Pierce County at Washington County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, House of Pain, Sandersville
Records, rankings: Pierce County is 10-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-AAA and unranked; Washington County is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 3-AAA and No. 1.
Last meeting: Washington County won 28-3 in the first round of the 1994 Class AA playoffs.
Three things to know: 1. Pierce County has 10 wins in a season for the third consecutive year and fourth time in its history. The Bears are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 and have never reached the semifinals. Washington County has won three state titles, most recently in 1997, and is in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season. 2. Pierce County averages 208.0 yards passing and 181.2 rushing. QB Stetson Bennett is 150-for-255 passing for 2,119 yards with 27 touchdowns and three interceptions. The Bears also have a 1,000-yard rusher (Joshua Henderson, 1,124 yards) and receiver (Terell Carter, 1,137). Bennett passed for three TDs and Henderson ran for two in a 49-6 victory over Oconee County in the second round. 3. Washington County matched its season low in points in a 31-7 victory against Callaway last week and had its streak of games with at least 50 points broken at seven. QB A.J. Gray was held to less than 100 yards both rushing (84) and passing (98) for the first time all season. Gray ran for 1,161 yards and passed for 1,278 yards in the regular season. Darius Tucker ran for 118 yards and a touchdown against Callaway.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Washington County by 21
Winner plays: Blessed Trinity/Jefferson winner
Blessed Trinity at Jefferson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
Records, rankings: Blessed Trinity is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-AAA and No. 3; Jefferson is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAA and No. 5.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. This is one of two games in all classifications this week matching undefeated teams. GAC vs. Vidalia in Class AA is the other. Blessed Trinity's 12 wins are the most in school history, and the Titans are seeking their first trip to the semifinals. Jefferson, which won a state title in 2012, is in its third consecutive quarterfinal. 2. Blessed Trinity's Garrett Dupuis ran for a season-high 76 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-8 second-round victory over Adairsville. The Titans average 219.8 yards rushing and 135.3 passing. QB Conor Davis has passed for 1,585 yards, and RB Milton Shelton has rushed for 1,112. LB Pat Jasinski (80 solo tackles, 10 tackles for losses) was named co-defensive player of the year in 4-AAA. 3. Evan Shirreffs passed for 220 yards and Sammy Williams ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns in Jefferson's 27-7 victory last week against Dodge County, which was held to 136 total yards and four first downs. Jefferson is giving up 8.8 points per game and has not allowed more than 16 points in a game this season. Defensive leaders include safeties Tradd Porter (80 tackles) and Trent Sorrells (70 tackles, 13 for losses).
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Blessed Trinity by 3
Winner plays: Pierce County/Washington County winner
Elbert County at Calhoun
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Phil Reeve Stadium, Calhoun
Records, rankings: Elbert County is 9-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAA and unranked; Calhoun is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 6-AAA and No. 2.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Three things to know: 1. Elbert County is in the quarterfinals for the third time since winning the Class AA title in 1995 but hasn't been back to the semifinals. Calhoun is in the quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive season. The Yellow Jackets appeared in five straight finals from 2008 to 2012, winning the title in 2011. 2. Elbert County trailed 3-0 early but dominated the rest of the way in a 54-3 victory over Appling County in the second round. The 54 points were the most the Blue Devils have ever scored in a playoff game. Elbert has been boosted in the postseason by the return of QB/DB Mecole Hardman, who missed six games with a meniscus injury. Hardman averaged 136 yards per game rushing in the regular season and had 225 in a first-round victory against Lumpkin County. 3. Calhoun's 38-18 victory against Cedar Grove in the second round was its closest game since a 27-13 victory over Ringgold on Sept. 26. Calhoun outscored its 6-AAA opponents by an average score of 52-8 in winning its 14th consecutive region title. Junior QB Kaelan Riley was 17-for-21 passing for 262 yards and a touchdown against Cedar Grove. LB Austin Bennett had 19 tackles, and LB Jireh Wilson had 11 tackles and two sacks.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Calhoun by 16
Winner plays: Westminster/Hart County winner
Westminster at Hart County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Pete Herndon Stadium, Hartwell
Records, rankings: Westminster is 11-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAA and No. 6; Hart County is 11-1, the No. 2 seed from 8-AAA and No. 8.
Last meeting: Westminster won 6-3 in the first round of the 1996 Class AA playoffs.
Three things to know: 1. Westminster broke a seven-game second-round losing streak last week to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. The Wildcats' last trip to the semifinals came in 1996. Hart County has double-digit victories and is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. The Bulldogs' last semifinal appearance came in 1999. 2. Westminster advanced to the quarterfinals with a 27-10 victory over previously unbeaten Central of Carrollton. Zay Malcome rushed for 80 yards, giving him 1,430 for the season. Malcome was named co-offensive player of the year in 4-AAA. Cortez Alston returned a fumble 21 yards to give Westminster the lead for good after trailing 10-6 at halftime. Westminster QB Rankin Woley has not played in the playoffs because of injury, and Westminster attempted only six passes, one a 21-yard TD pass from WR Sebastian Mosso to Malcome. 3. Hart County QB Cameron Fouch was 9-for-17 passing for 162 yards in a 7-0 victory over Cook last week. His 34-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Turner with 11:39 to play in the first half was the game's only score. Hart County finished with 235 yards of total offense and held Cook to 146. Fouch has passed for 2,584 yards on the season, and Turner has 42 catches for 729 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bulldogs average 175.9 yards per game rushing.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Westminster by 3
Winner plays: Elbert County/Calhoun winner
Coming Wednesday: AA and A
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