Top teams look to avoid upset bug

Elisa Herring

Lovejoy and the explosive Wildcats offense hosts Tri-Cities in Round 1 of the Class AAAAAA playoffs. Alejandro Bennifield, Travis Custis and A.J. Jackson will look to push the Wildcats back into the title picture after Lovejoy reached the Class AAAA finals one year ago. … Lowndes is back in action after spending last week’s bye regrouping from a loss to Camden County. Marietta’s Anthony Jennings will look to stay hot after leading the Blue Devils to five wins in their last six outings. … Grayson’s Robert Nkemdiche is the nation’s top recruit, but it could be running back Wayne Gallman that leads the Rams to a win against Wheeler. Gallman leads the Rams’ Wing-T rushing attack with 778 yards and 11 touchdowns. … The Johns Creek/North Gwinnett game features a pair of senior quarterbacks under the recruiting radar. Johns Creek’s Skye Overton is an incredible athlete while North Gwinnett’s Michael Haynes is a playmaker of the highest order. Haynes has over 2,400 all-purpose yards this year for the Bulldogs. … In a prime Atlanta vs. South Georgia clash, North Cobb hosts Valdosta. The Wildcats are looking for an extended playoff run for head coach Rance Gilliespie, but North Cobb serves as host after winning three straight. Shane Queen’s squad beat just two teams with a winning record in 2012. … Lassiter faces Brookwood in a repeat of last year’s Corky Kell showdown, a 14-6 Trojans’ victory. Eddie Printz has tons of weapons on offense, but it is Jep Irwin’s defense that has really improved since last year’s run to the semifinals. Brookwood will try and keep Printz on the sidelines with Zach Moon, Jamaal Cole and Josh Brown powering Mark Crews’ rushing attack. … Alpharetta’s Josh Dobbs is lethal through the air, but Mill Creek has won three straight games with Kelsey Griffin anchoring the Hawks’ defense and Jacorey Lewis powering the offense from the tailback spot. … Camden County will enter the 2012 postseason 9-1 after falling to Colquitt County last week. Hillgrove ended Camden County’s season in 2010. … Newton and East Coweta will meet with neither team owning a winning record. … McEachern will host Colquitt County in the GPB-TV game of the week. Rush Propst has a history of road success in the GHSA playoffs, but he is still seeking his first GHSA title. … West Forsyth faces Collins Hill with some believing that West Forsyth is the best team in the state north of I-20. … Walton’s Tyren Jones could be back as the Raiders host Parkview. … In Class AAAAA, No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins will host Effingham County, with the winner facing the winner of Thomas County Central/Creekside in what could be a titanic second-round showdown. … Defending Class AAAA champion Tucker will hit the road to travel to Creekview. … Allatoona suffered its first loss of the year last week and will hope to avoid a second straight when Heritage-Conyers pays a visit. … Lee County’s team is no longer happy with just a playoff berth and QB Stephen Collier is looking to lead the Trojans to an upset win over Whitewater.

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