Manchester at Macon County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Adams-Maffett Field, Montezuma
Records, rankings: Manchester is 10-1, the No. 8 seed and No. 4; Macon County is 9-2, the No. 1 seed and No. 2.
Last meeting: Macon County won 54-13 on Nov. 4 in the Region 4-A championship game.
Things to know: Both teams were in Class AA last season. Macon County reached the semifinals, and Manchester reached the quarterfinals. Manchester runs a Wing-T offense, passing only about five times per game, and put up 341 rushing yards in a 39-18 victory over Twiggs County last week. Tre Gamble ran for 119 of those. Macon County trailed 24-6 at halftime last week against Turner County but prevailed 47-37. Macon County had 457 yards of total offense in only 40 plays. K'hari Lane threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns and his first interception of the season. He has thrown 47 TD passes, five in the victory over Manchester three weeks ago.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Macon County by 14
Winner plays: Irwin County/Emanuel County Institute winner
Irwin County at Emanuel County Institute
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rountree Stadium, Twin City
Records, rankings: Irwin County is 8-4, the No. 21 seed and unranked; Emanuel County Institute is 10-0, the No. 4 seed and No. 3.
Last meeting: Irwin County won 19-15 in the 2015 Class A public-school semifinals.
Things to know: ECI has not had a game closer than its 38-21 win in the opener against Metter. ECI QB Rhett Gay, in parts of only 10 games, is 101-of-139 passing (73 percent) for 2,141 yards, 29 touchdowns and one interception. Irwin County is the only unranked team in the Class A quarterfinals, public or private, which is ironic given Irwin's state runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015. Irwin upset No. 5 Mount Zion 34-17 last week. Jeremiah Ashley rushed for 187 yards (giving him 1,349 on the season) and three touchdowns. Freshman D.J. Lundy rushed for 117 yards between the tackles. Kyle Jones returned a kickoff for a touchdown and had seven tackles.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Emanuel County Institute by 4
Winner plays: Manchester/Macon County winner
Commerce at Clinch County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Donald Tison Field at Panther Stadium, Homerville
Records, rankings: Commerce is 9-2, the No. 7 seed and No. 8; Clinch County is 10-1, the No. 2 seed and No. 1.
Last meeting: Clinch County won 26-19 in the 2015 Class A public-school semifinals.
Things to know: These two have met the past two seasons, with Commerce winning 37-7 in the 2014 first round and Clinch County winning in the 2015 semifinals. Last week, Commerce rushed for 402 yards (and was 0-for-3 passing) in a 35-20 win over Taylor County. Cole Chancey rushed for 212 yards, giving him 1,407 on the season. Lane Sorrow ran for 134, giving him 751. Clinch County led 34-6 at halftime of its 54-12 victory over Mitchell County. QB/RB/LB Trezman Marshall rushed for 86 yards on eight carries and scored three touchdowns, one a 44-yard fake punt. He was 3-of-6 passing for 57 yards and a TD. He had eight tackles and put two kickoffs in the end zone.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: Clinch County by 12
Winner plays: Greene County/McIntosh County Academy winner
Greene County at McIntosh County Academy
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Ship, Darien
Records, rankings: Greene County is 9-3, the No. 14 seed and No. 9; McIntosh County is 8-2, the No. 6 seed and No. 6.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Things to know: Greene County and McIntosh County Academy were in Class AA last season, each losing in the first round and finishing with losing records, but both have had been reborn in Class A. Greene RB Devin Wynn rushed for 306 yards and six touchdowns on 37 carries in a 55-40 victory over Pelham last week. Wynn has rushed for 2,244 yards in leading the Tigers to their first quarterfinal since 2005. McIntosh County Academy is in its first quarterfinal since 2004. Major Robinson was 11-of-19 for 195 yards and two first-quarter TD passes in a 14-7 victory over Lincoln County last week. MCA held Lincoln to less than 200 yards of total offense.
Maxwell Ratings' projection: McIntosh County Academy by 10
Winner plays: Commerce/Clinch County winner
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