To win a state championship, it always takes a little luck. This week for the No. 2 ranked Buford Wolves — who are going for their fourth straight Class AA title — luck was on their side.

The Region 6-AA champion Wolves advanced to their 11th consecutive quarterfinals Friday by thumping Callaway 52-14 at Tom Riden Stadium in Buford. But to keep home field advantage for next week, they had to win a coinflip over their quarterfinals opponent, Region 1-AA champion Cook.

Buford athletic director Dexter Wood confirmed the Wolves (11-1) won the coin toss. By winning the toss, the Wolves avoided a 237-mile bus ride.

That burden is now on the fourth-ranked Hornets (12-0), who must travel to face Buford for the second consecutive season at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Though the Wolves have been on a roll for more than three years now, they’re taking some serious momentum into the Cook game. They’ve scored a season-high 52 points the last two weeks — they beat Hart County 52-22 in the first round — and had a 38-0 halftime lead in both games.

Sophomore kicker David Petroni, the team’s leading scorer nearly all season, added 16 more points Friday with a touchdown (he recovered a fumble on a kickoff and returned it 16 yards), a field goal and seven PATs, bringing his total to 84. He is 56-for-59 in PATs and 7-for-9 on field goals for the year.

HALL ELIMINATED: For the first time since 2003, Hall County will not have a representative in the quarterfinals. It also saw its streak of three straight semifinals, and back-to-back finals appearances end.

The only two county schools in the playoffs — Flowery Branch and Gainesville — were eliminated in the second round Friday.

SHORT OF HISTORY: White County fell short of setting the school record for wins in a season by one. The Warriors’ nine wins match their total from 1972, 1975 and 1985. They were also eliminated Friday with a loss to Grady.

THIS AND THAT: The two biggest classes in the state are upside down. Only seven of the 20 AAAAA and AAAA teams that ended the season ranked are still playing. AAAAA’s top three — Camden County, North Gwinnett and McEachern — have been eliminated. AAAA’s No. 1-ranked Northside-Warner Robins and No. 2 Clarke Central are also out. ... Locally, Monroe Area is the only Region 8-AAA team still playing. The Purple Hurricanes (11-1), a No. 3 seed, defeated Woodward Academy 51-20 on Friday. Before this season, they had never won a playoff game (they lost the 1985 region final to Gainesville 9-7). The other Region 8 playoff teams — Class AAAA’s Flowery Branch and Clarke Central, Class AAA’s Gainesville and Class A’s Athens Academy — were eliminated Friday, and Class AA was eliminated in the first round. ... Camden County (Class AAAAA) is the only defending state champion already eliminated. The others — Sandy Creek (won AAAA, now in AAA), Peach County (AAA), Buford (AA) and Wilkinson County (A) still have a chance to repeat, and, as mentioned earlier, Buford has a chance to four-peat.