Top 10 games of the first round

Records, rankings: Grayson is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAAAA and No. 2; Mill Creek is 7-3, the No. 2 seed from 7-AAAAAA and No. 8.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Grayson finished in a three-way tie with Dacula and Archer as region champions in 8-AAAAAA but ended up as a No. 3 seed after the region broke the tie with coin flips. Mill Creek opened the season 2-3, with losses to top-five teams Colquitt County, Dacula and North Gwinnett. But the Hawks ended the season with five consecutive wins, including victories against playoff teams Norcross and Peachtree Ridge, to earn a No. 2 seed. Grayson and Mill Creek had one common opponent - Dacula - during the regular season, and both lost to the Falcons. 2. Mill Creek runs the ball about three-fourths of the time and averages 308.3 yards per game rushing. Johnathan Hawkins has 1,150 yards and 19 touchdowns on 144 carries (7.99 ypc). QB Daniel David has rushed for 799 yards and 13 TDs and passed for 945 yards and eight scores. The Hawks also are tough against the run, allowing just 90.5 yards per game. 3. Grayson RB Cameryn Brent has rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 touchdowns on 197 carries. But the Rams also are dangerous passing the ball. QB Chase Brice is 115-for-184 passing for 1,656 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Winner plays: Tift County/Tucker winner

Lee County at Lovejoy

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Twelve Oaks Stadium, Hampton

Records, rankings: Lee County is 7-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAAAA and No. 6; Lovejoy is 7-3, the No. 2 seed from 2-AAAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Lee County's Garet Morrell led Region 1-AAAAAA in passing yards with 2,035. He completed 141 of 242 attempts with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His top target, WR J.Q. Quimbley, led the region in catches (48), yards (648) and TDs (eight). RBs Willie Kelley (80 carries, 476 yards, two TDs) and Jamal Gardner (84-416-8) were sixth and seventh in the region in rushing. 2. AJC Super 11 WR Preston Williams is out for the season with a knee injury. But Lovejoy has four other seniors rated as two-star recruits or better by Rivals. They are DB Montrell Custis (Alabama commitment), OL Randy Robinson (uncommitted), RB Kevin Morris-Strong (three offers) and WR Tremaine Dillard (Indiana reportedly leads). 3. Lee County was projected by the computer Maxwell Ratings to finish in last place in 1-AAAAAA this season after moving up from AAAAA. However, the Trojans beat Tift County, Lowndes and Camden County to finish third. Lovejoy had its three-year streak of region titles and 36-game region winning streak stopped by Tucker, but the Wildcats are in the playoffs for a school-record fifth consecutive season.

Winner plays: Norcross/Archer winner

North Cobb at Hughes

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Panthers Stadium, Fairburn

Records, rankings: North Cobb is 7-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAAAAA and unranked; Hughes is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 3-AAAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: North Cobb won 42-14 in the second round of the 2012 Class AAAAAA playoffs.

Three things to know: 1. North Cobb and Hughes are attempting to reach the second round of the playoffs for a historic third consecutive time. North Cobb has never done it in a football history that dates to 1958. Neither has Hughes, a 6-year-old school. Hughes can become the first from south Fulton County to do it since Creekside (1998-2000). 2. Hughes averages only about 275 yards in total offense, a low total for a team that spent much of the season in the Top 10. Isaiah Green is 115-of-229 passing for 1,486 yards and 14 touchdowns. The leading rusher is Demetrius Whitmore (469 yard). The defense is another story. Hughes averages about seven tackles for losses and four sacks per game and intercepted 21 passes. Standouts on that side of the ball include four-star DE D'Andre Walker, LB Montavious Atkinson (Auburn) and leading tackler Jeffrey Allison. 3. QB Tyler Queen is a three-year starter who led North Cobb to the semifinals in 2012 as a sophomore, when North Cobb beat Hughes in the quarterfinals. North Cobb's 27-9 record in that time marks the best three-year run in school history. Queen has thrown for 2,147 yards and 26 touchdowns this year, and a Cobb County-record 88 for his career. Jordan McCray and D.J. Render have seven TD receptions apiece. The leading rusher is Bryce Perryman with 895 yards and six touchdowns.

Winner plays: Northview/Milton winner

Peachtree Ridge at Dacula

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Barron Field, Dacula

Records, rankings: Peachtree Ridge is 7-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA and unranked; Dacula is 9-1, the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAAA and No. 4.

Last meeting: Dacula won 28-21 in the second round of the 2013 Class AAAAAA playoffs.

Three things to know: 1. The 2013 playoff game between these Gwinnett County rivals was a classic. All seven touchdowns tied the game or put one team ahead. Trailing 21-14 at halftime, Dacula scored two third-quarter touchdowns and intercepted two fourth-down passes in Dacula territory in the fourth quarter, one in the end zone. Both teams had more than 400 yards in total offense. 2. Peachtree Ridge averages 221.7 yards rushing, 193.4 passing. Chance Thrasher (committed to Coastal Carolina) is 149-for-246 passing for 2,159 yards and 23 touchdowns. Na'ceem Antenor has rushed for 812 yards and eight touchdowns. The leading tacklers are sophomores Kameron Jones and Breon Dixon. The Lions have two Division I recruits in the secondary, both juniors. Baylen Buchanan has committed to Louisville. Chad Clay has offers from Georgia, LSU, Georgia Tech and others. 3. Dacula's strengths are running the ball (266.5 yards per game), stopping the run (88.1 yards per game) and forcing turnovers (25, with five returned for touchdowns). The team's star players are versatile. C.J. Mayes has a team-leading 710 rushing yards, five interceptions and three return touchdowns. Kelan Fraise has 366 yards rushing, a team-leading 17 receptions and 14 pass breakups in the secondary. Jakob Brashear is second in rushing (409), first in rushing touchdowns (seven) and third in tackles (81). Bijan Sirleaf has 322 yards rushing and 20 tackles for losses.

Winner plays: Rockdale County/Colquitt County winner

Class AAAAA

Carver (Atlanta) at Allatoona

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

Records, rankings: Carver is 8-2, the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and unranked; Allatoona is 10-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAAA and No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Carver finished in a three-way tie with Creekside and Mays for first place in 6-AAAAA Division B but was relegated to the No. 3 seed in the subregion because of tiebreakers. That forced the Panthers into a play-in game against Southwest DeKalb, which Carver won 18-7 to earn a spot in the state playoffs as a strong No. 4 seed. Carver's Quentin Gates, subbing for 1,000-yard rusher Gregory Payton, rushed for 130 yards on 25 carries in that game. Payton (knee) is out for the season. 2. Allatoona runs the ball about 75 percent of the time and averages 281.1 yards rushing (155.4 passing). Russell Halimon, who has led Class AAAAA in rushing for most of the season, has 1,681 yards and 19 touchdowns on 245 carries. Joshua Bettistea missed three games early in the season but has 569 yards, including 206 in a 42-6 victory against Chapel Hill last week. QB Conner Larson completes 66 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,494 yards and 17 TDs. 3. Carver hasn't won a game in the state playoffs since 2007 and has won just five in a history that dates to 1949, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Allatoona has won four state playoff games since it began playing a region schedule in 2010.

Winner plays: Mundy's Mill/Coffee winner

Jones County at Carver (Columbus)

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, Columbus

Records, rankings: Jones County is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 2-AAAAA and unranked; Carver is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 1-AAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Jones County is having its best season since 2001 (9-3). The Greyhounds made a statement in September when they beat then-No. 1 Northside of Warner Robins 45-37. Carver is trying to reach the quarterfinals or better and achieve a 10-win season for the ninth consecutive season. Those previous records came in classes AAA or AA. Carver is playing up in class this year to be with four other Columbus schools in Region 1. 2. Although relatively small in enrollment, Carver is rich in college prospects. DE Mekhi Brown (Alabama) and DB Khane Pass (Louisville) are committed seniors. Junior DB Javontay Smith has committed to North Carolina, and junior QB Jawon Pass is 6 feet, 5 inches, and rated the consensus No. 2 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the class of 2016. Sophomore LB Giovannia Moore has five reported offers, one from Tennessee. 3. Jones County is a young and improving. Sophomore QB Bradley Hunnicutt is 129-of-189 passing for 2,155 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior Chandler Rampage is the leading rusher (809 yards, 12 touchdowns). Junior WR Nick Singleton has 51 catches for 924 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior DE Torrez Finney has 13 sacks. Junior DB Tyric Solomon has four interceptions, two for touchdowns.

Winner plays: Winder-Barrow/Kell winner

Mays at South Paulding

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Timothy D. Glanton Sr. Field, Douglasville

Records, rankings: Mays is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and No. 7; South Paulding is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 5-AAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Mays finished in a three-way tie with Creekside and Carver of Atlanta for first place in 6-AAAAA Division B, but the Raiders were the No. 2 seed in the subregion after the tiebreakers and had to beat Miller Grove in a play-in game to qualify for the postseason. South Paulding lost its regular-season finale against Hiram 21-13 last week but already had clinched second place in 5-AAAAA. 2. Mays is a relatively balanced offensive team (205.5 yards rushing, 147 passing), but the running game has been particularly effective in recent weeks, averaging 316 yards over the past four games. The Raiders ran for 305 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries in the 29-6 victory against Miller Grove last week. They were led by Charlie Patrick, who rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. 3. South Paulding has a 2,000-yard passer and a rusher and receiver who could reach 1,000 yards this week. QB Jake Oglesby is 153-for-268 passing for 2,231 yards and 20 touchdowns. RB Kameron Watts has rushed for 935 yards and 12 touchdowns, and WR L.J. Pope has 56 catches for 969 yards and 10 TDs.

Winner plays: Starr's Mill/Ware County winner

Class AAAA

Whitewater at Marist

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Whitewater is 7-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAAA and No. 10; Marist is 9-1, the No. 2 seed from 6-AAAA and No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. This is the only first-round game in Class AAAA that matches state-ranked teams. Whitewater was No. 9 in the preseason poll and remained in the top 10 until losing to Sandy Creek on Oct. 10. The Wildcats returned to the No. 10 spot this week. Marist opened at No. 4, fell to eighth after losing to St. Pius 10-9 on Oct. 10, then worked back up to No. 4. 2. Whitewater's playoff berth wasn't secure until a 34-21 victory over Troup in the regular-season finale last week. The Wildcats took a 13-0 lead in the first 7:06 of the game and eventually led 34-7 before holding on. Whitewater ran for five touchdowns, including two by QB Jay Ashley of 25 and 87 yards, according to the West Point Times-News. Troup, meanwhile, was held to 132 yards rushing on 43 carries. Whitewater RB Christian Wafford, who has 1,252 yards rushing this season, did not play because of the flu but is expected this week. 3. As usual, Marist is a run-first team, averaging 278 yards rushing and 64.2 passing. Ian Gipson is the leader with 796 yards on 107 carries, but six other players have at least 26 carries, 161 yards and a touchdown. QB Sam Phelps throws only five passes per game, but he has completed 67 percent for 602 yards and three TDs. Adam Smith leads the team in tackles and has an interception.

Winner plays: Liberty County/Griffin winner

Class AAA

Westminster at Laney

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lucy C. Laney Memorial Stadium, Augusta

Records, rankings: Westminster is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AAA and No. 6; Laney is 7-3, the No. 2 seed from 3-AAA and unranked.

Last meeting: Westminster won 14-6 on Sept. 5.

Three things to know: 1. Westminster and Laney have played each other during the regular season the past three years, with Westminster winning them all, usually close. In their game Sept. 5, Laney led in total yardage 293-187 but lost three fumbles, one at the Westminster 1-yard line. Westminster hurt itself too, missing two field goals. Isaiah Malcome rushed for 94 yards. 2. Westminster can clinch its first 10-win season since 2004, when Gordon Beckham III was the Wildcats' quarterback. But unlike that team, this Westminster is much better running the ball. Malcome has 1,182 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. QB Rankin Worley has almost as many yards rushing (400) as passing (541), although he threw four TD passes last week against North Clayton, all to Cole Haverty. Westminster has put 47 of 58 kickoffs in the end zone and downed 11 of 24 punts inside the 20. 3. Laney sophomore QB Levin Lackey emerged as the starter around midseason and has thrown for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns. That move allowed Vicente Thompkins (who rushed for 101 yards and passed for 128 in the first Westminster game) to move to receiver, where he has six TD catches, and to be more productive in the secondary (five interceptions). Other prime targets who start both ways are Danye Washington (nine TD catches) and Andre James (four interceptions). Laney has two outstanding sophomore defensive tackles, Tyrone Truesdell and Jonathon Lattimore.

Winner plays: Sonoraville/Central-Carrollton winner

Class AA

Thomasville at Benedictine

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, T.A. Wright Stadium/Savannah State, Savannah

Records, rankings: Thomasville is 6-4, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AA and No. 9; Benedictine is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 2-AA and No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Region 1-AA is home to perhaps the most feared playoff road warriors in any classification, and Thomasville has done its part, winning against higher-seeded teams in the first round in each of the past four opportunities (2007 Laney, 2008 McIntosh County Academy, 2009 Henry County and 2013 Westside-Augusta). Thomasville's losses are against ranked teams. Benedictine's losses are to No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian and No. 2 Vidalia, both 10-0. 2. About 90 percent of Thomasville's plays will require assigning yardage to QB Kenneth Hayes (1,143 passing, 694 rushing) or RB Jalandin Jones (1,030 rushing). Five Thomasville receivers have two or more TD receptions. DB Jay Bowdry (offered by Georgia Southern, Georgia State and others) leads the team in tackles (101), interceptions (three) and fumble recoveries (five). 3. Benedictine was largely a run-based team during its run to the 2013 semifinals but has opened things up to suit the growing talents of QB Stevie Powers (132-of-193 passing, 2,443 yards, 22 TDs) and WR Brad Stewart (53 catches, 1,010 yards, 12 TDs). But Benedictine still rushes for 206.4 yards per game. LB Tru'Self Cooper has a team-leading 76 solo tackles in only eight games. LB Zach Scott has 13 tackles for losses.

Winner plays: Chattooga/Rabun County winner

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