Playoff preview: Class AAAAA quarterfinals

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Jones County had only one state playoff victory - a first-round win against Hephzibah in 2001 - in its history before winning its first two playoff games this season. This is not, however, the deepest the Greyhounds have been in the postseason. The 1961 team qualified for the Class C semifinals by being one of the four region champions. Mays, the only remaining member of 6-AAAAA, is in the quarterfinals for the first time. There Raiders were 0-4 in their previous second-round games. 2. RB Chandler Ramage rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns in Jones County's 33-31 upset of previously undefeated Kell in the second round. Ramage has 1,083 yards and 16 TDs on the season. QB Bradley Hunnicutt, who passed for 159 yards against Kell, has 2,458 yards and 18 TDs passing this season. Jones County is one of three Region 2 teams remaining. 3. Mays built a 21-3 lead and then held on for a 21-18 victory against top-ranked Ware County in the second round.

Asahnia Aderhold was 11-of-14 passing for 178 yards and touchdown passes to Tyshawn Brown and Randrecous Davis in the third quarter.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Mays by 8

Winner plays: Houston County/Stockbridge winner

Houston County at Stockbridge

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Stockbridge

Records, rankings: Houston County is 10-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 2-AAAAA and unranked; Stockbridge is 10-2, the No. 1 seed from 4-AAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: Houston County won 42-14 in 2003.

Three things to know: 1. Houston County is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006 and fourth time overall. The Bears haven't reached the semifinals since 1993 in Class AA. Stockbridge had never won a state playoff game until 2011, but the Tigers are now in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. The previous two appearances came in Class AAAA. 2. Houston County sophomore QB Jake Fromm is the leading passer in Class AAAAA with 3,316 yards and 30 touchdowns. He threw for 406 yards and three TDs in a 43-12 victory against Sequoyah in the second round. Kenny Gant, the Bears' leading rusher with 1,371 yards and 24 touchdowns, has been dismissed from the team, according to the Macon Telegraph. In Gant's absence, Kory Engram rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Sequoyah, giving him 712 yards for the season. 3. Two seniors on Stockbridge's defensive line will be playing for Division I schools next season. DE Titus Davis has committed to Central Florida, and DT Tyree Turner is headed to South Alabama. But the Tigers' best-known player likely is junior QB Malachi Brown. He ran for two touchdowns and threw two TD passes in a 27-7 victory over Stephenson last week.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Houston County by 4

Winner plays: Jones County/Mays winner

Glynn Academy at Northside (W. Robins)

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Anderson Stadium, Fort Valley

Records, rankings: Glynn Academy is 9-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 3-AAAAA and unranked; Northside is 11-1, the No. 1 seed from 2-AAAAA and No. 8.

Last meeting: Northside won 42-16 in the first round of the 2011 Class AAAA playoffs.

Three things to know: 1. Glynn Academy is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1972 and trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1968. Northside is in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in seven seasons since winning state titles in 2006 and 2007. The Eagles reached the semifinals in 2011 and 2012. 2. Glynn Academy trailed defending champion Creekside 21-7 last week before rallying for a 31-21 victory. The Red Terrors didn't lead until Adrien Cross' 30-yard TD run with 5:56 remaining. Leading rusher Garrison Hurd has run for five TDs in two playoff games. Justin Larson filled in at quarterback for injured starter Zach Lamper, who has passed for 1,387 yards and rushed for 417 this season. 3. Northside also had to rally for its second-round victory, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to beat Dalton 30-21. Justin Alonso's 21-yard field goal with 7:31 left and QB Tobias Oliver's 1-yard run in the final minute provided the winning points. Oliver ran for 148 yards and three TDs on 18 carries. Willie Jordan rushed for 149 yards on 26 carries, giving him 1,721 yards for the season.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Northside by 13

Winner plays: Gainesville/Allatoona winner

Gainesville at Allatoona

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Buccaneer Stadium, Acworth

Records, rankings: Gainesville is 10-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAA and unranked; Allatoona is 12-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAAA and No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Gainesville reached at least the semifinals in four of the past five seasons, a stretch that included winning the state championship in 2012. This is Allatoona's third trip to the quarterfinals in five seasons since it began playing a region schedule in 2010. The Buccaneers have never reached the semifinals. 2. Gainesville QB Mikey Gonzalez has passed for 2,940 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. He was 25-for-32 for 356 yards and five TDs in a 49-40 victory against Harris County last week. The Red Elephants average 239.1 yards passing and 102.2 rushing. The leading receivers are Messiah Dorsey (67 catches, 866 yards, 10 touchdowns), Chris Williamson (43-865-12) and Rodney Lackey (56-751-12). 3. Allatoona's Russell Halimon, the leading rusher in Class AAAAA with 2,116 yards, ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-14 victory over Coffee in the second round. He has 435 yards and four TDs rushing in two playoff games. Josh Bettistea had the play that was the turning point against Coffee, running 98 yards for a 17-7 lead after the Buccaneers had made a goal-line stand.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Allatoona by 21

Winner plays: Glynn Academy/Northside (Warner Robins) winner

Coming Tuesday: AAAA and AAA

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