Football Playoffs: Stephenson Meets Flowery Branch

By Mark Brock

The GHSA high school football state playoffs open with first round games
on Friday and DeKalb County has four representatives vying to move forward.
 
The Stephenson Jaguars (8-2) enter the Class AAAAA state playoffs as the No. 3 seed out of Region 6-AAAAA and must travel to Flowery Branch (7-3), the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AAAAA, in a 7:30 p.m. game on Friday.
 
Stephenson is 15-13 overall and making its 14th consecutive state playoff appearance (2000-2013). It will be the first playoff meeting between Stephenson and Flowery Branch.
 
Martin Luther King Jr. (7-3) rounds out the Class AAAAA entries from DeKalb as the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AAAAA and a date to play at defending state champion Gainesville (9-1) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.
 
The Lions are 14-10 overall in a run of 11 consecutive playoff appearances (2003-2013), including a 2004 Class AAA semifinal appearance. It will be the first meeting between the Lions and Elephants.

The No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers (10-0) are the only team hosting a first round game as they take on Region 8-AAAAA No. 4 seed Heritage-Conyers (6-4) at 7:30 p.m. at Adams Stadium.
 
The Tigers are making their seventh consecutive state playoff appearance (2007-2013), including state titles in 2008 and 2011 (15-0). Tucker is 33-21 overall in state playoff action and 19-4 in the current run. It will be the first playoff meeting between the Tigers and Heritage.
 
The Cedar Grove Saints (6-4) are making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance (2010-2013) after having last made the playoffs in 1999 before the 2010 berth. The Saints are 2-3 overall in the four playoff appearances.
 
The Saints, the Region 6-AAA No. 4 seed, travel to Region 8-AAA champion Elbert County (8-2) in a Class AAA first round contest set for 7:30 p.m. It is the first playoff meeting between the two playoff teams.
 
First Round State Playoff Schedule
Friday, Nov. 15
Class AAAAA
Heritage-Conyers (6-4) vs. Tucker (10-0), Adams, 7:30 p.m.
Stephenson (8-2) at Flowery Branch (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
M.L. King (7-3) at Gainesville (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
 
Class AAA
Cedar Grove (6-4) at Elbert Co. (8-2), 7:30 p.m.

All first round playoff games have a GHSA set admission price of $8 per person.