STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Three Albany-area teams still in postseason

ALBANY — Three Albany-area schools are still alive in the state football playoffs.

Georgia High School Association schools will hold their quarterfinals on Friday, while the Georgia Independent Schools Association will play their semifinals Friday night.

In GHSA Class 6A, Lee County will play host to Creekview at 7:30 p.m.

In GHSA Class 1A Public, Pelham will play host to Greene County at 7:30 p.m.

And in the GISA Class 2A playoffs, Terrell Academy will play host to Edmund Burke Academy at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to playing at home in front of our fans,” said Lee County linebacker Baron Hopson. “Our fan base has been very supportive and they’re passionate.”

It will mark the third straight week the Region 1-6A champion Trojans (12-0) have played at Trojan Field. Creekview is the No. 1 seed from Region 6, but Lee County won the right to host when it won the GHSA’s universal coin flip.

As long as Lee County wins, they will play at home. If they are fortunate to make it back to the state championship game, Lee County would play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

But Lee County isn’t looking that far ahead. The top-ranked Trojans will meet No. 2 Creekview in a game that could feature plenty of offense. The Grizzlies have combined to score 103 points in two playoff victories.

“No. 1 vs. No. 2 isn’t supposed to be this early (in the playoffs),” Fabrizio said. “That’s going to be a big game between two very good teams on Black Friday.”

Pelham, after a thrilling 40-36 victory over Emanuel County Institute Friday night, will play host to Greene County. Darrell Starling’s 68-yard scamper late in the game against ECI helped put the Hornets into the quarterfinals. Greene County, the fifth seed in Class 1A, defeated Chattahoochee County 37-22 in the second round.

The Tigers ended Pelham’s season in the second round of the playoffs in 2016.

Terrell Academy will face a familiar opponent in Edmund Burke. The Eagles defeated the Spartans 28-21 on Sept. 7, and it was that victory that got Terrell started. After they lost three straight against higher classification teams to start the season, the Eagles have lost just once since.

“Edmund Burke has a really good club and a very good option attack,” Terrell Academy coach Bill Murdock said. “They are very good at what they do.”

A victory would send the Eagles into the state championship game against the Gatewood-Memorial Day winner on Nov. 30 at Mercer University in Macon.