Plenty of area games on tap as first round of playoffs get going

The season is over -- long live the season. The second campaign of 2014 gets underway on Friday, as the high school football playoffs kick off the first round -- and the outlets of Jacobs Media will be on hand to keep you up-to-date on every snap, pass and touchdown.<br /> <br /> Fourteen area programs will take part in this week's opening round -- the 15th, Commerce, will get its postseason underway next week -- and there are plenty of intriguing battles on the first round slate.<br /> <br /> A game that will draw the eyes of the entire state will take place in Hoschton, as Mill Creek plays host to Grayson -- a contest that Access North Georgia's Friday Game Night page will cover in-depth.<br /> <br /> The Hawks (7-3) finished as the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA -- but may in fact be the hottest team in the state after winning five straight games, including two over fellow playoff teams. The Rams (9-1), meanwhile, have been hot all season and finished as the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AAAAAA only by virtue of a tiebreaker.<br /> <br /> Both squads feature powerful lines of scrimmage and rushing attacks that could make some small colleges envious, and fans can expect a slugfest on Friday. Mill Creek dual-threat quarterback Daniel David and running backs Johnathan Hawkins and Brian Efianayi spearhead an offense averaging 309 yards rushing per game. The Hawks will also look to get on the right side of a contest against a ranked foe on Friday: Mill Creek has lost its three games against current top 10 foes this season -- by an average of just 11 points.<br /> <br /> The Hawks will be making their fourth state playoff appearance -- their previous best was a state quarterfinal run in 2012.<br /> <br /> West Hall, meanwhile, will be making its sixth playoff appearance -- its second in a row -- and the Spartans will be hoping for their second ever state victory when they play host to Oconee County on Friday in a game broadcast live on <b>WDUN AM 550</b>.<br /> <br /> It's already been a season of firsts for West Hall, which notched its first region crown last week, and the Spartans (9-1) bring plenty of momentum into the postseason -- that and a explosive rushing attack and stout defense.<br /> <br /> West Hall ripped off three touchdown runs of 40 yards or more in last week's 35-0, Region 7-AAA-clinching-victory over Lumpkin County and held the Indians for their fifth shutout of the season. The Spartans put up all but one of those goose-eggs at home, and they will be looking for another big performance against an Oconee County squad that is in the midst of its own restoration.<br /> <br /> The Warriors (7-3) are the No. 4 seed from Region 8-AAA and will be making their first state appearance since 2008, and have shown dramatic improvement under former Stephens County head coach Travis Noland, winning their first seven games of the 2014 campaign to post their highest win total since 2004.<br /> <br /> Oconee County is led by quarterback Zeb Noland and running back Christian Casey in a balanced attack that struggled to match its previously-high totals against the other four playoff teams from Region 8-AAA. Yet you can expect West Hall will be wary of the Warriors, as both teams look to move on to the second round.<br /> <br /> East Hall, meanwhile, is set for its postseason contest in nine years. And the Vikings (6-4) will see if they can pull off a road victory when they head to Hart County (9-1) on Friday in a game played live on <b>WDUN 102.9 FM</b>. <br /> <br /> East Hall has found its rhythm at the close of the campaign, winning four straight contests. The key ingredient? Offense, and plenty of it. The Vikings averaged 37 points in the four victories -- which coincided with the return to health of quarterback Devin Watson.<br /> <br /> Watson missed a number of games early in the season through injury and is unquestionably one of the most impressive athletes and dual-threat quarterbacks in northeast Georgia -- as well as the entire state.<br /> <br /> The Vikings will face a Hart County squad coming off its first loss of the season and that has allowed more than 14 points just twice this campaign. <br /> <br /> As far as defense goes, Gainesville has shown it has plenty of it this season -- allowing just under 15 points per game -- and the Red Elephants will hope to slow a Creekview offense scoring almost 27 points per contest when the two face off in a Class AAAAA first round battle on <b>1240 AM ESPN Radio</b>.<br /> <br /> Gainesville (8-2) looked to be hitting its stride in last week's 49-7 win over Flowery Branch -- quarterback Mikey Gonzalez finding a deadly rhythm with his deep receiving corps, while running back Michael Byrd put up a third straight 100-yard rushing performance. Linebacker/running back Chris Byrd also returned from injury last week and promptly racked up nine solo tackles. <br /> <br /> The Red Elephants know they better be at their best in the playoffs and after reaching the semifinals or better in three straight seasons, a number of players on the roster know how much tougher postseason play can be. And Gainesville will want to maintain its six-year streak of winning in the first round (a stretch that includes one state championship, one state runner-up and two semifinal appearances).<br /> <br /> Creekview will be no easy out. The No. 3 seed from Region 7-AAAAA has won four straight and lost just twice in region play -- one of those coming as part of an 0-3 start that the Grizzlies righted in style.<br /> <br /> Creekview has been led by quarterback Kyle Wilkie, who has racked up 2,071 yards passing and 16 touchdowns, while running back B.J. Smith has rushed for 813 yards and 10 TDs. Wilkie's play is eerily similar to Gonzalez's, as he is spreading the ball around to a number of receivers -- five players have 15 or more catches, with three totaling 28 or more receptions.<br /> <br /> Welcome to the playoffs, where nothing is easy.<br /> <br /> A number of other area teams will be looking for success -- including Lumpkin County, making its first state playoff appearance in 11 years. The Indians (5-5) are the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA and will play host to a fast-closing Elbert County (7-3), which finished the season with four straight wins. Meanwhile, 8-AAA champ Jefferson (10-0) will play host to Franklin County (4-6), 7-AAA's No. 4 seed.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, in Class AA, Region 8-AA champion Rabun County (8-2) -- fresh off its first crown since 1998 -- will play host to Chattooga (4-6), the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AA. The No. 2 seed from 8-AA, Union County (9-1), will play host to the No. 3 from 7-AA, Model (8-2).<br /> <br /> In Class AAAA, White County will make its third straight playoff appearance -- a first for the program -- when the Warriors (6-4) travel to take on Region 7-AAAA champ Cartersville (9-1). Stephens County (7-3), the No. 3 seed from 8-AAAA, will also hit the road to face Pickens (8-2). Region 8-AAAA champ Buford (10-0) will play host to 7-AAAA four seed Southeast Whitfield (6-4).<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, in Class AAAAA, newly-minted Region 8-AAAAA champ Lanier (10-0) will begin its second-ever postseason against Region 7-AAAAA No. 4 Sequoyah (5-5), while Winder-Barrow (6-4) will get back into state play for the first time since 2003 with a showdown at Region 7-AAAAA champ Kell (10-0).<br /> <br /> Also, in Class AAAAAA, Region 7-AAAAAA champ North Gwinnett (8-2) will play host to Region 8-AAAAAA No. 4 Central Gwinnett (6-4).<br /> <br /> It all sets up as a big night, and we at Jacobs Media can't wait to get it going.<br /> <br /> <b>FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS:</b><br /> <i>For Nov. 14</i><br /> <b>CLASS AAAAAA</b><br /> Central Gwinnett at North Gwinnett<br /> Grayson at Mill Creek<br /> <br /> <b>CLASS AAAAA</b><br /> Sequoyah at Lanier<br /> Creekview at Gainesville -- Radio: 1240 AM<br /> Winder-Barrow at Kell<br /> <br /> <b>CLASS AAAA</b><br /> Southeast Whitfield at Buford<br /> Stephens County at Pickens<br /> White County at Cartersville -- Radio: www.wrwh.com<br /> <br /> <b>CLASS AAA</b><br /> Franklin County at Jefferson<br /> East Hall at Hart County -- Radio: 102.9 FM<br /> Elbert County at Lumpkin County<br /> Oconee County at West Hall -- Radio: AM 550<br /> <br /> <b>CLASS AA</b><br /> Chattooga at Rabun County<br /> Model at Union County

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