High school football: Closer look at Friday's games

SPENCER AT DAWSON COUNTY

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville, Ga.

What: GHSA Class 3A state playoffs, second round

Records: Spencer 8-3. Dawson County 8-3.

Last week: Spencer beat Washington County 47-34. Dawson County beat Ringgold 63-40.

Series: First meeting.

You need to know: Spencer has won seven straight, while Dawson County has won four straight. Spencer is the No. 3 seed from Region 2. Dawson County is the No. 1 seed from Region 7. Spencer won its first GHSA state playoff game last week. In 1993, they beat Shaw in a region playoff game, then lost to Wayne County in the first round of the state playoffs. Prior to 1993, the last state playoff appearance for Spencer came in 1967 in the GIA when it beat Central-Newnan in the semifinals and Risley in the finals. This was Dawson County's first region title.

PACELLI AT MOUNT PARAN

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Kennesaw, Ga.

What: GHSA Class 1A-private state playoffs, first round

Records: Pacelli 7-3. Mount Paran 9-1.

Last week: Both were idle.

Series: First meeting.

You need to know: Pacelli went 5-0 on the road this season. Mount Paran closed out the season with a 28-21 loss at Ojnecrest Academy. Mount Paran won the Class 1A-private state title last season.

BROOKSTONE AT AQUINAS

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Aquinas Stadium, Augusta, Ga.

What: GHSA Class 1A-private state playoffs, first round

Records: Brookstone 6-4. Aquinas 9-1.

Last week: Both teams were idle.

Series: First meeting.

You need to know: Brookstone closed out the season with a 58-0 win over Schley County. The Cougars return to the playoffs after not qualifying last season. Aquinas has won eight straight since losing to Prince Avenue Christian on Aug. 28.

TWIGGS COUNTY AT MARION COUNTY

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Eagle Stadium, Buena Vista, Ga.

What: GHSA Class 1A-public state playoffs, first round

Records: Twiggs County 4-6. Marion County 9-1.

Last week: Both teams were idle.

Series: First meeting.

You need to know: Twiggs County lost its last two games, 52-38 to First Presbyterian and 26-14 to Lincoln County. Their four wins this season is the most for the Cobras since going 11-2 in 2009. Marion County has won seven straight since a 21-14 loss to Columbus. The Eagles lost in the state semifinals last year to Hawkinsville. They won the state championship in 2013.

MANCHESTER AT BROOKS COUNTY

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Veterans Stadium, Quitman, Ga.

What: GHSA Class 2A state playoffs, second round

Records: Manchester 8-3, Brooks County 9-2.

Last week: Manchester beat Washington-Wilkes 41-14 in the first round. Brooks County beat Northeast 48-0.

Series: Brooks County leads 3-0. The last meeting came in the 1994 Class 1A state championship game, a 20-0 Brooks County win. Brooks County also won regular-season meetings in 1992 (25-14) and 1993 (15-6).

You need to know: Evan Hockstetler quickly turned around the Manchester program in his first season after taking over a team that went 3-7 last year. Maurice Freeman has led Brooks County to the state semifinals three times in the past seven years. This is Freeman's second stint at the school. He led the Trojans to the 1994 state title in his first season.

McGill-Toolen AT CENTRAL

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Garrett-Harrison Stadium

What: AHSAA Class 7A state playoffs, semifinals

Records: McGill-Toolen 11-1. Central 9-3.

Last week: McGill-Toolen beat Auburn 42-3. Central beat R.E. Lee 20-13 in overtime.

Series: Tied 1-1. Central won the last meeting, 41-0 in 2011 in the state quarterfinals. McGill-Toolen won 36-0 in the first round in 2007.

You need to know: McGill-Toolen was the No. 1 seed from Region 1. The Yellow Jackets' lone loss came against Blount (17-14) on Sept. 25. Central was the No. 1 seed from Region 2. McGill-Toolen is 0-2 in state semifinals, losing to Auburn in 2013 and Prattville in 2007. Central is 1-1 in state semifinals, beating Enterprise in 1993 and losing to Prattville in 2011. The winner of this game will play the winner of the other semifinal -- Hoover vs. Spain Park. The state final will be Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

-- Kevin Price

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "High school football: Closer look at Friday's games ."