Blessed Trinity at Westminster
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Alfred E. Thompson Stadium
Rankings: Blessed Trinity (9-3 in 2012) is No. 7 in AAA; Westminster (5-7 in 2012) is No. 7 in AA.
Last meeting: Blessed Trinity won 25-20 in 2012.
Three things to know: 1. Blessed Trinity was led in rushing last season by Milton Shelton, a freshman who was pressed into duty when starting RB Jordan Denson was lost for the season after tearing his ACL in a scrimmage. Shelton finished with 894 yards rushing, including 106 against Westminster, all in the second half. 2. Westminster lost a big weapon with the graduation of kicker Harrison Butker, who signed with Georgia Tech. Butker was named first-team all-state as a junior and senior, and he set school records for longest field goal (53 yards) and most field goals made in a season (16-of-17 in 2011). 3. Blessed Trinity, which began playing varsity football in 2001, set a school record with nine victories last season. The Titans had never won a playoff game before Tim McFarlin's arrival in 2011, but the former Roswell coach has led them to first-round victories in each of his first two seasons.
Burke County at Thomson
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Brickyard, Thomson
Rankings: Burke County (11-2 in 2012) is No. 3 in AAAA; Thomson (12-1 in 2012) is No. 9 in AAA.
Last meeting: Thomson won 21-14 in 2012.
Three things to know: Burke County QB Donquell Green, a first-team all-state player last season and a preseason selection (ATH) this year, rushed for 1,827 yards and scored 32 touchdowns on 177 attempts for a team that lost to eventual champion Sandy Creek in the AAAA quarterfinals. Green also passed for 1,399 and 11 TDs with only two interceptions. 2. Thomson WR/DB Felton Hatcher was a first-team all-state player at defensive back as a junior and was a preseason selection this season. Hatcher made 54 tackles in 2012 and had nine interceptions. He also caught six passes for 76 yards. 3. Thomson scored 21 second-quarter points to rally from a 14-0 deficit last year and snap a four-game losing streak against Burke County to even the all-time series 14-14. Chris Jordan, a senior fullback, led the Bulldogs with 165 yards rushing and scored on a 62-yard run just before halftime that provided the game-winning points.
ELCA at Washington County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, House of Pain, Sandersville
Rankings: Eagle's Landing Christian (13-1 in 2012) is No. 1 in A; Washington County (11-2 in 2012) is No. 6 in AAA.
Last meeting: Washington County won 24-19 in 2012.
Three things to know: 1. ELCA will be searching for a replacement for RB/LB Keyante Green, who signed with Purdue. Green rushed for 1,272 yards as a senior and was named first-team all-state at linebacker. Lane Timpson and Cameron Stewart are the leading candidates to pick up some of Green's production on offense. 2. Junior A.J. Gray, who made second-team all-state last season in both football (defensive back) and basketball, will move to quarterback this season for Washington County. Gray will replace William Walker, who was first-team all-state as an athlete. He'll have to settle in in a hurry, as the Golden Hawks play both defending Class A champs (ELCA and Emanuel County Institute) in the first three weeks of the season. 3. Washington County stopped an ELCA drive at the 13-yard line with 25 seconds remaining to preserve a five-point victory last season. It was the only loss of the season for ELCA, which rebounded with 13 consecutive victories to claim the state's first Class A public-school championship.
Thomasville at Thomas County Central
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Jackets' Nest, Thomasville
Rankings: Thomasville (3-7 in 2012) is unranked in AA; Thomas County Central (9-3 in 2012) is No. 9 in AAAAA.
Last meeting: Thomas County Central won 41-7 in 2012.
Three things to know: 1. Leroy Ryals will make his debut as the Thomasville coach. Ryals, who was 60-21-1 in eight seasons at Clarke Central, was hired to replace Richie Marsh, who was 53-40 in eight seasons at Thomasville. Marsh resigned to become the defensive coordinator for Southeastern University's new program in Lakeland, Fla. 2. Thomas County Central quarterback Adam Choice rushed for 1,656 yards and 23 touchdowns and passed for 600 yards last season. Choice, who also will start at cornerback this season, committed to Clemson. He was recruited as a running back. 3. Thomasville still holds a 24-23 advantage in the rivalry that dates to 1962, but Thomas County Central has won 14 of the past 16 meetings. Thomas Central's 41 points last year were the fourth-most points it has scored against Thomasville, and the 34-point win was its second-largest margin of victory.
Woodward Academy at Lovett
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium/Conley-Oakley Field
Rankings: Woodward Academy (7-4 in 2012) is No. 10 in AAA; Lovett (8-5 in 2012) is No. 8 in AA.
Last meeting: Lovett won 7-3 in 2012.
Three things to know: 1. Lovett is led by DB/RB Grant Haley, a first-team preseason all-state player who committed to Vanderbilt. Haley had seven interceptions, rushed for 536 yards, caught 18 passes and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2012. 2. Woodward Academy QB Terry Googer was named preseason all-state in Class AAA as an athlete after passing for 1,200 yards and rushing for 600 last season. Googer, who was recruited as a WR/TE, committed to South Carolina. Woodward Academy kicker A.J. Cole, who committed to N.C. State, also made the preseason all-state team. 3. Haley scored the only touchdown in last year's meeting with the War Eagles on a 4-yard run that was set up when Woodward Academy fumbled a punt. Googer passed for 97 yards and rushed for 31 for Woodward Academy, which held Lovett to 124 total yards, but got its only score on a 31-yard field goal by Alex Robinson in the second quarter.
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