Football: Class AA semifinal previews
Class AA
Buford is the only defending state champion still remaining in any class. Only Fitzgerald has not played in the AA championship game in the past two years. Buford beat Calhoun last season and Lovett in 2008. Here is a look at the AA semifinal matchups.
Buford (12-1) at Fitzgerald (13-0): This one is a rematch of last year’s semifinal, won handily by Buford 44-21. This is only the second meeting between the two teams. The Wolves are unaccustomed to playing on the road in the playoffs. Buford is 2-2 in the postseason during their 11-year playoff streak, having won their last two road games. Fitzgerald is 14-4 in home playoff games this decade, but will be tested by a Buford defense that has registered eight shutouts this season.
Lovett (12-1) at Calhoun (13-0): The series is tied 1-1, but the two teams have never met in the postseason and the last meeting was in 1999. Both teams feature explosive offenses, with Lovett averaging 45.6 points over the past six games. Quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff drives the Lions offense while the QB-receiver tandem of Nash Nance and Da’Rick Rogers is a dangerous combination for the Yellow Jackets. This is Lovett’s third trip to the state semifinals in the past four years while Calhoun has won at least 10 games nine years in a row and is in the semis for the third time during that span.
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