Rome at Gainesville

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: City Park Stadium, Gainesville

Radio: 1240-AM

Coaches: Rome, Franco Perkins; Gainesville, Bruce Miller

Records: Rome (8-2, No. 3 Region 5-AAAAA), Gainesville (7-3, No. 2 Region 8-AAAAA)

Key players: Rome, RB Myron Washington (Jr.); RB Frank Griffin (Jr.); QB Bo Tucker (Jr.). Gainesville, QB Deshaun Watson (6-3, 195 Jr.); WR Rodney Lackey (5-10, 160 So.); LB Devan Stringer (5-10, 190 Jr.).

Outlook: Gainesville and Rome have both grown accustomed to making playoff runs in the past 10 years. The Red Elephants made the Class AAA state finals in 2009, and the state semifinals in both 2002 and 2011.

Rome, meanwhile, made the state semifinals in 2008 as a Class AAAA program, and has made additional state quarterfinal appearances five times since 2001. With the exception of 2009, Rome has made the postseason every season since 2000.

Gainesville’s formula for success begins with a superior offensive unit. Red Elephants junior quarterback Watson has passed for an area-high 2,598 yards and 34 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 875 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Lackey, Caleb Hayman, Lahius Leverette and Tray Harrison all have more than 25 receptions this season for the Red Elephants.

Gainesville also ranks first in the area with 431 yards of offense and 44 points per game.

The Red Elephants enter as the region runner-up after consecutive losses to close the regular season against Loganville and Flowery Branch. The Wolves are riding a three-game winning streak as the playoffs begin.

Rome’s last loss was 52-6 to East Paulding on Oct. 19.

The Wolves move the ball primarily on the ground, led by 1,000-yard rushers Washington and Griffin.
The winner tonight advances to face the Kell/Southwest Dekalb winner.

Prediction: GAINESVILLE. Watson and the Red Elephants kick it into high gear now that the postseason is here.

North Paulding at Flowery Branch

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Falcon Field, Flowery Branch

Coaches: North Paulding, Scott Jones; Flowery Branch, Chris Griffin

Records: North Paulding (7-3, No. 4 Region 5-AAAAA); Flowery Branch (8-2, No. 1 Region 8-AAAAA)

Key players: North Paulding, QB Chase Noonan (5-9, 160 Jr.), WR/DB Mac Seagle (5-11, 170 Jr.), RB/LB Cornelius Collins (5-10, 200 Jr.). Flowery Branch, QB Jackson McDonald (5-11, 172 Sr.); LB Jacob Allen (6-1, 237 Sr.); WR/DB Darius Curry (6-2, 193 Sr.).

Outlook: Led by first-year coach Griffin, Flowery Branch enters the playoffs fresh off winning the first outright region championship in program history.

But the postseason is nothing new for the Falcons. They’ve reached the postseason each year since 2005 and have won at least nine games each year along the way. They’ll need a win tonight to match that mark this year.

North Paulding, which opened in 2008, is making its first playoff appearance. Led by Noonan, a dual-threat quarterback, the Wolfpack have been especially dangerous on offense, averaging 37 points per game. Defensively, they’re giving up 26.7.

Those stats have been compiled solely against 5-AAAAA opponents as the region has 11 teams, necessitating a straight-region schedule. Against playoff teams, North Paulding is 0-3.

Flowery Branch stepped out of region to begin its season, taking losses to highly ranked teams in Class AAAAA and AAAAAA. Since then, they’ve won eight straight, including a 3-0 mark against other playoff-bound teams.

McDonald and running back Justin Curry lead a Falcons offense that has averaged 38.5 points per game during its winning streak. McDonald, who Griffin said played his best game of the season in last week’s 35-34 win over Gainesville, has accounted for more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 29 touchdowns. Jamaad Stephens is the team’s most dangerous receiver.

Allen and a talented secondary lead the Falcons defense, which has forced 17 turnovers — all in the last eight games — and recorded 95 tackles for loss on the season.

Prediction: FLOWERY BRANCH. The Falcons’ ability to pressure the passer without compromising coverage — as well as their ability to move on after a big win — will make the difference tonight.

Woodward Academy at North Hall

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: The Brickyard, Gainesville

Coaches: Woodward Academy, John Hunt; North Hall, Bob Christmas

Records: Woodward Academy (7-3, No. 4 Region 6-AAA); North Hall (8-2, No. 1 Region 7-AAA)

Key players: Woodward Academy, QB Terry Googer (6-4, 205 Jr.), RB/DB Jollyce Myrick (5-7, 163 Jr.), RB/LB Quincy Wolf (5-11, 195 Jr.). North Hall, QB/DB Andrew Smith (5-8, 145 Jr.); QB/LB Bradley Brown (6-2, 205 Sr.); RB/DB T.J. Tate (5-8, 165 Sr.).

Outlook: North Hall’s regular season, which closed last week with a 45-16 loss to Buford, didn’t end the way the Trojans had hoped. Nonetheless, they enter the postseason with a No. 1 seed and home field advantage.

The Brickyard has been good to North Hall in recent years; though they missed the playoffs the last two seasons, they’ve won their last seven home playoff games dating back to 2004.

Tonight’s matchup won’t be an easy one, however.

Woodward Academy is back in the playoffs for the fifth straight year, and hasn’t lost a first-round game during that span. They’re led by Googer, a dual-threat quarterback who Rivals.com rates as a four-star prospect.

He has scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and South Carolina, among others.

The War Eagles have excelled on defense all year until last week’s 47-14 loss to Cedar Grove that landed them in the No. 4 spot out of 6-AAA, despite only two region losses. They’re giving up only 12.5 points per game (sixth-best in Class AAA) against a schedule that featured five playoff teams.

The War Eagles were 2-3 against those postseason-bound foes.

North Hall’s greatest strength has been its offense, which ranks second in Class AAA at 42.6 points per game.
Tate leads a committee of running backs with 746 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, followed closely by Kevin Christmas’ 701 yards and six scores.

Prediction: NORTH HALL. Expect a battle. The Trojans were beaten earlier this season by a Jefferson team that featured a big, physical quarterback similar to Googer, but the North Hall offense has improved since then. If the Trojans can limit the fumbles that plagued them against Buford, they should be able to pull out a close victory tonight.

White County at Blessed Trinity

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Blessed Trinity Stadium, Roswell

Coaches: White County, Bill Ballard; Blessed Trinity, Tim McFarlin

Records: White County (7-3, No. 3 Region 7-AAA); Blessed Trinity (8-2, No. 2 Region 6-AAA)

Key players: White County, QB Will Brock (6-3, 198 Sr.); RB/LB Will Stonecypher (5-11, 180 Sr.); WR Andrew Bergin (5-10, 155 Sr.). Blessed Trinity, QB Spencer McManes (6-2, 215 Sr.); RB Milton Shelton (Fr.); LB Pat Jasinski (6-2, 200 So.).

Outlook: White County has the chance to avenge one of its only losses on the season tonight, and if the first clash between the Warriors and Blessed Trinity is any indication, this game could go either way.

The Titans won the first meeting, played in Cleveland, 21-19, on Sept. 21. In that game, White County lost standout linebacker/running back Dalton Whitfield to a broken jaw. He has yet to return.

Blessed Trinity is led by a stingy defense that yields 16.5 points per game (11th in Class AAA). White County scored all three of its touchdowns in the first meeting on passes from Brock to Bergin.

The Titans’ offense is efficient, if not prolific, led by Shelton’s 736 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

McManes has passed for nearly 1,000 yards and accounted for 15 total touchdowns.

White County’s offense starts with Brock, who has passed for 1,025 yards, run for 566, and has had a hand in 25 total touchdowns. Bergin is his big-play threat on the outside with 504 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 15 receptions.

Stonecypher leads the Warriors defense — and the area — with 16 sacks, including five last week in a 41-7 win over Banks County.

Prediction: BLESSED TRINITY. The Warriors should keep it close again, but the Titans have fared better this season against top-flight competition.

Cedar Grove at Buford

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford

Radio: 550-AM

Coaches: Cedar Grove, Ray Bonner; Buford, Jess Simpson

Records: Cedar Grove (6-4, No. 3 Region 6-AAA); Buford (7-3, No. 2 Region 7-AAA)

Key players: Cedar Grove, WR/DB Everett Nichols (5-10, 180 Sr.); TE/DE Bryson Allen-Williams (6-2, 220 Sr.); QB Johnathon McCrary (6-4, 205 Sr.). Buford, LB Korie Rogers (6-2, 210 Jr.); OL/DL Josh Cardiello (6-4, 285 Sr.); TE/DL Mikey Bart (6-3, 245 Sr.).

Outlook: The opening round of the playoffs is usually nothing more than a formality for the Wolves. During the past five seasons, four which ended with a Class AA state championship, the average margin of victory in the first round for Buford was 35 points.

During the 2012 regular season, Buford outscored the opposition by 36 per game. The Wolves had to forfeit two wins, however, for self-reporting playing an ineligible player, thus costing a chance at the region championship in 7-AAA.

Even though the players have changed drastically for the Wolves since last season, the outcomes have been largely the same. Buford has played smothering defense and allowed only eight touchdowns all season and only about 170 yards of offense per game. The Wolves’ offense has been largely ground based with about 254 rushing yards per outing.

With senior running back Dontravious Wilson sidelined, Zavior Hoxie (537 yards) and Thomas Wilson (258 rushing yards) have picked up the slack.

The Wolves last lost in the first round of the playoffs in 1997.

Cedar Grove is led by dual-threat quarterback and Vanderbilt University verbal commit McCrary, with his 2,355 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. McCrary is ranked the sixth-best quarterback in his senior class nationally by Rivals.com.

The Saints’ top running back is Deion Sellers with 640 yards and seven touchdowns. This marks the third consecutive season that Cedar Grove has made the postseason. Its last playoff win was a second-round victory against Gainesville at City Park Stadium in 2010.

Prediction: BUFORD. The Wolves have too many offensive weapons to slip against a first-time opponent.

Dawson County at St. Pius X

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: George B. Maloof Stadium, Atlanta

Coaches: Dawson County, Jeff Lee; St. Pius X, Paul Standard

Records: Dawson County (6-4, No. 4 Region 7-AAA); St. Pius X (8-2, No. 1 Region 6-AAA)

Key players: Dawson County, QB Tyler Dominy (6-4, 178 Sr.), RB/LB Zack Martin (5-11, 225 Sr.), WR/DB Bruce Clark (6-4, 210 Sr.). St. Pius, FB Ryan Braswell (5-11, 205 Sr.), RB/DB Nick Ruffin (6-1, 185 Jr.), QB Jack Spear (6-3, 187 Jr.).

Outlook: Dawson County is looking for the second playoff victory in program history tonight after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2004.

The Tigers head into the first round ranked 19th in Class AAA in scoring offense with an average of 35.3 points per game, but they are 29th in points allowed with 22.6.

The high-scoring offense is led by Dominy, who is one of the top quarterbacks in the area with 2,516 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. His primary target is Clark, who has recorded 712 yards and 10 touchdowns on 42 receptions. However, Dawson County posesses many offensive weapons, including Martin on the ground with 522 yards and 10 touchdowns on 91 carries.

Chris Sayler and Will Anglin are also ideal targets for Dominy. Sayler has 561 yards and six scores on 25 catches, and Anglin has 461 yards and three touchdowns on 36 receptions.

Martin leads the Tigers defense with 119 tackles, and is supported by Jackson Putnam with 104 tackles.

St. Pius runs a triple-option offense, led by Braswell and Ruffin. The Golden Lions are 19th in average points scored in Class AAA with 35.1, but they are a strong defensive team, holding their opponents to a third-best 10.9 points per game.

This is St. Pius’ sixth-straight postseason appearance; the Gold Lions lost to Cairo in the Class AAA quarterfinals last season.

Tonight’s game marks the first meeting between the two schools.

Prediction: ST. PIUS X. The Golden Lions defense is strong enough to hold off Dominy and the Tigers’ potent offense.

Jackson County at Cartersville

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Weinman Stadium, Cartersville

Coaches: Jackson County, Benji Harrison; Cartersville, Frank Barden

Records: Jackson County (6-4, No. 4 Region 8-AAA); Cartersville (10-0, Region 5-AAA)

Key players: Jackson County, QB Kyle Daniel (6-2, 190 Sr.), WR Xavier Harper (6-1, 180 Jr.), RB/DB Dustin Scott (5-9, 165 Sr.). Cartersville, QB Brooks Barden (6-3, 205 Jr.); WR/S Hayes Lin (6-1, 175 Sr.); WR TL Ford (6-3, 175 Jr.).

Outlook: It didn’t take Harrison long to make his mark in Jackson County. In his first season with the team, the Panthers are in the postseason for the first time since a region playoff appearance in 1992 and in the state playoffs for the first time in program history.

They’ve reached this position thanks to a prolific offense led by Daniel, Harper and Scott. Daniel has passed for 2,342 yards and 21 touchdowns, and Harper leads the area by a wide margin in receptions (73) and receiving yards (1,071). Scott provides balance with 1,096 rushing yards, 260 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.

While the Panthers, who lost to Morgan County last week 44-28, are new to the playoffs, Cartersville is back in familiar territory after one season away.

In Barden’s 17 years as coach, the Purple Hurricanes have missed the playoffs only six times and have advance beyond the first round nine times. They’re off to their first 10-0 start since winning the Class AA state championship in 1999, and have won each of the last eight games by 18 points or more. For the season, Cartersville is scoring 41.9 points per game (fourth in Class AAA) and giving up just 11.4 (fifth in AAA).

Prediction: CARTERSVILLE. The Purple Hurricanes have a balanced offense, but their defense could be what leads them to a win tonight.

Kendrick at Jefferson

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson

Coaches: Kendrick, Jerry Dukes; Jefferson, T. McFerrin

Records: Kendrick (5-5, No. 4 Region 5-AA); Jefferson (9-1, No. 1 Region 8-AA)

Key players: Kendrick, RB/DB Jamar Comar (Sr.); LB Marvin Lewis (Sr.); WR/DB Dover Coppins (Sr.). Jefferson, QB Bryant Shirreffs (6-3, 215 Sr.); LB Wesley Simonton (6-0, 205 Sr.); RB Sammy Williams (5-5, 155 So.).

Outlook: The Dragons switched gears for the better this season when they put together a come-from-behind win against North Hall in Week 3 in Gainesville.

After that win, Jefferson rolled to an undefeated mark in Region 8-AA and hold home field in the first round, and second round with a win tonight. The win against the Trojans came at a points when the Dragons were still searching for their offensive identity and just two weeks after a lose to arch-rival Commerce to open the season.

Jefferson found its stride behind a balanced offense of 2,126 rushing yards and 1,886 passing. Meanwhile, the Dragons’ defense surrendered just 11 points on average per game in the regular season.

For the season, the Dragons averaged 38 points per outing, led by the senior quarterback Shirreffs and his 1,639 passing yards and 691 yards rushing. He’s scored 11 touchdowns each through the air and on the ground.

The sophomore Williams is Jefferson’s leading ball carrier with 619 yards and nine touchdowns. McKay Dickens is the Dragons’ leading receiver with 28 catches for 473 yards and five scores.

Simonton is Jefferson’s leading tackler with 126 stops (20 for a loss). Kody McDonald is second on the team with 119 tackles (11 for a loss).

Jefferson enters as region champion for the first time since 2009, also McFerrin’s first season at the school.

Kendrick last made the postseason in 1999 and finished with a 4-7 record. The Cherokees’ last winning mark came in 1995.

Prediction: JEFFERSON. The fast-paced Dragons offense rolls through its first-round matchup.