By Steve Carter
This week will see four area teams participate in the second week of Georgia's state high school football playoffs.
Worth County at Buford
Series Record: first-ever meeting
Game preview: Of the four teams left from the area in the state playoffs, the Worth County Rams have by far the toughest test this week, the Buford Wolves. Buford had a 42-game winning streak stopped September 4 by AAAAAA powerhouse McEachern. Ever since that 37-14 loss, Buford has won eight straight games giving up the total of just 18 points. Buford has ran up against several south Georgia teams since beginning its' remarkable run. That list includes Brooks, Charlton County, Clinch County, Cook, Dublin, Fitzgerald and Pierce County. The school has even a game against Hawkinsville, but that was in 1954. Worth County has only suffered one loss, 30-14 to Bainbridge, since losing its first two games at the start of the season. Coach Jason Tone's Worth team is coming off of a 35-0 win over Locust Grove on the road last week.
Winner plays Grady-Thomson winner.
Fitzgerald at Heard County
Series Record: Fitzgerald leads 2-0
Game preview: It's not often that two teams so far away from each other face a rematch during the playoffs, but that's just the case for these two schools. Fitzgerald defeated the Heard County Braves, 29-7, on August 29 of this year at Mercer Field in Macon. In that contest, Fitzgeerald all-state running back JD King had 28 carries for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback James Graham added 114 yards on 16 carries, and also two touchdowns. That duo accounted for most of the Hurricanes' yards in last week's opening round 51-15 win over Putnam County in the first round of the state. Heard County has rebounded since that game by winning Region 5-AA. The Braves defeated Greene County 45-14 in the opening round of the state last week.
Winner plays Lovett-Benedictine winner.
The next two games are both opening round matchups in the state Class A Public School Bracket.
Trion at Turner County
Series Record: first-ever meeting
Game preview: The first game of the playoffs could be a historic one for Coach Ben Simmons' Turner County Rebels, as they face the visiting Bulldogs of Trion High. At 8-2 on the year, the Rebels with a win could garner their most football wins since 2008, and also advance to the state second round for the first time in seven years, as well. Trion will be making their third trip down from the Tennessee state line to south Georgia since 2012, having faced Irwin County in 2012 and 2013. The Bulldogs are currently 7-3 on the year and will be coming to Ashburn on a hot streak having won their last two games by a combined 81-7 score over Walker and St. Francis. Turne's only two losses came against two teams also in the state playoffs, Irwin County and Clinch County.
Winner plays Irwin County-Wilkinson County winner.
Wilkinson County at Irwin County
Series record: Irwin County leads 2-0
Game preview: Considering these two schools have always been similar in size and relatively close, this will be only the third meeting ever between Wilco and Irwin. Irwin won the previous two encounters, both regular season games, in 2012, 41-34, and in 2013, 41-14. The Indians of Irwin County are 7-2-1 on the year and will be hosting their fourth straight state playoff opener. DJ Pollard should be getting consideration for State Class A Player of the Year, as he has over 1,000 yards rushing and is among the team leaders in tackles. Wilkinson is 6-4 on the year.
Winner plays Turner County-Trion winner.
