Class A-3A Private Blog: Storylines from the second round of the football playoffs

The Class A-3A private playoffs feature several major storylines in the second round.

The top-ranked team in Class A-3A, Hebron Christian, and head coach Kenny Dallas will host his former team in the second round. Dallas coached Trinity Christian from 2017 to 2024 and led the program to the 2021 Class A-Private championship. Last week, the Lions upset Lovett 30–8, becoming only the second team this season to score more than 21 points on the Lions. The loss marked the first time since 2019 that Lovett failed to reach the second round.

Hebron has been dominant, winning every region game by at least 37 points. A major question will be how rusty Hebron looks after two weeks off and whether they can replicate their form from the final game of the regular season, a 43-6 victory over Prince Avenue .

Greater Atlanta Christian will host an explosive Landmark Christian team on Friday as the Spartans look to show they are returning to their championship-contending ways of the 2010s. GAC is 8-2 this season, with its only losses coming to elite 3A program North Hall 49-38 and 5A second-round team Newnan 54-14. Landmark, meanwhile, is 9-2 and won last week’s first-round matchup against Mt. Pisgah 44-14. The Eagles are scoring 34.91 points per game. It will be a tough challenge for GAC, which has struggled defensively, giving up 27 points per game and playing in several close contests.

Whitefield Academy will host Aquinas in a battle of unlikely contenders. Aquinas is a traditional power but looks very different than it did early in the season. The team lost starting quarterback Turner Stevenson in Week 6 and has since relied on star wide receiver Jack Rhodes to play quarterback. Whitefield will lean on star running back Mason Hollingsworth to lead the offense. Hollingsworth has already rushed for over 1,800 yards and topped 100 yards eight times. He will need a big game against a strong Aquinas defense for Whitefield to advance to its first-ever quarterfinal.

Class A-3A Private second round schedule

Mt. Vernon vs. Fellowship Christian

Christian Heritage vs. Savannah Christian

Aquinas vs. Whitefield Academy

Kings Ridge vs. Calvary Day

Athens Academy vs. Holy Innocents

Landmark Christian vs. GAC

Prince Avenue vs. Wesleyan

Trinity Christian vs. Hebron Christian

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