Ware County (8-2) at Flowery Branch (7-3)

Seeding: Ware County is the No. 3 seed from Region 1. Flowery Branch is the No. 2 seed from Region 8.

Rankings: Both are unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Playoff history: This is Ware County’s 24th straight playoff appearance. Ware County has won its first-round game each of the past 18 seasons.Ware County is 21-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Flowery Branch’s third straight playoff appearance. Flowery Branch made the second round most recently in 2021. Flowery Branch is 9-7 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Ware County’s average score is 39-18 against the 15th-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Flowery Branch’s average score is 30-22 against the 13th-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: ware County by 4

Dalton (3-7) at creekside (10-0)

Seeding: Dalton is the No. 4 seed from Region 7. Creekside is the No. 1 seed from Region 4.

Rankings: Dalton is unranked. Creekside is ranked No. 1.

Last meeting: Creekside won 49-24 in the 2023 second round.

Playoff history: This is Dalton’s first playoff appearance since 2023. Dalton made the second round most recently in 2023. Dalton is 10-10 all-time in the round of 32. This is Creekside’s eighth straight playoff appearance. Creekside has won its first-round game each of the past seven seasons. Creekside is 15-8 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Dalton’s average score is 32-41 against the 14th-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Creekside’s average score is 61-7 against the 55th-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Creekside by 54

lithonia (8-2) at Griffin (7-3)

Seeding: Lithonia is the No. 3 seed from Region 5. Griffin is the No. 2 seed from Region 3.

Rankings: Both are unranked.

Last meeting: Griffin won 35-0 in 2001.

Playoff history: This is Lithonia’s first playoff appearance since 2021. Lithonia has not advanced beyond the round of 32 since a quarterfinal appearance in 1994. Lithonia is 0-6 all-time in the round of 32. This is Griffin’s

Jackson (7-3) at Cartersville (9-1)

Seeding: Jackson is the No. 2 seed from Region 4. Cartersville is the No. 1 seed from Region 7.

Rankings: Jackson is unranked. Cartersville is ranked no. 4.

Last meeting: Cartersville won 49-7 in 2019.

Playoff history: This is Jackson’s sixth straight playoff appearance. Jackson made the second round most recently in 2017. Jackson is 1-8 all-time in the round of 32. This is Cartersville’s 14th straight playoff appearance. Cartersville has won its first-round game each of the past 13 seasons. Cartersville is 22-1 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Jackson’s average score is 25-15 against the 58th-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Cartersville’s average score is 46-14 against the 24th-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Cartersville by 47

Jonesboro (6-4) at Southwest DeKalb (8-2)

Seeding: Jonesboro is the No. 3 seed from Region 3. Southwest DeKalb is the No. 2 seed from Region 5.

Rankings: Both are unranked.

Last meeting: Southwest DeKalb won 40-7 in 2005.

Playoff history: This is Jonesboro’s third straight playoff appearance. Jonesboro has won its first-round game each of the past two seasons. Jonesboro is 4-9 all-time in the round of 32. This is Southwest DeKalb’s second straight playoff appearance. Southwest DeKalb made the second round most recently in 2017. Southwest DeKalb is 7-15 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Jonesboro’s average score is 31-13 against the 36th-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Southwest DeKalb’s average score is 37-11 against the 50th-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Southwest DeKalb by 1

Hampton (7-3) at kell (8-2)

Seeding: Hampton is the No. 4 seed from Region 2. Kell is the No. 1 seed from Region 6.

Rankings: Hampton is unranked. Kell is ranked No. 5.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Playoff history: This is Hampton’s second straight playoff appearance.Hampton has never made the second round. Hampton is 0-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Kell’s 18th straight playoff appearance. Kell is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Kell is 12-6 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Hampton’s average score is 28-17 against the 31st-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Kell’s average score is 34-16 against the seventh-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Kell by 17

Ola (8-2) at Cambridge (8-2)

Seeding: Ola is the No. 1 seed from Region 5. Cambridge is the No. 2 seed from Region 7.

Rankings: Ola is unranked. Cambridge is ranked No. 10.

Last meeting: Cambridge won 28-24 in 2021.

Playoff history: this is Ola’s seventh straight playoff appearance. Ola made the second round most recently in 2020. Ola is 6-6 all-time in the round of 32. This is Cambridge’s fifth straight playoff appearance. Cambridge is trying to make the second round for the third season in a row. Cambridge is 5-4 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Ola’s average score is 34-16 against the 42nd-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Cambridge’s average score is 36-18 against the 28th-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Cambridge by 6

Class 4A Playoff Preview: East Forsyth at Benedictine, Blessed Trinity at Stockbridge, and Starr’s Mill at Marist

East Forsyth (6-4) at Benedictine (7-2)

Seeding: East forsyth is the No. 4 seed from Region 8.Benedictine is the No. 1 seed from Region 1.

Rankings: East Forsyth is unranked. Benedictine is ranked No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Playoff history: This is East Forsyth’s third straight playoff appearance. East Forsyth has never made the second round and is 0-2 all-time in the round of 32. This is Benedictine’s 15th straight playoff appearance. Benedictine has won its first-round game each of the past 13 seasons and is 14-6 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: East Forsyth’s average score is 18-22 against the 32nd-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Benedictine’s average score is 43-16 against the sixth-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Benedictine by 35

Blessed Trinity (6-4) at Stockbridge (8-2)

Seeding: Blessed Trinity is the No. 3 seed from Region 6. Stockbridge is the No. 2 seed from Region 2.

Rankings: Blessed Trinity is ranked No. 9.Stockbridge is unranked.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Playoff history: This is Blessed Trinity’s 15th straight playoff appearance. Blessed Trinity has won its first-round game each of the past two seasons and is 13-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Stockbridge’s first playoff appearance since 2023, having most recently made the second round in 2023. Stockbridge is 10-2 all-time in the round of 32.

Score to schedule: Blessed Trinity’s average score is 31-14 against the eighth-hardest schedule in Class 4A. Stockbridge’s average score is 42-17 against the 33rd-hardest schedule in Class 4A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Blessed Trinity by 1

Starr’s Mill (3-7) at Marist (9-1)

Seeding: Starr’s Mill is the No. 4 seed from Region 3. Marist is the No. 1 seed from Region 5.