Three local

high school football teams entered the state quarterfinals last Friday

night and one will be in the state semifinals this Friday.

Starr's Mill

defeated Brookwood 31-28, while East Coweta lost to Parkview 31-10 and

Northgate lost to Americus, 28-14.

The Starr's

Mill Panthers (13-0) traveled to Snellville last Friday to take on the

Brookwood Broncos in a televised game (AT&T Broadband Channel 33).

Both teams battled back and forth during the entire game but the Panthers

were the ones to emerge victorious.

Reuben Houston

scored the first touchdown for Starr's Mill, scoring off a 68-yard reception.

He finished the evening with 45 yards rushing and 109 yards receiving.

Arlando Hinton scored the second touchdown with a one-yard run. Quarterback

Brad McClaren scored the Panthers' third touchdown with a one-yard run

of his own and Jason Laney scored the go ahead touchdown with another

one yard run. Laney finished the evening with 99 yards rushing.

Starr's Mill

led 28-21 late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers sealed the win with

a 34-yard field goal from kicker Jon Vickers. Brookwood wasn't done yet

though. The Broncos stormed down the field and scored, making the game

31-28 with minimal time left. Starr's Mill recovered the on-side kick,

held on to the ball and won. The Panthers will now advance to the Georgia

Dome this Friday night to take on the 10th ranked Harrison Hoyas. Kickoff

is scheduled for 9 p.m.

Harrison (11-2)

lost its first two games of the season. The Hoyas lost to Parkview 8-7

and then lost to Stephenson 28-14. Since then, they have won 11 games

in a row. They did not allow over 14 points until last week's 24-17 win

over Mt. Zion, Jonesboro. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, they

have defeated Lassiter 28-6 and Collins Hill 21-14. The Hoyas were eliminated

in the first round of the playoffs last season.

In the other

two football games, East Coweta and Northgate were victims of turnovers.

The Indians had five second half turnovers that helped Parkview break

a 10-10 tie, while the Vikings had five turnovers in the game that helped

Americus build a 28-0 lead.

East Coweta's

points came from a Matt Polizzi field goal and a 13-yard touchdown reception

from Alex Freeman. The Indians recorded 93 second half rushing yards,

but could not stop the charged-up Parkview squad. Northgate got solid

performances from Kenny Strozier, who ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns,

and quarterback Mitch Stewart threw for 131 yards.

Both teams

had successful seasons and played hard for every minute of every game.

They should be commended.

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