 175), Jr. Bit of History: Irwin County has advanced to at least the semi-finals in five of the last six seasons, but has yet to win a state title.
No. 4 Pelham (12-0) Regular Season: 10-0, Region 1 champions Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 13 Emanuel County 40-36 in the second round; Beat No. 5 Greene County 48-20 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Dondrial Pinkins, fourth season, 46-10 Top Playmakers: RB/LB Javoris Williams (5-10, 205), Sr.; QB/DB Kendrick Patterson (6-4, 210), Jr. Bit of History: The Hornets are enjoying their best season in the 105-year history of the program. Prior to the arrival of Pinkins, the last time Pelham finished above .500 was in 2002.
Right Bracket
No. 2 Marion County (12-0) vs. No. 6 Clinch County (11-1) Last Meeting: Clinch County won 31-9 in the first round of the 2009 state playoffs.
All Time Series: Clinch County leads 1-0
Regular Season: 10-0, Region 4 champions Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 18 Montgomery County 48-21 in the second round; Beat No. 7 Schley County 34-27 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Chris Kirksey, third season, 28-7 Top Playmakers: QB/DB Trice McCannon (5-10, 160), Jr.; RB/LB Travon Mathews (6-0, 210), Sr. Bit of History: In just 13 seasons of varsity football, the Eagles have won six region championships and one state title (2013).
No. 6 Clinch (11-1) Regular Season: 9-1, Second place in Region 2 Road to the Semis: First round bye; Beat No. 11 Charlton County 38-14 in Round Two; Beat No. 3 Mount Zion-Carroll 35-7 in the quarterfinals Head Coach: Jim Dickerson, 16th season, 150-44-1 Top Playmakers: QB/DB Tyler Morehead (6-0, 185), So.; RB/DB Dantonio Robinson (5-9, 190), Jr.; RB/LB Trezmen Marshall (6-2, 230), Sr.
Bit of History: This is the 17th semi-final for the Panthers in their 72-year history. They have advanced to the finals seven times and won seven state titles.
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