Sweet 16: Buford-Kell highlights eight solid games

No. 9-ranked Kell has been one of the hottest teams in the state over the last two months. But are the Longhorns ready to play with the big boys? That question will be answered on Friday when Kell travels to No. 2 Buford to challenge one of the state’s giants.

Kell (9-2) has been rolling up big numbers during their seven-game winning streak. Behind the throwing of quarterback Evan Cole and running back Ebony Jackson, the Longhorns have averaged 44.8 points during the streak, which includes a win over then No. 5 Carrollton. Jackson had a monster game against Carver in the first round, rushing for 243 yards and four touchdowns.

Buford (9-2) hasn’t had a close game since its loss to Class AAAAAAA Archer. The Wolves won their five Region 8 contests by an average of 48.8 points. Before you lament about how bad that league must be, be aware than Region 8 playoff teams swept their four playoff games against Region 5. Buford has a college-sized offensive line, one of the top running backs in Derrian Brown and a top young quarterback in Aaron McLaughlin.

“We’re going to have the same process we do every week,” Kell coach Brett Sloan told the Marietta Daily Journal. “Carver is a good football team and our guys respected their opponent. Buford is going to have our attention.”

The teams have played one time, with Buford winning 28-16 in the 2016 semifinals.

Winner gets: The Bainbridge-Wayne County winner.

Here’s a quick look at the other second-round games:

Bainbridge at No. 5 Wayne County:  Talk about renewing a rivalry! These teams haven't played since 1943 and Wayne won three of the four meetings. Bainbridge (6-5) has won three straight, averaging 44.5 points in the process. The Bearcats stunned No. 8 Jones County 40-15 in the first round. Wayne County (11-0) has survived a few scares during their perfect season and outlasted Jonesboro 17-9 in its playoff opener. Both teams have played a challenging schedule and are tested for the playoffs. Winner gets: The Buford-Kell winner.

New Hampstead at No. 6 Stockbridge: New Hampstead (5-5) upset Region 3 champion Starr's Mill in the opening round to win its first state playoff game. Stockbridge (10-1) has won three straight since losing the Region 4 title game to Dutchtown. The Tigers survived a scare against Veterans in the first round. New Hampstead and Stockbridge have never played. Winner gets: The Loganville-Carrollton winner.

Loganville at No. 10 Carrollton: Loganville (5-6) upset previously unbeaten Southwest DeKalb in the first round. Quarterback Tanner Greene leads a solid offense for the Red Devils (1,641 yards passing), but they'll likely need to put up a lot of points to keep up with Carrollton. The Trojans outlasted Riverwood 41-30 in the first round, a game they led only 34-30 entering the final quarter. Brandon Marenco had a breakthrough game (181 yards) against Riverwood and wide receiver Isaiah Lancaster is a big play waiting to happen. Winner gets: The Stockbridge-New Hampstead winner.

Griffin at No. 4 Dutchtown: This may be the most balanced Griffin team that Antonio Andrews has fielded. The Bears (9-2) have won five straight games since losing the Region 3 showdown with Starr's Mill and turned away Statesboro in the first round. Dutchtown (11-0) has one of the best defense in the state. The sledgehammer-carrying Bulldogs have five shutouts – including one against Harris County in the playoff opener – and have not allow more than 14 points in any game. These regional rivals have met six times, with Griffin winning them all. Griffin won 59-35 in their last encounter in 2013. Winner gets: The Cedar Shoals-Rome winner.

Cedar Shoals at No. 1 Rome: Cedar Shoals (8-3) is enjoying its best season since 2007. The Jaguars have won four straight since its loss to Buford, putting up an average of 45.3 points during that time. Cedar Shoals opened the playoffs with a cakewalk against Lithonia. Terms and conditions change this week, as the Jags travel to play two-time defending state champion Rome. The Wolves have won 38 straight games and haven't been tested since early September, when Carrollton forced them to sweat until the fourth quarter. The two clubs met in the first round a year ago and Rome sailed to a 63-13 win. The Wolves lead the all-time series 2-0. Winner gets: The Griffin-Dutchtown winner.

Ware County at No. 3 Warner Robins: Ware County is the best non-ranked teams still in the playoffs. The Gators (8-3) have lost only to Class AAAAA No. 1 Coffee, then Class AAAAAA No. 10 Lowndes and No. 5 Wayne County in the Region 2 title game. Ware's defense is outstanding and has held six teams to single digits, including last week's first-round win over Riverdale. Warner Robins (9-2) will be a different matter. The Demons are known for their defense – eight times they've scored 38 or more points behind quarterback Tyler Fromm. But the Warner Robins defense has gotten a lot better and has allowed only 17 points over its last five games, three of them shutouts. The teams have met only once, with Warner Robins winning 40-0 in the 2004 semifinals. Winner gets: The East Paulding-Clarke Central winner.

East Paulding at Clarke Central: Clarke coach David Perno wasn't likely expecting a second-round home game, but that's exactly what happened with East Paulding (7-4) upset Region 6 champion Banneker in the playoff opener. Clarke (7-4) has developed a balanced attack with quarterback Isaac Ward, although the strength remains the running game behind Jonathan Sewell and O'Brien Barnet. East Paulding's defense is its strength, particularly in the experienced group of defensive backs. The two teams have met twice, both in the playoffs, with East Paulding winning both.  Winner gets: The Ware County-Warner Robins winner.