The state playoffs are finally here! This is the week every team opened 2017 looking toward. We provide you a peek at each local matchup and go into more detail with our Game of the Week: White County at Jefferson.

Our Prediction: This one will be closer than most people might think who haven’t seen White County play. Having home field helps Jefferson of course, but we think this one is too close to call. Who can stop Kaleb Crane? And on the other side, who can stop Colby Wood?

WEEK 0 – Chestatee vs North Hall
WEEK 1 – #5 Rabun vs #9 Mt. Pisgah
WEEK 2 – Habersham Central vs White
WEEK 3 – White vs #3 Rabun
WEEK 4 – Habersham Central vs Stephens
WEEK 5 – Habersham Central vs Chestatee
WEEK 6 – Dawson vs North Hall
WEEK 7 – Gainesville vs Habersham Central
WEEK 8 – North Hall vs Union
WEEK 9 – #3 Rabun vs #10 Elbert
WEEK 10 – Lumpkin vs Dawson
WEEK 11 – #3 Rabun vs Monticello

ROUND 1 MATCHUPS

#3 WHITE COUNTY (7-3; 2-2) @ #2 JEFFERSON (8-2; 4-1)

See details below

#2 DAWSON COUNTY (7-3; 5-1) vs #3 HART COUNTY (3-8; 3-2)

Coey Watson and company aim to keep their season alive when facing a Hart County team that has struggled outside of region play this year, going 0-6 against such competition. The Tigers can win in many ways here, relying on Sevaughn Clark (1,400 rushing yards) or Coey Watson (passing and/or running) and his receivers Ryan Glass and Ethan Cameron. The staple here is the Tigers defense, led by Logan Barnes, Zac Baloga and a whole crew of ball hawks.

#1 RABUN COUNTY (10-0; 6-0) vs #4 CHATTOOGA (4-6; 4-3)

Bailey Fisher….nuf said. 30 touchdowns to just 3 picks all year. Fisher just eclipsed 100 career touchdown passes (148 overall rushing & passing) to go into the state’s all-time top five. With his group of playmakers Austin Jones, Braxton Hicks, Cole Keener, Dillyn Nichols and a stout offensive line, the offense will do it’s thing. The defense, led by many of those same guys, along with Gavyn Jones, Dawson Henricks and Justin Wilkes will be stingy in this matchup.

#3 BANKS COUNTY (5-5; 4-2) @ #2 PEPPERELL (7-3; 6-1)

Who saw Terrence Walker becoming such a playmaker for Banks County this year? Everyone knew about Clayton Dykehouse, but Walker has been a real surprise. The trenches have been pretty good for the Leopards, and if they can take advantage of whatever Pepperell allows on defense, Banks can go in and steal one.

#23 TOWNS COUNTY (5-5; 4-5) @ #10 PELHAM (8-2; 8-1)

Look out for Kendrick Patterson, a dual threat sophomore quarterback for Pelham. He’s also very smart in the passing game, throwing 26 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions. Pelham is hard to defend because they’re very balanced (1,638 passing yards, 1,365 rushing yards). The Indians counter with Zach Davenport, who will require a special gameplan to stop if you’re Pelham.

#6 COMMERCE (8-2; 7-2) – BYE

No surprise, the Tigers have a first round bye as they typically do in the 1A Public bracket. They’ll take on the winner of Montgomery County/Charlton County, and will have that game at home next week.

Here’s everything you need to know for our Game of the Week:

TIME: 7:30 pm kickoff
PLACE: Jefferson Memorial Stadium (Jefferson High School / Jefferson, GA)
LAST MEETING: White County won 21-0 in 2005
ALL-TIME RECORD: Jefferson 12, White Co 4, 1 Tie
RECORDS: Jefferson (8-2; 4-1); White County (7-3; 2-2)

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

Playing seven times in the 1980s, this used to be a rival matchup for these two teams. However, since the turn of the century, it’s only occurred twice. So while Jefferson holds the all-time series lead at 12-4-1, some of that dates back to 1966 through 1991. In 2004, the Dragons won 23-8, while the Warriors returned the favor in 2005 with a 21-0 shutout.

TEAM LEADERS/PLAYERS to WATCH (stats according to MaxPreps)

WHITE COUNTY:

PASSING
J. Ben Haynes: 1,693 yds, 15 TD, 5 INT (112/184; 61%)

RUSHING
Kaleb Crane: 1,423 yds, 21 TD (213 ATT, 6.7 YPC)

RECEIVING
Ty Ulrich
Cody Versluis
Kaleb Crane: 170 yds, 2 TD

DEFENSE
Kaleb Crane: 25 TKL, 2 Sacks, 2 TFL, FUM REC

JEFFERSON:

PASSING
Bryce Moore: 1,547 yds, 14 TD, 4 INT (104/176; 59%)

RUSHING
Colby Wood: 1,206 yds, 16 TD
Justin Cole: 424 yds, 5 TD
Donsha Gaither: 260 yds, 3 TD
Colby Clark: 155 yds, 3 TD

RECEIVING
Sammy Elegreet: 544 yds, 2 TD
Zac Corbin: 364 yds, 7 TD
Colby Wood: 255 yds, 4 TD
Justin Cole: 183 yds, 2 TD
Garmon Randolph: 125 yds, 2 TD

DEFENSE
Matthew Nilson: 61 TKL, 1 Sack, FF
Colby Clark: 55 TKL, 4 TFL, INT, FUM REC