HS football: Top 10 games of the week

Records, rankings: Marietta is 8-2, the No. 4 seed from Region 4-AAAAAA and unranked; Lovejoy is 9-1, the No. 1 seed from 2-AAAAAA and No. 6.

Last meeting: Lovejoy won 36-15 in the second round of the 2012 Class AAAAAA playoffs.

Three things to know: 1. Marietta had its best finish last season (8-4) in seven years, and the question for 2013 was whether the Blue Devils could sustain their revival under fourth-year coach Scott Burton without LSU-signed quarterback Anthony Jennings. The feature player now is RB Kirvonte Benson (1,301 yards rushing, fourth in AAAAAA), but Marietta has thrived as balanced team as QB Brenton Martin has thrown for 1,383 yards, and WR Jordan Mathis has 41 catches for 653 yards and eight TDs. 2. Lovejoy's top passer and rusher have been banged up for much of the year but are ready for the playoffs. They are RB Jeremiah Kirkland (874 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) and Quintarius Neely (85-of-149 passing, 1,381 yards, 14 touchdowns). The main weapon on offense, though, is junior WR Preston Williams (43 receptions, 960 yards, nine touchdowns), also dangerous in the return game. He has committed to Tennessee. 3. Eight of Lovejoy's 10 opponents made the playoffs, but Lovejoy's schedule is ranked only 56th-hardest out of 63 AAAAAA teams by the Maxwell Ratings. That uncertainty explains  why the Wildcats are ranked as high as No. 2 and as low as No. 10 in state polls. Meanwhile, Marietta has won six consecutive games, including a 24-21 victory over Region 4 champion North Cobb on Nov. 1. A year ago, Marietta upset sixth-ranked Lowndes on the road in the first round.

Winner plays: East Coweta/Lowndes winner

North Gwinnett at Milton

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Eagles Nest, Milton

Records, rankings: North Gwinnett is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA and No. 1; Milton is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 5-AAAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know:1. North Gwinnett QB Hayden Sphire's status remains a game-time decision because of an injury suffered Oct. 25. Junior QB John Urzua  (48-of-74 passing, 660 yards, six touchdowns) has played well in Sphire's place. WR Nate Brown has a state-leading 18 TD receptions. OL Mitch Hyatt is the top-rated junior prospect in Georgia, according to 247Sports. 2. Milton started 5-0 and was ranked for the first time since 1980 but lost preseason all-state RB Treyvon Paulk to a season-ending knee injury after four games. After two consecutive losses, the Eagles got back on track with a 28-21 victory over Walton on Oct. 25. The duo of Chad Toliver (781 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) and Micco Brisker (592, seven) has stepped in nicely, and QB Austin McLeod has completed 69 percent of his passes (82-of-119). 3. Milton is 0-6 in state playoff games and 1-11 in all postseason games. The Eagles lost in the first round the past two seasons to Walton and South Gwinnett. It will be Milton's second home state playoff game in history and first since 2008. Though the schools are only 25 miles apart, they've never met in football.

Winner plays: Archer/North Forsyth winner

Peachtree Ridge at Lassiter

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Frank Fillmann Stadium, Marietta

Records, rankings: Peachtree Ridge is 7-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA and unranked; Lassiter is 7-3, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Peachtree Ridge RB Jordan Ellis, who has committed to Virginia, has rushed for 1,283 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Lions are 6-1 when he rushes for 100 yards, 1-2 when he doesn't. Junior QB Chance Thrasher has thrown for 1,936 yards and 14 TDs, and DL A.J. Houston leads the team with 10.5 tackles for losses. 2. Lassiter QB Will Anderson (174-of-283 passing, 2,363 yards, 21 touchdowns) leads AAAAAA in passing yards out of a spread offense that has no player with more than 400 yards rushing. His main target is Quincy Perdue (40 catches, 702 yards, 10 TDs) and Duby Nwaubi (38-638-4). 3. Lassiter is one of two region champions that the computer Maxwell Ratings project as an underdog in the first round. The other is Dalton (vs. Alexander). Maxwell predicts a sweep by Region 7 over Region 5 in AAAAAA. Lassiter was seeded and ranked No. 1 but lost in the first round last season against Brookwood. Peachtree Ridge is 5-0 against Cobb County teams in the playoffs. Lassiter is 1-5 against Gwinnett teams in the playoffs.

Winner plays: Dacula/West Forsyth winner

Class AAAAA

Allatoona at Kell

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, C.J. Kell Stadium, Marietta

Records, rankings: Allatoona is 7-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 5-AAAAA and unranked; Kell is 10-0, the No. 1 seed from 7-AAAAA and No. 2.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Allatoona's offense revolves around junior RB Joshua Bettistea, who has rushed for 1,813 yards and 27 touchdowns on 208 carries. But he gets help from sophomore Russell Halimon, who has 101 carries for 724 yards, including 172 in a loss to North Paulding two weeks ago. The Buccaneers run the ball about 73 percent of the time. 2. Kell QB Matthew McGuigan has passed for 1,178 yards this season, but he missed the past two games with an ankle injury. In his absence, Cameron Rosendahl has completed 32 of 43 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Longhorns to lopsided victories against Pope and Cambridge. Jay Moxey leads Kell in rushing with 1,017 yards and 13 TDs. 3. Kell and Allatoona have more regular-season victories than any other school in Cobb County over the past three seasons. Kell is 27-3 in the regular season since the start of the 2011, while Allatoona is 26-4, including 10-0 in 2011 in AAA. Among Cobb schools in the highest class, Hillgrove and McEachern lead with 25 each.

Winner plays: Mays/Clarke Central winner

M.L. King at Gainesville

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, City Park Stadium/Bobby Gruhn Field, Gainesville

Records, rankings: M.L. King is 7-3, the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and unranked; Gainesville is 9-1, the No. 1 seed from 8-AAAAA and No. 3.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. This game features two of the top quarterbacks in Georgia. Gainesville's Deshaun Watson, the state's all-time leader in career passing yardage, has thrown for 2,791 yards and 37 touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 712 yards. M.L. King's Roland Rivers has passed for 2,419 yards with 22 TDs and eight interceptions and has rushed for 289 yards. 2. Gainesville rushes for 171.2 yards per game and is led by senior Michael Byrd, who has 845 yards and 11 touchdowns on 108 carries. M.L. King averages 165.2 yards rushing. The Lions are led by juniors Robert Pritchett (464 yards, 84 carries, one touchdown) and Devin Williams (449-84-3). 3. Gainesville is in the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season. The Red Elephants played in the state championship game twice in the past four seasons and won their first title in 2012. M.L. King has made the playoffs in 11 of its 12 seasons and is 9-1 in first-round games.

Winner plays: South Paulding/Sequoyah winner

Stephenson at Flowery Branch

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Falcon Field, Flowery Branch

Records, rankings: Stephenson is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and unranked; Flowery Branch is 7-3, the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Stephenson has rushed for 1,600 yards and 32 touchdowns this season while holding its opponents to 60.1 yards per game on the ground. Dallas Rivers is the leader with 930 yards and 20 touchdowns on 163 carries. Quarterbacks Giovonni Weekley and Dewann Ford have combined to complete 101 of 182 passes for 1,143 yards and 11 TDs. 2. Flowery Branch had one of its top offensive nights of the season last week in its 55-45 loss to Gainesville that cost the Falcons the 8-AAAAA championship. Jackson McDonald passed for 254 yards, Jeremiah Goss rushed for 192 and Cameron Davis had nine receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns, according to the Gainesville Times. 3. Stephenson is making its 14th consecutive trip to the playoffs. The Jaguars reached the quarterfinals last season, breaking a five-year streak of being eliminated in the first or second round. Flowery Branch is in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. The Falcons had their best season in 2008, going 12-3 and reaching the Class AAA final.

Winner plays: North Paulding/Riverwood winner

Thomas County Central at Richmond Hill

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Wildcat Stadium, Richmond Hill

Records, rankings: Thomas County Central is 8-2, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-AAAAA and unranked; Richmond Hill is 9-1, the No. 2 seed from 3-AAAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Thomas County Central QB Adam Choice rushed for 258 yards against Harris County last week before leaving the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. That increased his total to 5,091 yards, breaking the school record set by Joe Burns, according to the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. Choice's status for this week is unknown. 2. Richmond Hill QB Nick Fitzgerald, a Mississippi State commitment, has rushed for 1,183 yards and 23 touchdowns in an offense that does most of its damage with the running game. The Wildcats average 301.7 yards and 40.9 rushes per game while attempting just 59 passes for 524 yards for the season. RB Ronnie Harris has rushed for 637 yards on 73 carries. 3. Thomas County Central finished in a three-way tie for first place in 1-AAAAA but dropped to the third seed because of the region tiebreaker that used points allowed in games among the tied teams. The Yellow Jackets are in the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season. Richmond Hill is playing its first home playoff game since 1996.

Winner plays: Warner Robins/Whitewater winner

Class AAAA

Cedartown at Sandy Creek

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Battlefield, Tyrone

Records, rankings: Cedartown is 9-1, the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAA and unranked; Sandy Creek is 9-0-1, the No. 1 seed from 5-AAAA and No. 1.

Last meeting: Sandy Creek won 41-7 in the 2007 regular season.

Three things to know: 1. This is one of two first-round games in AAAA between teams with nine victories. The other is Carrollton (9-1) vs. Northwest Whitfield (9-1), also matching Region 5 vs. Region 7. The Region 5 teams (Carrollton, Sandy Creek) are heavily favored. Sandy Creek has won 17 of its last 18 playoff games and 12 straight home playoff games. Cedartown has not won a playoff game since 2002. 2. Unless there is an upset, this would be the final game for Cedartown RB Nick Chubb, who has rushed for more than 5,300 yards the past two seasons. Committed to Georgia, Chubb leads the state in rushing again (2,612 yards), but Cedartown can pass a little, too. QB Harrison Barnett has thrown for 1,119 yards. WR Israel Battle has 39 catches for 786 yards and eight touchdowns. 3. Sandy Creek's Eric Swinney (1,008 yards rushing) and Delvin Weems (1,024) are each over 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season. QB Cole Garvin (1,637 yards) is seeking his second straight 2,000-yard passing season, and WR Demarre Kitt (744) is seeking his second straight 1,000-yard receiving season.

Winner plays: Chestatee/Grady winner

Statesboro at Cairo

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, West Thomas Stadium, Cairo

Records, rankings: Statesboro is 9-1, the No. 3 seed from Region 3-AAAA and No. 8; Cairo is 7-3, the No. 2 seed from 1-AAAA and unranked.

Last meeting: Cairo won 34-0 in the 1963 regular season.

Three things to know: 1. Statesboro's scoring defense ranks second in AAAA at 9.4 points allowed per game. Statesboro held each of its other region playoff opponents to exactly seven points, including state-ranked Burke County and Wayne County. Part of Statesboro's good defense is a good offense, one that controls the ball and clock. Running backs Sherrodric Rawls and Zach Grant each have multiple 100-yard rushing games. Like Statesboro, Cairo is defensive-minded. The Syrupmakers' offense (21.5 points per game) ranks 30th among the 32 AAAA playoff teams, but Cairo is allowing only 11.8 points. 2. Statesboro defeated Region 3 champion Burke County 21-7 and has the region's best overall record but finished second in its subregion because of a 7-6 loss to Wayne County on Nov. 1. The difference was a blocked extra point. That put Statesboro on the road for the first round despite a 9-1 record. Cairo is seeded No. 2 but is less proven, with no victories over teams ranked in the top 25 of their classification by the Maxwell Ratings. 3. These are two of the oldest and most successful high school programs in Georgia. Each has more than 600 all-time victories. Cairo has been more predictable in the playoffs recently. The Syrupmakers have won seven consecutive first-round games, all at home, and won 16 of 18 first-round state playoff games since 1990. Statesboro is only 8-9 in first-round games during that time and was beaten 40-14 in the first round last season by Mary Persons.

Winner plays: Griffin/Rutland winner

Class AAA

North Oconee at Woodward Academy

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Colquitt Stadium, College Park

Records, rankings: North Oconee is 7-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAA and unranked; Woodward Academy is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from 6-AAA and No. 8.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. North Oconee junior RB Kawon Bryant is the leading rusher in Class AAA and No. 2 overall in the state with 2,485 yards, including 167 in a 33-30 loss to Hart County last week. Bryant also has 208 yards receiving and accounts for 65 percent of the Titans' offense, which averages about 40 rushes and 17 passes per game. 2. Woodward Academy QB Terry Googer is the team's leading rusher with 1,060 yards and 15 touchdowns on 152 carries, and he has passed for 854 yards and eight TDs. Woodward's defense, which allows 13.1 points per game, is led by LB Max Richardson, who has 86 total tackles, two sacks and 10 tackles for loss. 3. North Oconee, playing its 10th season of football, is in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The Titans won their first-round game in four of their previous five trips, including 37-14 against Ringgold last season. Woodward also is making its sixth straight playoff appearance. The War Eagles lost to North Hall in the first round last season after four consecutive years of second-round losses.

Winner plays: Buford/Sonoraville winner