Who's going to win Friday night?
Last week: 12-3
Season: 202-55 (78.7 percent)
Within 6 points of margin: 4
Upset specials: 0 for 1 (1 for 1 in mild upset special, Washington County)
QUARTERFINAL
GHSA
Class 6A
No. 7 Northside (R1, 3, 7-5) at No. 5/10 Sequoyah (R6, 2, 10-2)
The Eagles have scored one less point and given up 32 more points, against a much tougher schedule. And Northside, even with some new faces starting, is a more playoff-tested team.
The Sports Report pick: Northside by 11
Class 5A
Clarke Central (R8, 3, 8-4) at No. 3/3 Warner Robins (R1, 1, 10-2)
The Gladiators have a decent offense and a good defense, traveling to play a very good offense and very good defense. But expect Clarke Central to be competitive.
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 22
Class 4A
No. 6/6 Marist (R7, 2, 10-2) at No. 3/2 Mary Persons (R2, 1, 12-0)
Finally, Mary Persons will need its starters in the fourth quarter against a team that has played six ranked teams and almost beat 4A No. 1 Blessed Trinity and is a regular quarterfinalist. Be prepared for an epic.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 13
No. 2/2 Cartersville (R5, 1, 12-0) at Baldwin (R3, 1, 7-5)
Yes, a quarterfinal win can be a candidate for upset of the year. Cartersville has scored 401 more points than it has allowed, and is stout on defense. The reality is that a close game entering the fourth quarter is something of an upset.
TSR pick: Cartersville by 25
Class 3A
No. 10/10 Westminster (R5, 3, 8-4) at No. 4/4 Peach County (R4, 1, 10-2)
Again, finally, a four-quarter game at Anderson. Westminster has played eight ranked teams, and beat two of them by 28 and 10 points on the road – including at Greater Atlanta Christian – in the playoffs.
TSR pick: Peach County by 8
Class AA
No. 7/3 Heard County (R5, 1, 10-2) at No. 6/6 Dublin (R3, 1, 11-1)
The Braves have won nine straight, the Irish eight. This is a quality matchup of pretty even, albeit different schematically, teams, the Braves coming off a semifinal trip. A physical slugfest awaits.
TSR pick: Dublin by 4
No. 10 Washington County (R3, 3, 10-2) at No. 4/4 Callaway (R5, 2, 10-2)
Callaway hammered top-ranked Hapeville Charter by 18, the Cavaliers’ eighth game of 30 or more points en route to their fourth quarterfinal trip in the last six years. The offensive line is what to watch as always, sometimes more than others.
TSR pick: Washington County by 2
GISA
Class AAA
John Milledge’s Amaad Foston is 71 yards from 2,000 for the season.
Semifinals
John Milledge (R4, 1, 11-0) at Tiftarea (R3, 1, 11-0)
The Trojans are veterans of deep playoff runs, the Panthers are not.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 14
Class AA
Memorial Day (R2, 8-3) at Gatewood (R1, 1, 8-2)
The home team won the first game by nine, giving Gatewood its second loss. The Gators got a little miffed.
TSR pick: Gatewood by 7