While Gainesville, Buford, and Jefferson continue to try and defend their state titles, Chestatee and White County will try to continue to make history Friday in the second round of the state football playoffs.
Commerce will open the Class A public playoffs this week against Charlton County.
Buford and Jefferson rolled to shutout victories while Gainesville overcame a sluggish offensive night in the first round to advance. Chestatee, meanwhile, earned its first-ever playoff win rallying to beat Grady and White County had its biggest offensive output since 2010 in a win over Adairsville.
The going will get considerably tougher this week.
Chestatee has the biggest challenge taking on Sandy Creek, which has won three state titles in four years. The Patriots are 25-0-1 since 2012.
For the Elephants, they will need another stellar performance from their defense against South Paulding, which may have an offense that can match the usually-potent Gainesville offense. Deshaun Watson will certainly need to pass for more than 20 yards if they want to get by the Spartans in the Class AAAAA playoffs.
Buford, the highest scoring team in AAA at just over 52 points a contest, will try to keep an interesting stat going against Woodward Academy. They have beaten every opponent by 24 or more points. They are chasing a record set by the 1971 Valdosta team that beat all 13 of its opponents by 21 or more points.
Jefferson, however, is going for another first. The Dragons are looking for their first-ever road playoff win when they travel to take on Heard County in the Class AA playoffs.
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with Access North Georgia and our Friday Game Night page throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed @FridayGameNight
CLASS AAAAAA
NORTH GWINNETT at ARCHER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Archer Stadium
-- NORTH GWINNETT (10-1, No. 3 seed Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Milton 34-10 last week in first round
-- ARCHER (11-0, No. 1 seed Region 8-AAAAAA): Defeated North Forsyth 34-7 last week in first round
-- NOTABLE: The Bulldogs are perhaps the toughest No. 3 seed in the state after being ranked No. 1 for most of the season and are no strangers to playing big games on the road. They are 6-0 on the road in 2013 and the senior class is 18-1 on the road as a group. Their only road loss came against Lovejoy last year in the quarterfinals. . .Archer got its first-ever playoff win last week in just its second-ever playoff game. . .The Tigers have been nothing but consistent on offense this year scoring 21 points or more in every game (34.5 ppg) and 31 or more in seven straight. . .North Gwinnett has been vulnerable on defense at times but also has three shutouts on the season while allowing just 17.3 ppg on defense. . .The Bulldogs have been an offensive juggernaut all season (41.5 ppg) scoring 34 or more in every game but one (loss to Collins Hill) while the Tigers are yielding just 14.5 ppg on defense.
-- HISTORY: North Gwinnett leads series 1-0. The Bulldogs beat Archer 49-3 in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Camden County vs. Hillgrove winner in the quarterfinals
CLASS AAAAA
SOUTH PAULDING at GAINESVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 1240 AM
-- SOUTH PAULDING (10-1, No. 2 seed Region 5-AAAAA): Defeated Sequoyah 48-21 last week in first round
-- GAINESVILLE (10-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated M.L. King 28-14 last week in first round
-- NOTABLE: Gainesville's Deshaun Watson had perhaps his worst game passing in his career with just 20 yards on four completions last week but did rush for a team-high 159 yards, giving him nearly 360 yards rushing in the past two weeks. . .The Elephants defense was stellar against a good M.L. King offense. They had two goal-line stands and Devan Stringer returned an interception for a touchdown and the defense set up another score with a second interception in the third quarter while holding M.L. King scoreless until the fourth quarter. The special teams also blocked a punt to set another TD. . .South Paulding earned its first-ever playoff win in its first-ever playoff game last week. The Spartans have been as potent on offense as Gainesville scoring 40 or more eight times. The Spartans defense has gotten better as the season has progressed. After allowing 145 points (29 ppg) in their first five games, they have allowed just 94 total points (15.6 ppg) over their last six games. . .South Paulding is 6-1 on the road this season while Gainesville is 5-1 at home this season (only loss to Buford) and the senior class is 22-6 at City Park since 2010. . .
-- HISTORY: First-ever meeting
-- WINNER PLAYS: Lee County vs. Mundy's Mill winner in the quarterfinals
CLASS AAAA
CHESTATEE at SANDY CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Battlefield, Tyrone
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- CHESTATEE (9-2, No. 2 seed Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Grady 41-13 last week in the first round
-- SANDY CREEK (10-0-1, No. 1 seed Region 5-AAAA): Defeated Cedartown 63-10 last week in the first round
-- NOTABLE: Chestatee will have its hands full against the Patriots, who have won three state titles in the last four years. But, the War Eagles have shown remarkable grit and determination this season after battling some key injuries early in the season. The defense has been the best in school history recording three shutouts and a school-record low 126 points (12.6 ppg) during the regular season. After allowing 14 points to Grady in their first six plays, the War Eagles held the Knights scoreless the rest of the way and yielded just five first downs after the first six minutes of the game. . .The Sandy Creek offense poses another level of concern. The Patriots are averaging 45 ppg and scored 50 or more six times this season. Sandy Creek QB Cole Garvin and WR Demarre Kitt have formed a formidable duo this season. Garvin has thrown for 1,637 yards this season, while Kitt has 45 catches for 744 yards. . .Sandy Creek is 25-0-1 since 2012. The last team to beat the Patriots was Gainesville in the quarterfinals of the 2011 playoffs. They are 66-2-1 since 2009 with three state titles (2 in AAAA and 1 in AAA).
-- HISTORY: First-ever meeting
-- WINNER PLAYS: Griffin vs. Statesboro winner in the quarterfinals
CLASS AAA
WHITE COUNTY at BLESSED TRINITY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Blessed Trinity Stadium, Roswell
-- RADIO: AM 1350, wrwh.com
-- WHITE (9-2, No. 2 seed Region 7-AAA): Defeated Adairsville 52-28 last week in the first round
-- BLESSED TRINITY (8-3, No. 1 seed Region 6-AAA): Defeated Jackson County 41-14 last week in the first round
-- NOTABLE: These two teams know each other well despite playing in different regions. This will be the fourth meeting over the past two seasons. The Titans knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs last year in the first round. . .Both teams come into the contest riding five-game win streaks. . .Blessed Trinity suffered a serious loss early in last week's playoff opener when standout sophomore tailback Milton Shelton injured his knee early in the game. But, RB Chad Manthey filled in nicely for Shelton rushing for 228 yards on 27 carries in the win over Jackson County. . .The Warriors' Dalton Whitfield was a one-man wrecking crew last week rushing for 257 yards and three touchdowns on offense and recording 18 tackles on defense against Adairsville. . .White County is 7-3 on the road the last two seasons. . .Blessed Trinity is 4-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming against Lovett.
-- HISTORY: Blessed Trinity leads series 3-0, including a 30-0 win earlier this season in Cleveland.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Washington County vs. Peach County winner in the quarterfinals
WOODWARD ACADEMY at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: 550 AM
-- WOODWARD (9-2, No. 2 seed Region 6-AAA): Defeated North Oconee 53-21 last week as part of a sweep for Region 6-AAA teams in the first round
-- BUFORD (11-0, No. 1 seed Region 7-AAA): Defeated Sonoraville 58-0 last week in the first round
-- NOTABLE: The Wolves continue to roll pushing their win streak to 21-straight. The offense is the model of efficiency scoring on every possession last week. Buford leads AAA in scoring offense (52.0 ppg) and, according to Georgia High School Football Daily, no team has won every game by 21 or more points since Valdosta in 1971. The Wolves have each by at least 24. . .But it's the defense that is putting up eye-popping numbers. They held Sonoraville to just 26 total yards for the game and scored on a fumble return by Josh Thomas and a third quarter safety. . .The Woodward defense, however, may be the toughest Buford has seen since Gainesville. The War Eagles have not allowed more than 28 points in any game and are yielding just 14.7 ppg on the season. . .Buford is looking for its 14th straight trip to the quarterfinals. The War Eagles have not advanced to the quarterfinals since 1999. . .War Eagles' QB Terry Googer (6-4, 209), who is committed to South Carolina, has rushed for 1,112 yards and 16 touchdowns and passed for 1,005 yards and 11 TDs. Running backs Elijah Holyfield and Quincy Wolff each scored three touchdowns in last week's victory.
-- HISTORY: First-ever meeting
-- WINNER PLAYS: Jefferson County vs. Carver-Columbus winner in the quarterfinals
CLASS AA
JEFFERSON at HEARD COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Staples Stadium, Franklin
-- JEFFERSON (9-2, No. 2 seed Region 8-AA): Defeated Westminster 28-0 last week in the first round
-- HEARD COUNTY (10-1, No. 1 seed Region 5-AA): Defeated Pepperell 27-14 last week in the first round
-- NOTABLE: The Dragons defense continues to shine. They pitched their fifth shutout of the season last week and have allowed more than 21 points just once (41 to North Hall) this season. They will be tested this week against Heard County, which is averaging 43.4 ppg during its 10-game win streak. . .Jefferson is battle-tested in the playoffs as it continues its drive to defend its Class AA state title. Take away the 51 points in a wild triple-overtime win last year against Fitzgerald, the Dragons have not allowed more than 14 points in their last six playoff game. . .Heard County is trying to reestablish its program. The Braves have not advanced past the second round since 1990. They are just 2-6 in their last eight playoff games going back to 2007. . .Jefferson coach Ben Hall said junior quarterback Evan Shirreffs will dress but will not start. Hall said he will be ready but how much, if any, action he sees will depend on game circumstances.
-- HISTORY: Jefferson leads the series 2-0 with both wins coming in the playoffs.
-- WINNER PLAYS: Lamar County vs. Thomasville winner in the quarterfinals
CLASS A
CHARLTON COUNTY at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Field at Ray Lamb Stadium, Commerce
-- CHARLTON (6-4, No. 9 public seed, Region 2-A): Lost 29-26 two weeks ago to Irwin County.
-- COMMERCE (7-3, No. 8 public seed, Region 8-A): Defeated Pinecrest 24-14 two weeks ago.
-- NOTABLE: The Tigers have been one of the hottest teams in northeast Georgia winning five of their last six games. The turnaround of the offense has been a big reason. After suffering two shutouts and scoring just 47 points in a 2-2 start, Commerce is 5-1 since and averaged 27.9 ppg in that span. The Tigers defense has been good enough to win games allowing 17.1 ppg. . .Charlton County has limped into the playoffs losing two of its last three games. Defense is the key for the Indians. In their six wins, they have allowed just 11.8 ppg. In their four losses, they have yielded 35.2 ppg. . .Commerce has not won a playoff game since beating Landmark Christian in the first round in 2009.
-- HISTORY: First-ever meeting
-- WINNER PLAYS: Wilkinson County vs. Seminole County winner in the quarterfinals
Sunday
January 5th, 2025
7:04PM
