Reaching

the playoffs, in any sport, tends to be its own reward

for a team.

After

battling through a regular season of 10 games,

playoff-bound teams have won another week of practice and

another chance to strut their stuff on the gridiron. Not

everybody can make the playoffs and being one of the few

teams in the region to make it creates an overwhelming

sense of accomplishment.

This Friday

night, three area high schools will send their football

teams onto the field with hopes that their seasons will

last at least one week longer.

Starr's

Mill (8-2) will travel to Peach County High School in

Fort Valley to take on the Peach County Trojans (8-2). It

is the first time in the history of Starr's Mill that its

football team has reached the state playoffs. It is also

necessary to remember that this is only the second year

that Starr's Mill has played a varsity schedule.

The

Panthers have had an excellent season, playing

confidently on offense and defense. They have an

excellent ground attack, with strong runners in Craig

Maddock, LaDon Cooper, Reuben Houston and Drew Cofty. The

defense gets outstanding play from everybody and is led

To win

Friday, Starr's Mill must control the clock and play the

same game it has played all year. Kickoff is scheduled

for 8 p.m. at Peach County High School.

To get to

Peach County High School, travel on I-75 south through

Macon and take exit 46, the Byron Fort Valley exit. Take

a right at the end of the exit and travel 12 miles on Ga.

Highway 49 south. Stay in the far right lane as you

approach the five sided intersection. As you go through

the traffic light, you will be on Ga. Highway 96 west.

Peach County High School is approximately a mile down the

road on the right.

The Sandy

Creek Patriots (7-3) have also reached the state playoffs

for the first time. Under new head coach Rodney Walker,

the Patriots produced an excellent ground game, led by

1,000-yard rusher J.R. Lemon, and a defense that feasts

off of their own intensity. Sandy Creek scores points off

of opponents' mistakes and the Patriots will need to

continue that trend when they face the Shaw Raiders

(10-0) in Columbus Friday night.

Shaw is the

top seed in 2-AAA and tough on all levels. Sandy Creek's

athleticism should keep them close to the Raiders but it

is important for them not to fall behind early. The Sandy

Creek ground attack has been known to wear down

opponents' front lines, paving the way for huge runs

later in the game. They must do that Friday night to win.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

To get to

Shaw High School, take I-85 south to Columbus, exiting at

the Phenix City, Macon 80 east exit. This will lead you

to the North Bypass, also called the J.R. Allen Parkway.

Exit the bypass at exit 6, Blackmon-Schaumburg Road. Take

a left at the stop sign two blocks across the overbridge

onto South Stadium Drive. There will be a sign leading

you to Shaw High School.

East Coweta

(8-2) has the benefit of playing at home on Friday night.

They are the second seed in 4-AAAA and will face the

Houston County Bears (7-3) at 7:30 p.m. at Garland

Shoemake Stadium. Houston County upset East Coweta at

home in the first round of last year's state playoffs.

You can be

assured that East Coweta remembers the loss and won't let

it happen again.